Apollo Bay - Apollos View Accommodation - Tourist Information

Minya by Moonlight Concert Series Plan a visit to Minya to enjoy a night of jazz with Leanne Crawford, appearing 7 March, 7.30pm. Pre concert dinners or hampers are available, reservations essential. A selection of beer and Minya wine is available at each concert. Phone GPAC to book: 5225 1200

World s Longest Lunch join Bellarine Estate on the Portarlington Foreshore for this event. 13 March, 12-4pm. $95pp for four courses. Contact Paula to book. T: 5259 3310.
# Bellarine Seafood & Wine Dinner will run from 6.30pm on 20 March at Parks Hall in Portarlington, featuring a performance by Andrea Marr. Contact Emma Crameri for tickets: 5244 7107.

The Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group presents a production of The Sound of Music at the Queenscliffe Town Hall. 10 shows will be performed from 27 March to 4 April. Evening shows commence at 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Phone GPAC for tickets: 5225 1200

BIRREGURRA WEEKEND FESTIVAL –October 11th & 12th – The Birregurra Weekend Festival 2008 will be held at Main Street, Birregurra. This is a fantastic weekend, so come along and enjoy the fun!

Otway Fly Trading Times – Please note that the Otway Fly’s trading times are now 9am – 5.30pm with last ticket sales at 4.30pm and extended trading over the Christmas period. Also, the Otway Fly now offers ABSEILING which will run at selected times or by appointment (dependent on group size). At this stage they will be running daily abseiling from 27th December – 11th January.

A reminder that the Apollo Bay Music Festival dates for 2009 are: Friday 27th – Sunday 29th March.

Marriners Falls – is now re-open. The recent incident at Marriners Falls is a stark reminder why not to attempt the walk after heavy rain (as track is prone to flooding) or during strong winds. While the Otway Ranges provide an undoubtedly beautiful environment to visit, precautions should be taken during inclement weather.

Otway Estate – on the first Friday of every month, Otway Estate has live music playing with dinner also available.

The Apollo Bay Show is back! Due to be held on 21st March 2009.

Geelong Fashion Week at Westfield – 5-11 September. Visit www.westfield.com/geelong for details.

Racing into Spring Evening – at Geelong Racing Club. 16 September. An evening of millinery and fashion. Call 5229 4414 for details.

Winemaker’s Dinner – at Hawthorn Suites, 13th Beach. 4 October. T: 5254 1777 for bookings.

Please be advised that the Colac - Forrest Road will be temporarily closed between Turner Drive & Pt Roadnight Creek Road, to enable collapsed pipes to be replaced From Monday 4 August to Friday 22 August 2008 inclusive, access for local residents and through traffic will be provided via a detour at Seven Bridges Road. Road barriers and reduced speed limits will be inplace to ensure the safety of motorists and road workers. To ensure the safety of workers and road users, VicRoads would like to remind motorists to drive carefully and obey the speed limits in the area.

Gumboots & Pearls ~ Opera in the Otways
(25th Oct 2008 @ Melba Gully) – tickets are now available for purchase from the Great Ocean Road (Apollo Bay) & Colac Visitor Information Centres. This can be done over the phone with credit card or in-person at the VIC. OSCA members wishing to purchase their discounted tickets will need to contact the VIC in Apollo Bay (tickets are to be signed for & limited to 10 per member). Ticket costs through the VIC are as follows:
Adult (Full) - $65, Child (Full) - $40 Adult (OSCA) - $53, Child (OSCA) - $33

Birregurra Sunday Winter Market
(Sun 10 Aug, 10am to 2pm)
15th Warm Winter Words (Sun 3 Aug, 2pm to 5pm) - Apollo Bay Arts proudly presents prominent authors John Marsden and Alex Miller to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our popular annual literature event. Tickets from Paradise Books or at the door. LOCATION: Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club, CONTACT NAME: Jane Gross, PHONE: 5237 6335, EMAIL: jgross@aapt.net.au, WEB: www.apollobay.com/arts .

International Lighthouse Weekend
(Fri 15 to Sun 17 Aug, 9am to 5pm) - This international event links lighthouses all over the world through radio operators. The telegraph station comes back to life as we are joined by musicians, story tellers and much much more.
LOCATION: Cape Otway Lightstation, CONTACT NAME: Paul Thompson PHONE: 5237 9240
EMAIL: keeper@lightstation.com, WEB: www.lightstation.com .

