Twelve Apostles
The limestone rock formations jutting out of the sea just a few metres from the high jagged cliffs are the most visited natural landmark in the Australian state of Victoria and one of the most famous places in the whole of Australia.
Find out tips for visiting Twelve Apostles National Park, when's the best time to visit, what you'll see here and how much the entrance fee costs.
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The Twelve Apostles is also the name given to a section of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa.
How many of the 12 rocks are left?
The iconic coastline, with rock piles about 35-55 metres high, stretches for about 2 km.
In the past, the rock formations were known as Sows and Pigs because some of their stocky shape resembles these animals.
In the mid-20th century, the area was officially named the "12 Apostles", referring to the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ that the rocks are meant to commemorate.
However, since its inception, it has only been a marketing name to attract tourists.
In reality, there have always been only 9 rock pillars and since 2009 there are only 7 left. One of the "apostles" was destroyed by water erosion in 2007 and the other in 2009.
Visiting the 12 apostles - the best prospect
The coastline is perfectly accessible as the Great Ocean Road passes near the edge of the cliff.
The cliffs along the 12, or now only 7, apostles are not flat and have many protrusions and peninsulas that offer great views.
Due to conservation concerns, as well as the unstable limestone environment which is easily eroded, there is currently only one official viewpoint open to tourists near the information centre, which has a small restaurant, gift shop and free toilets.
You will find the information centre with a car park at this exact location.
There is a large free car park next to the information centre, from where a footpath leads under the road to the viewpoint. The length of the trail from the parking lot is about 450 meters one way and is more or less on level ground.
From the viewpoint, you can see a total of 6 apostles, with the last seventh visible alone on the other side of the viewpoint.
Walk on the beach - Gibson Steps
About 800 metres from the information centre, you can walk down the Gibson Steps all the way down to the sea on the wide sandy beach and enjoy the Twelve Apostles from a completely different perspective.
There is a small free car park right by the Gibson Steps (see map), but you can also walk here along a signposted footpath from the large car park by the information centre.
You can move around the beach as much as you like. There are no restrictions or charges for access to Gibson Steps.
Swimming on the beach is not highly recommended due to the very strong sea currents and also the year-round cold water.
There is a beautiful view from the car park above Gibson Steps.
When is the best time to visit the 12 Apostles?
The high season in South Australia runs from November to March (more on that in the Weather section), but generally the whole of the Great Ocean Road is a year-round destination.
During the day, the views of the Twelve Apostles are clearly best at dawn at sunrise or at dusk at sunset.
The golden colour of the limestone cliffs takes on mystical proportions at this time.
Significantly more people are at the viewpoint during sunsets and the viewpoint is half empty at sunrise.
The table below shows the approximate times of sunrises and sunsets. The time is always given for the middle of the moon.
| Sunrise | Sunset | |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:20 | 20:55 |
| February | 6:55 | 20:25 |
| March | 7:25 | 19:45 |
| April | 6:55 | 18:00 |
| May | 7:25 | 17:25 |
| June | 7:45 | 17:10 |
| July | 7:40 | 17:25 |
| August | 7:15 | 17:50 |
| September | 6:30 | 18:20 |
| October | 6:40 | 19:45 |
| November | 6:05 | 20:20 |
| December | 5:55 | 20:50 |
Admission and opening hours
There is no entrance fee to Port Campbell National Park, where the 12 Apostles are located.
The road through the park is free to use 24/7, and you won't pay a fee for parking or even for public toilets.
Also, the viewpoint at the visitor center is open 24/7.
Helicopter sightseeing flights
Enjoy views of the Twelve Apostles from a different perspective and book a sightseeing helicopter flight.
The cheapest flights are offered from the heliport right by the information centre and are operated by 12Apostles Helicopters.
The lowest prices for a 16-minute flight are between 175 usd and 195 usd per person.
Online booking is available at 12apostleshelicopters.com.au.
How to get there
The Twelve Apostles can be found about 5km east of Port Campbell on the western half of the Great Ocean Road.
The lookouts are just off the main road and are very clearly marked.
- Melbourne
- 240 km / 3 hours by the shortest inland route
- 294 km / 5.5 hours on the Great Ocean Road
- Compare car rental prices - Melbourne Airport
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- Adelaide
- 670 km / 8.5 hours
- Compare car rental prices - Adelaide Airport
- Mount Gambier
- 276 km / 3.5 hours
- Compare car rental prices - Mount Gambier Airport
You can even reach the main viewpoint at the visitor centre or the nearby Loch-Ard Gorge by public transport - V/Line buses.
The Warrnambool - Port Campbell - Apollo Bay line runs through the 12 Apostles, where you can change to another bus to Lorne and Geelong and then take the train to Melbourne.
The bus only runs 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but always has a scheduled stop at the visitor centre for 30 minutes. In this time you can easily walk to the viewpoint and back.
For the current timetable, visit vline.com.au/Timetables.
Hotels at 12 Apostles
Where to stay closest to the rock formations and where would we recommend staying?
Closest to the information centre (about 2.5km inland) Twelve Apostles Motel & Country Retreat ***.
This accommodation is ideal for an overnight stay during the road-trip, but count on the fact that there is no shop, restaurant or other civilization within a 7 km radius.
We stayed in the town of Port Campbell, where on the other hand you will find full facilities, many cafes, restaurants and a supermarket.
In Port Campbell, for example, there are the following well-rated hotels:
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Great Ocean Road.
Any questions left?
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