Snapshot
| Where | Shipwreck Coast, western Victoria · 230 km / 3 hrs from Melbourne by the inland Princes Highway route through Colac · 285 km / 4 hrs 25 min along the Great Ocean Road · 12 km west of Port Campbell township |
|---|---|
| Getting there | 2WD on sealed roads the whole way — the Great Ocean Road runs beside the park, or the inland Princes Highway (M1) via Colac and the Cobden–Port Campbell Road (C164); the coast road is single-lane each way with slow-vehicle turnouts and closes at times for landslips, fire and floods |
| Best time | March–April and October–November — mild days with mean maximums around 18–20°C, fewer crowds than the summer holidays, and sunset early enough to catch light on the stacks and still drive on |
| Worst time | Late December and January — the summer school-holiday peak, with the busiest platforms and the tightest beds — and July, the wettest month (about 104mm across roughly 20 rain days) with strong winds on exposed clifftops |
| Time needed | A half day for the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge; a full day to add The Grotto, London Bridge and the Discovery Walk |
| Cost | Free — no entry or vehicle fee applies to the park's lookouts and walks; helicopter scenic flights and guided tours are the paid extras |
| Facilities | Car parks, lookouts, public toilets, picnic tables and shelters at the Twelve Apostles and in Port Campbell; no toilets at the Loch Ard Gorge precinct; fuel, food and EV charging in Port Campbell; mobile coverage is not addressed in the park's published visitor information |
| Best for | Great Ocean Road road-trippers, photographers after low light on the stacks, and families after short accessible walks |
| Difficulty |
1 of 5 — Easy
Every walk here is graded easy and none runs more than 4.4km return. What raises the effort is the 86- and 191-step descents, exposed clifftops in strong wind, tide- and swell-dependent beach access, and crowds on the platforms in summer. |
Driving there? Car hire and what to check →
Port Campbell National Park protects the headline stretch of Victoria's Shipwreck Coast: limestone cliffs up to 70 metres high, offshore stacks, arches, caves and blowholes between Princetown and Peterborough, all of it cut by Southern Ocean swell and by rainwater seeping through the softer layers of the Port Campbell Limestone. The Eastern Maar peoples are the Traditional Owners, and the park sits within an Aboriginal cultural landscape that includes cliff-cut steps, middens and artefact sites around the old port. By the name you'd expect twelve; only seven stacks remain — six in the classic view and one a few metres off the corner of the main platform.
This is a lookouts-and-short-walks park rather than a hiking destination. The Twelve Apostles stand 45 metres above the water, reached by an all-abilities path under the Great Ocean Road; Loch Ard Gorge has 7km of linked trails around the wreck of the clipper Loch Ard; and London Bridge — whose inner arch collapsed in 1990, stranding two people on the seaward section until a helicopter lifted them off — is a standing lesson in how fast this coast erodes.
Go if…
- You're driving the Great Ocean Road and want its most concentrated run of sea stacks, arches and gorges
- Short, easy walks and lookouts suit you — nothing in the park runs more than 4.4km return
- You want low light on limestone: sunrise and sunset on the stacks, or penguins and shearwaters coming ashore after dark
- You can plan around tides, swell and crowds rather than fixing on a swim or a beach picnic
Skip it if…
- You're after a multi-day walk or genuine remoteness — this park is roadside lookouts and short clifftop trails
- You can't stand crowds: the Twelve Apostles platforms are among the busiest in Victoria over summer
- You're bringing a dog — none are permitted in the park apart from assistance dogs meeting entry requirements
- You want swimming or dependable phone signal — Port Campbell Bay is the only patrolled, safe swimming beach on this stretch, and the park publishes no coverage information
What to expect
Reviewed
You park on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road and take the all-abilities path that runs under the road to the Twelve Apostles viewing platforms. Seven stacks remain, not twelve — six sit in the classic line of view and the seventh is a few metres off the corner of the main platform — and all of them stand 45 metres above the Southern Ocean, still shrinking as waves undercut them and rainwater seeps through the softer limestone. Midday brings the crowds, so you either come early or keep walking: the clifftop gravel path runs 2.2km between the Twelve Apostles kiosk and the Gibson Steps car park in about an hour, with the stacks in view the whole way. From Saddle Lookout you look down over Gibson Beach, two stacks standing in the surf below curved, layered cliffs, and at low tide you can descend and stand beside Gog and Magog themselves. The beach closes at high tide and in large swell, and the kiosk signs carry the current word.
