in Victoria, Australia
Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles
One of the world's most scenic coastal drives stretching 243 kilometers with dramatic limestone cliffs. The Twelve Apostles rock formations rise majestically from the Southern Ocean, best viewed at sunrise or sunset.
The Great Ocean Road is a 243-kilometre coastal highway built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, stretching from Torquay on the Surf Coast to Allansford near Warrnambool in Victoria, Australia. It is dedicated as a memorial to soldiers who served in World War I and is one of the most celebrated coastal drives in the world. The route passes surf towns, temperate rainforest, dramatic cliffs, and some of Australia's most photographed natural rock formations.
The Twelve Apostles are the route's most famous feature — a collection of limestone stacks rising up to 45 metres from the Southern Ocean in Port Campbell National Park. Erosion and wave action have reduced the original formation over time; eight stacks were visible as of the mid-2020s (the ninth collapsed in 2005). The stacks are most visually striking at sunrise and sunset, when low light picks out their texture and casts long shadows across the surrounding clifftops.
The clifftop viewing platform at the Twelve Apostles is free to access, reached via a short path from the car park. A tunnel under the Great Ocean Road connects the car park to the coast. Helicopter flights departing from the adjacent helipad offer aerial perspectives of the stacks and the broader Shipwreck Coast.
Loch Ard Gorge, two kilometres east of the Twelve Apostles, is named after the iron clipper wrecked nearby in 1878. The gorge has sheltered sandy beaches accessible via a short downhill path and is surrounded by towering vertical cliffs. London Arch (formerly London Bridge) and The Grotto are additional geological features nearby, all free to visit.
The standard driving route from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles covers approximately 300 kilometres and takes four to five hours without stops. With stops at Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay, and the Cape Otway Lighthouse, the journey fills a comfortable two days in each direction. Many visitors do a one-way loop via the inland Princes Highway, returning to Melbourne without retracing the coast road.
Hours: Open 24 hours; visitor center 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Best for: road trippers, photographers, nature lovers, couples
Visit / Book / Contact
Location
Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell VIC 3269
-38.6656, 143.1048 — View on map
Highlights
- Iconic limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles rising up to 45 metres from the Southern Ocean in Port Campbell National Park
- 243-kilometre World War I memorial drive along Victoria's Surf and Shipwreck Coasts
- Loch Ard Gorge with sheltered beach and vertical cliff walls, named after an 1878 shipwreck
- Free clifftop viewing platforms at the Twelve Apostles, with helicopter scenic flights from the adjacent helipad
- London Arch and The Grotto, additional free geological formations within a short drive of the main lookout
Tips
- Start early to avoid crowds at Twelve Apostles
- Stop at Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch nearby
- Drive Torquay to Port Campbell, approximately 3 hours
FAQ
How long does it take to drive the Great Ocean Road?
The full road from Torquay to Allansford takes about four to five hours of pure driving, but most visitors allow two full days to include stops at Lorne, Apollo Bay, and the Twelve Apostles. A day trip from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles and back covers about 600 kilometres and requires an early start.
How much does it cost to see the Twelve Apostles?
Entry to the Twelve Apostles clifftop viewing area is completely free, including the car park and tunnel walkway to the coast. There is no national park entry fee for Port Campbell National Park. Helicopter scenic flights are a paid optional extra, departing from the helipad near the car park.
What is the best time of day to visit the Twelve Apostles?
Sunrise is ideal for photography — the stacks glow orange in low eastern light, and crowds are minimal. Sunset is the next best option but draws larger crowds, particularly during peak school holidays. Midday brings flat overhead light and the highest visitor numbers. Weekday mornings in shoulder season offer the quietest experience.
Are there other attractions along the Great Ocean Road besides the Twelve Apostles?
Yes. Key stops include the surfing towns of Torquay and Lorne, the Great Otway National Park (with the Cape Otway Lighthouse and temperate rainforest walks), Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch, and The Grotto. Koalas are frequently spotted in the trees around Kennett River and near Cape Otway.
Accessibility
The Twelve Apostles clifftop viewing platform is fully wheelchair accessible, with paved paths from the car park and a tunnel under the highway to the coastal clifftop. The nearby Loch Ard Gorge involves a descent via steps that is not wheelchair accessible, though the clifftop views are. Most Great Ocean Road lookouts have paved pull-off areas, but the terrain along the coast is hilly and some stops involve uneven paths.
When to visit
Shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November — offer mild temperatures, lower crowds, and good light conditions. Summer (December to February) is the busiest period and accommodation in coastal towns fills quickly. The Twelve Apostles are most photogenic at sunrise year-round. Winter brings dramatic stormy Southern Ocean conditions that make the stacks even more striking, with very few crowds.