The Twelve Apostles
A group of limestone sea stacks rising about 45 metres from the Southern Ocean. They are the emblem of the Great Ocean Road and Australia's most famous coastal landscape.
The Twelve Apostles are in Port Campbell National Park. They are sea stacks formed as Southern Ocean waves eroded the limestone cliffs. Despite the name, about seven stacks remain visible. The most recent collapse happened in 2005. From the visitor car park, it is about a five-minute walk through an underpass to the clifftop viewing path, where several platforms give views of the stacks. Sunrise and sunset are the most beautiful times. About 1 km east, Gibson Steps lead down to the beach, where you can look up at the stacks from below. Viewing is free and the site is open all day. You can also see the stacks from a helicopter, which takes about 15 minutes. The site is about 275 km from Melbourne, and the drive along the Great Ocean Road takes four to five hours one way, so a day trip is very rushed. It is better to stay overnight in Port Campbell or Apollo Bay. The visitor area is being expanded and renovated, so parking and routes may change. It is windy by the sea, so dress warmly.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Gibson Steps
- Loch Ard Gorge
- Port Campbell
- London Arch
- The Grotto
- Bay of Martyrs
- Bay of Islands
- Triplet Falls