West of the Twelve Apostles, the Loch Ard Gorge precinct spreads across three car parks and 7km of linked trails, so you note which car park you left the car in. The Geology Walk, 1km return on level crushed rock and bitumen, takes you to lookouts over the Razorback and Island Arch; the Shipwreck Walk runs 1.4km to the small cemetery above the wreck of the clipper Loch Ard, which came to grief on Muttonbird Island with only two survivors. Allow at least an hour for the full precinct — and note there are no toilets here.
The Living on the Edge track, 3.2km return in about 1.5 hours from the Poombeeyt Koontapool car park, is the walk that explains the name on the map. It takes in the Muttonbird Island viewing platform, Thunder Cave — a 1.1km-return spur on a sealed path where the swell booms into a cavern — and Broken Head, with storyboards on the erosion that builds these stacks. Do not cross the mouth of the Sherbrooke River: its depth, width and currents change constantly. Not every lookout and staircase stays open on this coast; cliff instability has closed the beach access steps at Loch Ard Gorge and the lookout at The Arch Day Visitor Area, and no reopening date has been announced for either.
Drive west past The Grotto and London Bridge and the coast quietens. The Grotto is a cave and sinkhole about halfway up the cliff, reached by a paved pathway and a decked staircase that drops you to a viewing area among rock pools in jagged limestone — stay behind the barriers, because the rock and the swell here are not forgiving. London Bridge, once a double arch joined to the mainland, lost its inner span in 1990 and stranded two people on the seaward section until a helicopter flew them off; what's left is an island, and its lookout is the most reliable place in the park to see little penguins come ashore just after sunset. Tracks like the one at Worm Bay drop through low heath to small sandy coves between headlands, and the Port Campbell Discovery Walk runs 4.4km return in about 1.5 hours of undulating clifftop heath between the town and the sea. Where the route climbs the western headland from Port Campbell beach you'll find an accessible suspension bridge over the creek mouth and a 191-step staircase — the stretch beyond is steep and stepped, and no place for a pram.
The wildlife rewards patience more than distance. Rufous bristlebirds, a resident rarity here, cross the heathland tracks and car parks in front of you. Short-tailed shearwaters return to their burrows on Muttonbird Island in the evening, September to April, and little penguins come ashore just after dark and can be heard and seen from the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge platforms. Southern right whales pass between June and October and are often spotted from the Port Campbell jetty, while spring brings orchids, including the rare Metallic Sun Orchid, into the heathland. Keep well clear of hooded plover nests on the small beaches: they breed from August to April and abandon easily.
Where to stay
Most people base in Port Campbell, 12km east of the Twelve Apostles, which has fuel, food and a patrolled beach; Princetown, between the town and the stacks, is the quieter alternative. The township of about 440 residents offers bed and campsite capacity for roughly 2,100.
When bookings open: Camping at the Great Ocean Road recreation reserves is bookable year-round and fills over the summer school holidays, Christmas and peak summer, so reserve well ahead. Parks Victoria's booking system covers stays to 28 February 2027, and from 1 July 2026 some Great Ocean Road campsites move to GORCAPA and must be booked through its own website. Official booking page. Checked 8 November 2026. Booking dates for every state.
| Stay | Guest rating | Best for | Distance | Style | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park | 8.4 / 10 (960 reviews, Booking.com) | Couples and families wanting cabins or powered sites by the water | In Port Campbell township, about 12 km east of the Twelve Apostles | Cabins, villas and powered and unpowered sites beside the beach and Port Campbell Creek | Check rates |
| Loch Ard Motor Inn | 4.5 / 5 (724 reviews, Tripadvisor) | A straightforward motel base in walking distance of town | In Port Campbell township, about 12 km east of the Twelve Apostles | Motel rooms in the centre of town | Check rates |
| Daysy Hill Country Cottages | 4.5 / 5 (185 reviews, Tripadvisor) | Self-contained stays with full kitchens, from $185 a night | On the Cobden–Port Campbell Road, a few kilometres inland of town | Self-contained hillside cottages about five minutes' drive from town | Check rates |
| Port Campbell Recreation Reserve | 3.6 / 5 (7 reviews, Tripadvisor) | Budget camping close to both town and the park | In Port Campbell, about 11 km from the park | Powered and unpowered sites, camp kitchen, BBQs, laundry; bookings essential year-round | Book now |
| Apostles Camping Park & Cabins | 3.6 / 5 (35 reviews, Tripadvisor) | Camping and cabins closest to the Twelve Apostles | At Princetown, 5.7 km from the park | Camp sites and cabins on Post Office Road | Check rates |
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What to do here
8 walks & sights
Twelve Apostles viewing platforms
Car and bus parking sits on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road, with the platforms reached by an all-abilities footpath passing beneath it. Seven stacks remain — six in the classic line of view, the seventh a few metres off the corner of the main platform — and all stand 45 metres above the Southern Ocean. Come early, at sunset or after dark: little penguins return to their burrows just after sunset and can be seen and heard from the platforms.
