12 apostles is probably the main reason you are on the Great Ocean Road in the first place and can be called jewel in the crown of Great Ocean Road. These are natural formations along a very rugged coastline, very much weathered by the sea, wind & climate. Some of them have ended up in the sea over time due to this.
Twelve Apostles are 230 Kilometres from Melbourne. There’s loads of parking and an information centre with all facilities.I think this is very difficult to do as a day trip to get as far as the 12 Apostles and still get safely back to Melbourne on same day. The outward journey is spectacular but quite tiring and the faster return journey is very dull which is a bit risky for a very tired driver. We will suggest it to do an overnight trip or even two nights there to explore the entire area which include
- 12 Apostles Marine National Park
- Gibson Steps
- London Arch (formerly London Bridge)
- Loch Ard Gorge
Also you can explore small country towns like Apollo Bay, Port Campbell and Warrnambool on the way as well. All along the grand ocean road and close to the twelve apostles there are some decent hotels and motels in case you want to spend the night there.
The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road is a sight not to be missed. It is an area of most memorable beauty and it is free. The area surrounding the lookouts is easy to access, and is clearly designed with tourists in mind. The site has absolutely gorgeous scenery. Our kids totally loved it. There is next to no food on site though, it has a Cafe, but very, very limited selection, so come prepared.
If you can I would strongly recommend driving down yourself. This gives you the freedom of stopping along the road wherever you want to (and trust me there are going to be many such places), where you would like to just stop to take in the views; whereas a tour bus would only stop at specific lookout points.
This is the main reason people travel the Great Ocean Road. And it lives up to all of the hype. It is truly amazing to see all these giant limestone structures standing tall amidst the pounding surf. Truly beautiful and to me one of the natural wonders of the world. My wife (Anna) always describes it beautiful, rugged, wild, untamed, 100% photogenic, different in every weather and/or light, and best of all unspoilt.
If you going down for sunset you will experience one of the most magical moment in you life especially on a nice clear weather day.
Loch Ard Gorge is an amazing place mesmerised by the waves hitting the cliffs of the narrow opening into the gorge. This is a place of superlative natural beauty interlaced with the tragic loss of life from a shipwreck. Storyboards explain the tale. A less walked but equally spectacular short, well-marked path leaves from the eastern end of the car park and leads to stunning views of sea stacks similar to the 12 Apostles and amazing razorback islands.The Loch Ard Gorge has several areas where you can walk and view the vulnerable cliffs, solitary beaches, and thunderous crashes of the waves.
This place gave a feeling of serenity and soulfulness. It is located just 5 minutes away from the 12 apostles its a must see, get down those stairs and experience a different world altogether.
London Bridge is not far from the 12 apostles; it is another wonder of nature. It has lovely view from either of the viewing platforms. Very close to the road so it’s not a long walk to get there. Amazing to see how these rock formations have formed over years.
Listen to the ocean roar and let the sea air clear your head…… How beautiful is Australia. An absolute must visit. For more detail shots please check out our Photography page 🙂