The jewel in the crown of the Great Ocean Road and the number one visited attraction in the region is the 12 Apostles. Seeing the beauty of these limestone monuments is unforgettable and absolutely not to be missed. Sunrise and sunset provide even more impressive scenery.
The 12 Apostles kiosk is open from 10 – 5pm daily. When closed visitors will find cafe’s, restaurants, refreshments and shops available at nearby Port Campbell 12 km to the west of the site.
Location: Great Ocean Road (6km west of Princetown)
Length: 600m – 1km return
Time: 45 minutes
Download your map of Port Campbell National Park walking tracks.
You have never been able to see 12 Apostles from the current viewpoint. Historically the stacks were revealed as visitors travelled via the Old Coach road which connected Port Campbell to Princetown and beyond to Rivernook Guesthouse. Find out more about the naming of the 12 Apostles.
At first glance you will see 7 rock stacks to the west with the rest hidden by headlands and obscured by other stacks. To the east are a further 2 rock stacks referred to in local vernacular as Gog and Magog. These two rock stacks are viewable from beach level via a car park 1km to the east of the Twelve Apostles. The small car park is often at capacity and visitors are advised they can walk safely via the Great Ocean Walk on a 1.1 km (2.2km return) trail that leaves from the south side of the Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility.
While any time of the day provides a great spectacle, sunrise and sunset are particularly impressive for the blazing hues created. A visit to the Twelve Apostles begins at the Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre. The parking area is designed to cater for the 1.2 million visitors annually that enjoy the site. A tunnel takes people under the Great Ocean Road to extensive boardwalk and viewing platforms.
The Twelve Apostles are located on the corner of Booringa Rd and Great Ocean Road in Princetown 3269. They are a part of Port Campbell National Park. The entrance to the car park is 6km west of the township of Princetown and 12km east of the township of Port Campbell. The 12 Apostles are accessible from Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road (4.25 hrs) and via the Princes Hwy (3.25 hrs). Which ever way you arrive remember the 12 Apostles is just one area in what is one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal National Parks.
Click here for more coastal trails and lookouts.
The Twelve Apostles lookouts and walkways are able to be viewed from dawn till dusk 365 days per year in fact many people stay till after sunset to view the little penguins returning to shore to their burrows below the main lookout.
It is only the kiosk that closes access to the toilets and walkways is available at all times. The quietest time of day is in the morning when the light is often at its best.
If you have the opportunity stay overnight in the area so you can experience sunrise and sunset.
What are the GPS Coordinates for the 12 Apostles?
Lat: -38.66292772063347 Lng: 143.1057643890381
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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.