Gibson Steps and the clifftop walk
The path runs between the Twelve Apostles kiosk and the Gibson Steps car park, and a separate 1.1km track leads to Gibson Steps Lookout. From there, 86 steps cut down the cliff to a wild ocean beach where the stacks Gog and Magog stand close at low tide. Beach access is tide- and swell-dependent and closes at high tide and in large swell — the kiosk signs carry the current word.
Loch Ard Gorge: Geology and Shipwreck walks
Three car parks serve this precinct of 7km of linked trails, so note where you left the car. The self-guided Geology Walk runs out to lookouts over the Razorback and Island Arch, while the Shipwreck Walk leads to the small cemetery above the wreck of the clipper Loch Ard, which came to grief on Muttonbird Island with only two survivors. The beach access steps to the sand are closed while instability in the cliff is remediated, so you see the beach from above.
Living on the Edge
From the Poombeeyt Koontapool car park this walk takes in the Muttonbird Island viewing platform, Thunder Cave and Broken Head, with storyboards on how the stacks form. Thunder Cave is a 1.1km-return spur on a sealed path where the swell booms into a cavern. Do not cross the mouth of the Sherbrooke River — its depth, width and currents change constantly.
The Grotto
A cave and sinkhole about halfway up the cliff, reached by a paved pathway and a decked staircase dropping to a viewing area among rock pools in jagged limestone. Stay behind the barriers and observe the safety signs — the rock edges and the swell are unforgiving. The opening frames the surf, and in the right light the stacks beyond.
London Bridge (London Arch)
Once a double arch joined to the mainland, its inner span collapsed in 1990 and stranded two people on the seaward section until a helicopter flew them off; what remains is an island. The lookout is the park's most reliable place to see little penguins come ashore just after sunset. Note that the lookout at The Arch Day Visitor Area, further west, is closed for public safety because of geotechnical risks, with no reopening date announced.
Port Campbell Discovery Walk
A self-guided clifftop walk between Port Campbell and the coast, with trailheads at the mouth of Campbells Creek and at the Town Scenic Lookout. The accessible route crosses the creek by a suspension bridge behind the surf lifesaving club, then climbs the western headland via a 191-step staircase; beyond the top the track has moderate gradients and steps and suits neither prams nor wheelchairs. Watch for rufous bristlebirds crossing the heath in front of you.
Halladale Walking Track
Starting near the golf course at Peterborough and running through to the Bay of Martyrs, this is the quiet end of the coast — more stacks, fewer people. Dogs on a leash are permitted on this track, unlike the rest of the park. It connects with the clifftop lookouts of the adjoining Bay of Islands Coastal Park, which runs west toward Warrnambool.
Port Campbell National Park itineraries: 1, 2 or 3 days
3 plans
One day: the Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge
- Morning. Park at the Twelve Apostles and take the all-abilities path under the Great Ocean Road to the viewing platforms, then walk the 2.2km return clifftop path to the Gibson Steps car park and lookout. If tide and swell allow, the 86 steps drop you to the beach beneath Gog and Magog.
- Early afternoon. Drive west to the Loch Ard Gorge precinct and start with the Geology Walk, 1km return, out to the lookouts over the Razorback and Island Arch. Continue on the Shipwreck Walk, 1.4km return, to the small cemetery above the wreck of the Loch Ard.
- Late afternoon. The Living on the Edge track, 3.2km return from the Poombeeyt Koontapool car park, takes in the Muttonbird Island viewing platform, Thunder Cave and Broken Head. Do not cross the mouth of the Sherbrooke River.
One day, no overnight: the Twelve Apostles clifftop path, the Geology Walk, the Shipwreck Walk and Living on the Edge. Entry to the park, its lookouts and walks is free. Fuel and food are at Port Campbell, 12km east of the Twelve Apostles, and there are no toilets at the Loch Ard Gorge precinct. Gibson Steps beach access depends on tide and swell and the Loch Ard Gorge beach steps are closed, so treat any beach time as a bonus.
