Address & Contact
Port Campbell National Park
Victoria
Phone: 13 1963
Email: info@parks.vic.gov.au
Web: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/port-campbell-national-park/things-to-do/twelve-apostles
The 12 Apostles are located 275 kilometres west of
Melbourne, approximately a four-hour drive along the Great Ocean Road.
WHAT ARE THE TWELVE APOSTLES: Created by constant erosion of the
limestone cliffs of the mainland beginning 10–20 million years ago, the stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer
limestone, forming caves in the cliffs.
The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed
rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore. View the 12 Apostles at sunrise and sunset as they change colour from dark and foreboding in shadow to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.
When they were christened the 12 Apostles by Victorian tourism in the 1920s, there were only nine in the cluster. Now there's eight. And with the rapid rate of erosion, it is forecast that this number will reduce even further.
Visitors are advised it is illegal to park on the Great Ocean Road (or any road) adjacent to a solid yellow line.
You can now park your car at the 12 Apostles and walk to
Gibson Steps via a 1.1km section of the Great Ocean Walk. The walk departs from the back of the kiosk at the 12 Apostles and safely underpasses the Great Ocean Road near the
Gibson Steps viewing platform and
beach access.