The Twelve Apostles are a collection of towering limestone stacks jutting up from the Southern Ocean. See the magnificent rock stacks from a cliff-top viewing platform or stroll onto the beach to see them up-close. Snap a photograph of one of Victoria’s most iconic sights: the Twelve Apostles at low tide, surrounded by roaring surf and illuminated by golden morning or evening light.
Originally named the Sow and Piglets, the rugged Twelve Apostles are not to be missed on your trip along the Great Ocean Road. Despite only seven being visible from the viewing platforms, the Twelve Apostles are the highlight among the area’s other stunning rock formations, including Gibsons Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, Bay of Islands and the Arch.
Begin your visit at the Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility. Here, you can see maps detailing the area’s walking tracks, extensive boardwalks and four main viewing platforms, as well as informative text about the site’s cultural heritage. Stroll along the pathways and boardwalks, taking in the magnificent coastal views along the way. To the east, you’ll see two limestone stacks known to locals as Gog and Magog, and the breathtaking Apostles to the west. Watch the thunderous Southern Ocean surf pound at the limestone, gradually eroding it. This erosion created the structures and will also cause them to eventually collapse.
Snap photographs of the views, which are most breathtaking when tinged with the golden light of dawn or dusk. At sunset, you might also see a colony of little penguins returning to the shore. For a closer look at the structures, descend the 86 stairs carved into sheer limestone cliff at Gibsons Steps and wander out onto the beach. If the tide is low and the ocean conditions safe, you can walk east or west along the beach from the steps.
The Twelve Apostles are free to visit and located in Port Campbell National Park on the Great Ocean Road. The site is approximately 4-hours’ drive from Melbourne. The entrance to the viewing area’s car park is 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) west of Princetown and 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) east of Port Campbell. Two of the Twelve Apostles’ main viewing platforms are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
