Outdoor Activities

The terrain and natural features of the 12 Apostles Coast and hinterland offer plenty of opportunities for active recreation. With lakes and estuaries for paddling, trails and quiet country roads for cycling and running you may want to plan ahead to pack your gear.

The Southern Ocean offers it’s own opportunities but all visitors should be wary that ocean is unpredictable and at times wild and tempestuous. Activities in the ocean require careful planning, knowledge of conditions and an appropriate level of skill and equipment to cope with unforeseen circumstances.

Lucky there are plenty of land based, river and lake options for when things get rough and of course some of the best lookouts to watch the drama in the ocean unfold.

Biking

Tarmac, surf and turf loops, black and tan cyclo-cross epics and family friendly trails...

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Boating

Whether you are packing the fishing rods, water skis and wakeboards, a local cheese platter, or tackle box and rods; the ocean lakes and rivers around the 12 Apostles region provide a picturesque...

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Fishing

Beach and jetty fishing options will keep serious anglers entertained while the rest of us are too gob smacked by the scenery to make a decent...

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Golf

Memorable golfing opportunities guaranteed to lower the blood pressure if not your handicap! See what happens when you take a swing by the sea or a whack by the volcanic...

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Other Water Activities

Port Campbell Jetty is a great spot to watch local surfers and SUPs that in most conditions leap into the ocean before commencing their paddle around the point....

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Surfing

Port Campbell Jetty is a great spot to watch local surfers that in most conditions leap into the ocean before commencing their paddle around the point....

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Swimming

Port Campbell Bay is patrolled on weekends and Public Holidays from Mid November till Easter Monday. Swimming is not recommended at any of the open ocean...

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Trail Running

Pack your runners and get ready to discover a little running nirvana on your next visit. Unlock the secrets of our favourite loops from 4 - 16...

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Trails & Lookouts

12 Apostles Coast & Hinterland region has expansive a network of walking and riding trails covering coast, lakes, ancient volcanoes and farming...

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Walking

Victoria's premier coastal walking trail, the Great Ocean Walk ends at the iconic 12 Apostles, just 12km from Port...

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Explore All Outdoor Activities

View of rock stacks in the ocean taken from the beach at Sandy cove

Pet Friendly Beaches

There are many beaches and trails along the Great Ocean Road for you and pooch to explore and enjoy whilst on holiday, with a few...

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Water Skiing along the 12 Apostles Coast

Spring fed lakes like Lake Bullen Merri offer good opportunity for water skiers whose fields of play have been limited elsewhere...

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Couple reading a map outside the Naroghid shelter. They are wearing cycle gear and have bikes.

NAROGHID - COBDEN

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Boat approaching Port Campbell Jetty as viewed from the Port Campbell Discovery Walk

Port Campbell Bay

Port Campbell Bay presents a gently sloping family friendly profile sheltered from the bulk of Southern Ocean swell. Waters...

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TIMBOON - SCHULZ ORGANIC DAIRY

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View from the steps looking towards the suspension bridge, camp ground and Port Campbell township

Port Campbell Discovery Walk (Extended)

Distance: 6km Elevation gained:...

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View along Ford's Road

Princetown - Fords Road: Time trial loop

Distance: 24.5km Elevation gained:...

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View of rock formations in the ocean

Bay of Islands

The pale limestone of this section of coast reflects a different quality of light and offers superior photographic opportunity in...

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Male running along the Great Ocean Walk with the ocean in the background and grey skies

Princetown - Devils Kitchen - Great Ocean Walk loop

Distance: 16.2km Elevation gained:...

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Landscape image of the Arch

The Arch

The Arch Day Visitor area and lookouts are temporarily closed due to public safety risk. This site is often spectacular in the...

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View of trees at Melba Gully

Melba Gully

A true Otway gem, famous for its massive 350 year old Otway messmate and enchanting glow worms, Melba Gully is the most westerly...

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Princetown to 12 Apostles Great Ocean Walk

Distance: 7.6km Elevation gained:...

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View of Port Campbell Jetty from the beach

Port Campbell Jetty

An attraction in its own right! Port Campbell’s weathered jetty juts defiantly into the bay, dwarfed by limestone cliffs and...

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Peterborough - Bay of Martyrs - steps and beaches edition

Distance: 8 km Elevation gained:...

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Princetown - Port Campbell - Great Ocean Road return

Distance: 40.2km Elevation gained:...

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The Hill - Princetown - Lavers Hill - Princetown

Distance: 64.9km Elevation gained:...

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Swimming along the 12 Apostles Coastline

Port Campbell’s sheltered bay is patrolled on weekends and Public Holidays from Mid November till Easter Monday. Sound...

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View of Princetown beach and the Gellibrand River from the Great Ocean Walk

Princetown - Old Coach Road - Great Ocean Walk loop

Distance: 7.6km Elevation gained:...

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Gibson steps beach sunrise

Gibson Steps

Prepare to be dwarfed by the magnitude of the cliff-line and offshore stacks. The sheer scale of natural sculpting evident at...

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Great Ocean Walk Ryan's Den - Moonlight Head

Distance: 8.1km Elevation gained:...

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View of Triplet Falls through the lush rainforest vegetation

Triplet Falls & Little Aire Falls

Please note that you can access the Triplet Falls waterfall lookouts by heading to the right of the track. Visitors cannot walk...

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Female standing on the banks of Cobden Lake

COBDEN - GLENFYNE

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Male cycling along the road

Princetown - Moonlight Head - Great Ocean Road return

Distance: 33.2km Elevation gained:...

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Wild Dog Cove Peterborough

Scuba & Snorkelling around the 12 Apostles

The Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, Arches Marine Sanctuary and the bays surrounding Peterborough, create world class...

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Be Inspired

12 Apostles Trail on the Great Ocean Road

12 Apostles Trail - Getting ready to Roll

Local dairy, beef, ice cream and berries for lunch and seafood and local brews for supper. How does that sound? From the treetops of Timboon to the...

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Female looking towards the Port Campbell Bay and Jetty at sunset

Rediscover the 12 Apostles Coast & Hinterland from Port Campbell

If you have been looking for the perfect weekend getaway, filled with picturesque landscapes, bucket list destinations, outdoor adventures and...

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Profile image of a dog

Walking Port Campbell with my dog

The tale of a breezy wintery walk around Port Campbell in the company of Rocco, my trusty...

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Big waves: Let the heavyweight bout begin

Late Autumn, Winter and early Spring are times for big waves, book your front row seat for a glimpse of the age old battle that has shaped this...

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Trail running low tide Princetown Beach running on wet sand reflecting pink sky

Holiday Running!

Only a runner knows the feeling of escape and discovery that builds when you run into the...

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Great Ocean Rides

Cycling routes and tips for the 12 Apostles and western end of the Great Ocean...

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A Treat, a Treasure and a Trail!

School Holidays are all about balance. With this in mind we have put together some ideas for you to fill up some fun family days from the Craters to...

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Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.