The Blanket Bay ballot system will be finished on Australia Day. Campers to Blanket Bay will now have to rely on the first in best dressed system. A ballot system will again apply to Blanket Bay during the Easter break.

Otway Fly Ambassador Program ~ remember when you bring a paying guest or guests to the Otway Fly, you will receive free entry. All you have to do is show your drivers license to confirm that you are a resident of the Colac Otway Shire. So take advantage of this great offer and visit many of the new attractions at the Otway Fly Treetop Walk.

Cape Otway Lightstation Will launch tailor—made guided tours of the great Ocean Walk. Which will cater to your schedule, fitness level and interests.

UPDATES
Turton’s Track is now officially open Works on Turton’s Track are now complete and the road is now sealed. The width of the track has remained the same,so please keep this in mind if you are recommending it to larger vehicles.

Marriners Falls has now re-opened after a long wait Visitors can once again enjoy all that Marriners Falls has to offer with the re-opening of the walking track. Remembert hat the track is prone to flooding after heavy rains o be sure to check with either Parks Victoria or the Information Centre regarding the status of the track.

Staff from Apollo Bay and Colac Visitor Information Centres were guided by Mark Bracks on his Cape Otway ShipwreckTour.The tour was fantastic and filled with interesting facts and lots of fascinating history

.The walks takes place along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the National Parkand Mark’s knowledge of the area is probably as good as it gets. Mark also has a greatawareness ofthe Aboriginal history of the area and happily introduced the group to much of the Cape’sAboriginal bushtucker.
Mark can be contacted on 0417983985.Brochuresare available at the Apollo Bay & Colac Visitor Information Centres.

A recent addition to the main street in Apollo Bay is the Bay of Apostles Cellar Door & Homewares Store. With a fabulous & funky retail section and exquisite wines to sample, it’s a must for locals and visitors alike. Showcasing some of the Coonawarra based Koonara Winery’s expanding range which are mostly from the surrounding Geelong region.

Apollo Bay Community Market Sat. mornings 8:30am - 2pm, Apollo Bay Foreshore (weather permitting).

Great Ocean Sports Festival - Feb 9 & 10 2008, Apollo Bay. The Great Ocean Sports festival is 12 individual events over 2 days. Download PDF for more information

0tway Odyssey ~ Sat 23 Feb, Apollo Bay to Forrest, mountain bike ride. Enquires and entry forms are available at www.0tway0dyssey.com

Berry Picking at Pennyroyal has now finished for the season. B&B is still running as per normal, (picking is still available at Gentle Annie's until April

Copacc Comedy Festival ~ Contact Copacc for more details on what's sure to be a very entertaining line-up!.

Colac Comeback Country Music Festival and Ute & Truck Show ~Sun 17 Feb at the Colac Showgrounds.

Update on current closures in & around the region
Carisbrook Falls - Closed for maintenance work on viewing platform.
Turton's Track - Closed for final sealing works, open in March 2008.
Melba Gully - Partially closed due to large tree down.

Apolo Bay Community Market -Sat mornings 8:30am 2pm, Apollo Bay Foreshore (weather permiting).

Kona 24 Hour Mountain Bike Event-Sat 1st & Sun 2nd Dec, 12pm to 12pm,Forrest Mountain Bike Park. Endurance mountain bike event where teams of 2 -10 people complete laps of a 15km 20km circuit. Start/finish & overnight camping is at the Forrest Football Ground. Enquires -Kristjan Snorrason. ph:0412 339

Colac Uniting Church Santa’s Workshop - Frid 7th Dec, 5:30pm to 9pm, Memorial Square Colac. A fun filled evening with Santa calling to give a small gift to children. Entertainment, amusements & stalls.

Update on current closures in & around the region
Binn's Road has re-opened
Turton's Track has re-opened but will re-close for final sealing works on 12 January until March 2008
Lake Elizabeth has re-opened
Stephenson's Falls has re-opened 31-12-07

Still closed:
Marriner's Falls
Carisbrook Falls

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD 75 YEARS CELEBRATIONS
Friday 23rd November 6pm to 10pm
OPENING CEREMONY,Great Ocean Road Celebrations Captains at the Bay. Presentations,speeches (Ticketed & Invitation Event,$20.00 per person).

Grand Parade,Wreath Laying Ceremony,
Saturday 24th November 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Children's Sport and Family Fun Day, Combined Church Service, Arrival of VACC Great Ocean Road Celebrations Tour.