Two days: add The Grotto, London Bridge and the Discovery Walk
- Day 1. The one-day core, but unhurried: the Twelve Apostles platforms, the 2.2km clifftop walk to Gibson Steps, then the Loch Ard Gorge trails. Stay on the platform for sunset — low light on the stacks is why people time their visit this way.
- Day 2, morning. Drive west to The Grotto and take the paved pathway and decked staircase down to the rock-pool viewing area, staying behind the barriers. Continue to the London Bridge lookout and look at what the collapsed inner arch left behind in 1990.
- Day 2, afternoon. The Port Campbell Discovery Walk, 4.4km return in about 1.5 hours, from the Town Scenic Lookout or across the creek mouth from Port Campbell beach. The route climbs the western headland by a 191-step staircase and then runs the undulating clifftop heath.
Two days, one night in Port Campbell or Princetown. Campers at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve should book ahead — bookings are essential year-round. Entry to the park is free, fuel and food are in Port Campbell, and the Great Ocean Road closes at times for landslips, fire and floods, so check conditions before you drive.
Three days: light, wildlife and the quieter coast
- Day 1. The core: the Twelve Apostles, the clifftop walk to Gibson Steps and the Loch Ard Gorge trails.
- Day 2. The Grotto, London Bridge and the Port Campbell Discovery Walk (4.4km return), then stay at the London Bridge lookout after sunset for little penguins coming ashore.
- Day 3, morning. Drive west to Peterborough for the Halladale Walking Track, 4km return in about an hour through clifftop heath to the Bay of Martyrs — the quietest corner of this coast, and the one track here where a dog on a leash is allowed.
- Day 3, late afternoon. Back at Loch Ard Gorge, the Muttonbird Island viewing platform is where short-tailed shearwaters return to their burrows in the evening, September to April. Between June and October, whales are often visible from the Port Campbell jetty instead.
Three days, two nights. Bring windproof layers and warm clothing: mean maximums sit around 13°C in July and the clifftops are exposed in any season. Book your bed or campsite well before the summer holidays, keep beach time flexible with the tide and swell, and check the park's alerts each morning — lookouts here close when the cliffs demand it.
Experiences worth booking
Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge & lunch - Melbourne
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Great Ocean Road 12 APOSTLES Tour REVERSE–SML GRP- Hotel Pick UP
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Great Ocean Road Sunset Day Tour from Melbourne
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Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests
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Great Ocean Road: 90 Mins at 12 Apostles & Optional Helicopter
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Great Ocean Road DeepTour 10 Stops 12 Apostles London Bridge
Check availability →Tours run by independent operators and booked on Viator. Booking links go to Viator, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are "from" figures in AUD, checked 2026-11-09.
Suggested gear for Port Campbell National Park
17 items
- Water bottles or a hydration bladder Carry at least 2 litres per person on the walks.
- Water treatment tablets or a filter Treat creek and camping-area water before drinking.
- Sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+) and sunglasses
- Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or boots
- Day pack (20–30 L)
- First aid kit, including blister care
- Insect repellent
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Personal locator beacon Mobile coverage is unreliable in remote parks.
- Windproof outer layer with a warm mid-layer and beanie The clifftops face Southern Ocean wind year-round, and July's mean maximum sits around 13°C.
- Waterproof shoes with real grip The decked staircase at The Grotto and the cut steps at Gibson Steps take spray and rain, and wet limestone is slippery underfoot.
- Tide and swell forecast saved on your phone Beach access at Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge closes at high tide and in large swell, and you make the call at the top of the steps.
- Binoculars or a compact spotting scope Whales pass June to October, penguins come ashore after sunset, and shearwaters return to Muttonbird Island in the evening, September to April.
- Swimmers and a towel Port Campbell Bay is the only patrolled, safe swimming beach along this stretch of coast.
- Lens cloth and a windproof camera cover Salt spray and drizzle ride the onshore wind at every lookout, and the stacks look best when the light keeps changing.
- Picnic food and snacks carried from town The Loch Ard Gorge precinct has no toilets and no food; the Twelve Apostles kiosk is the reliable stop between the town and the western lookouts.
How this compares
Port Campbell National Park vs Great Otway National Park
Great Otway National Park sits directly behind this coast, swapping limestone and surf for tall forest, ferny gullies, waterfalls and glow worms around Melba Gully. Its walks are longer and wetter, its roads steeper, and its wildlife easier to find in the trees than on the sand. Choose Great Otway for rainforest and waterfalls inland of the coast; choose Port Campbell for the sea stacks and the ocean.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed Great Ocean Road and inland forest roads; walks steep and slippery when wet
- Best for
- Rainforest walks · waterfalls · glow worms · wet-weather days
Port Campbell National Park vs Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
The Grampians, about three hours inland near Halls Gap, offer sandstone ridgelines, lookouts over ranges rather than ocean, and walks that run to a full day. It rewards a different kind of effort — climbing, longer distances, and rock art landscapes cared for by Traditional Owners. Choose the Grampians for ranges and full-day walks; choose Port Campbell for easy clifftop loops in a single roadside stop.
- Difficulty
- 3 of 5 — Challenging
- Access
- Sealed roads to Halls Gap; walks range from short loops to full-day ridgelines
- Best for
- Sandstone ranges · longer walks · wildflower country
Port Campbell National Park vs Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve
Tower Hill, a dormant volcano in a crater lake near Warrnambool, is where you go for close wildlife — emus, koalas, kangaroos and echidnas around a crater-rim drive and short lookouts. It is gentler, greener and more contained than the exposed coast. Choose Tower Hill for wildlife and volcanic landforms with children; choose Port Campbell for the stacks, the gorges and the Southern Ocean.
- Difficulty
- 1 of 5 — Easy
- Access
- Sealed road off the Princes Highway near Warrnambool; short walks and a driving loop
- Best for
- Families · wildlife · short visits
Before you go
- Check the park's closures and alerts before you leave — cliff instability has closed lookouts and beach access steps here, and the Great Ocean Road closes at times for landslips, fire and floods
- No dogs are permitted in the park; assistance dogs are welcome, with entry requirements applying
- Entry is free — there is no vehicle or park fee for the lookouts and walks
- Fuel at Port Campbell, with Tesla EV charging; the next stations are Lavers Hill 50km east and Warrnambool 60km west
- Beach access is tide- and swell-dependent: Gibson Steps closes at high tide and in large swell, and the Loch Ard Gorge beach steps are closed until remediation is complete
- Toilets, picnic tables and shelters are at the Twelve Apostles and in Port Campbell; there are no toilets at the Loch Ard Gorge precinct
- On a Catastrophic fire danger day parks may close and coaches stop running through the area — check VicEmergency the night before and again in the morning in summer
- If you're camping at the Port Campbell or Princetown recreation reserves, book ahead: bookings are essential year-round
When to go
seasons & the hard months
Two shoulder seasons beat summer here. March to April and October to November give you mild days — mean maximums around 18 to 20°C — shorter queues on the viewing platforms and sunsets early enough to catch light on the stacks and still drive on to your bed. Spring brings the heathland orchids into flower, including the rare Metallic Sun Orchid, and the shearwaters are back on Muttonbird Island. Summer works too, but January is peak season on this coast: the platforms fill, beds book out and a sunset near 9pm in midsummer makes for a very late drive back to Melbourne.
Winter is the honest low season. June to August is cool and wet — July averages about 104mm of rain across roughly 20 rain days, with mean maximums around 13°C — and strong winds rake the exposed clifftops. In return you get space, big swell working on the stacks, and whales moving along the coast between June and October. Whatever the month, this coast closes lookouts and beaches when swell, tide or cliff instability demand it, so build a flexible day and check conditions each morning.
Questions
6 answers
No. Entry to the park, its lookouts and its walks is free, and parking is on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road. Helicopter flights over the coast and guided day tours are the paid extras.
A half day covers the Twelve Apostles, the clifftop walk to Gibson Steps and the Loch Ard Gorge trails. A full day lets you add The Grotto, London Bridge and the 4.4km-return Port Campbell Discovery Walk without rushing.
Sometimes. At Gibson Steps, 86 steps descend the cliff to the sand, but access depends on tide and swell and closes at high tide and in large swell. At Loch Ard Gorge the beach access steps are closed while cliff instability is remediated, so you see the beach from the lookouts above.
Port Campbell, 12km east of the Twelve Apostles, has motels, holiday park cabins, fuel and a patrolled beach; Princetown sits closer to the stacks. Both recreation reserves take campers, and bookings are essential year-round.
Little penguins come ashore just after sunset and are seen and heard from the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge platforms. Short-tailed shearwaters return to Muttonbird Island in the evening, September to April, and whales pass the coast between June and October, often from the Port Campbell jetty.
No. Dogs are not permitted in the park, with the exception of the Halladale Walking Track near Peterborough, where a dog on a leash is allowed. Assistance dogs are welcome with entry requirements applying.
Nearby & next
Official information
Always check current alerts before you travel.