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National park · Australia

Port Campbell National Park

Entry is free — no gate, no ticket. Drive the Great Ocean Road and stop at the Twelve Apostles before 9:00 or after 17:00 to dodge the coach crowds; Loch Ard Gorge and the Loch Ard shipwreck walk are the best short hikes.

Not field-verifiedSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
Map to the park
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From where I am

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Area

18 km²

approximate

Established

1964

Best months

Oct–Mar

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

At a glance

Country
Australia
Area
18 km²
About 1,750 hectares (17.5 km²) after the 1981 extension, from Curdies Inlet near Peterborough to Point Ronald at Princetown (check).
Established
1964
Best months
Oct–Mar
Permits
For some areas

Port Campbell National Park protects a 30-odd km strip of limestone coast along the Great Ocean Road: sea stacks, gorges, arches and blowholes cut by Southern Ocean swell. The Twelve Apostles get the crowds; the rest of the park — Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, London Arch, the Grotto — is quieter and, for many visitors, better. There is no entrance fee and no gate. The park is a day-use stop on the drive between Apollo Bay and Warrnambool, not a place you sleep in.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

  • No UNESCO listing; national park since 1964.

Size and age

18 km² · national park since 1964

About 1,750 hectares (17.5 km²) after the 1981 extension, from Curdies Inlet near Peterborough to Point Ronald at Princetown (check).

Why go

  • The Twelve Apostles: seven remaining limestone stacks standing in the surf off a 70 m cliff.
  • Loch Ard Gorge, where the clipper Loch Ard wrecked in 1878 — two survivors out of 54 aboard.
  • A chain of stops you can do in one afternoon: Gibson Steps, the Arch, London Arch, the Grotto.
  • Free entry and roadside car parks, so the cost of the day is fuel and food, not tickets.

When to go

12-month verdict
  1. JanBest
  2. FebBest
  3. MarBest
  4. AprGo
  5. MayGo
  6. JunCaution
  7. JulCaution
  8. AugCaution
  9. SepGo
  10. OctBest
  11. NovBest
  12. DecBest
  • JanWarmest month; long evenings, biggest crowds
  • FebWarm and settled; still busy
  • MarMild, fewer coaches after Easter
  • AprCooler; rain returns
  • MayQuiet; grey and windy
  • JunCold, wet, short days
  • JulColdest; squalls off the Southern Ocean
  • AugWet and windy; whales offshore
  • SepWild weather, dramatic seas, few people
  • OctMild, changeable, shoulder-season crowds
  • NovWarm spells; long daylight
  • DecWarm; Australian school holidays start

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for Port Campbell National Park
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Southern right and humpback whales offshoreJun–Sep · Seen from the clifftop lookouts; no boat needed.nononononoyesyesyesyesnonono
Little penguins coming ashore at duskNov–Feb · Along the shoreline near the Twelve Apostles; keep your distance and no torches.yesyesnonononononononoyesyes
Hooded plovers nesting on beachesSep–Mar · Nests are scrapes in the sand — stay off the upper beach and keep dogs away.yesyesyesnononononoyesyesyesyes
Peregrine falcons, swamp harriers and honeyeatersAll yearyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Melbourne

M1 to Geelong, then the Great Ocean Road via Apollo Bay; or the inland route via Colac and the A1/C161 for the fastest run.

2.5–3.5 h

Open the page →

From Apollo Bay

Great Ocean Road west through the Otways to the Twelve Apostles car park.

1.5 h

From Warrnambool

Great Ocean Road east to Port Campbell, then on to the stacks.

1 h

From Port Campbell town

Short drive to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge car parks.

10–15 min

Zones and sectors

Zones of Port Campbell National Park
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
Twelve Apostles and Gibson StepsThe main car park, kiosk, clifftop boardwalks and the 86-step staircase to the beach.Open day and night; free.
Loch Ard Gorge areaGorge, beach, cemetery and the Tom and Eva lookouts.Open; short walks from the car park.
The Arch, London Arch and the GrottoThe western stops along the clifftop between Port Campbell and Peterborough.Open; roadside parking.
The Twelve Apostles Marine National ParkThe protected water and seabed off the stacks.No landing or fishing inside the marine park boundaries (check).

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 8 approximate points in Port Campbell National Park, north up12345678
Approximate positions along the Great Ocean Road, for orientation only.
  1. 1Twelve Apostles car park · Gate≈-38.665, 143.104Kiosk, toilets and the main lookouts.Map ↗
  2. 2Twelve Apostles stacks · Viewpoint≈-38.641, 143.049Map ↗
  3. 3Gibson Steps · Beach≈-38.669, 143.111Map ↗
  4. 4Loch Ard Gorge · Cave≈-38.647, 143.070Map ↗
  5. 5The Arch · Viewpoint≈-38.624, 142.943Map ↗
  6. 6London Arch · Viewpoint≈-38.622, 142.933Map ↗
  7. 7The Grotto · Cave≈-38.605, 142.913Map ↗
  8. 8Port Campbell town · Town≈-38.619, 142.996Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

ViewpointsEasy30–45 minTwelve Apostles clifftop walkPaved and boardwalk paths from the car park to the main and western lookouts; go before 9:00 or after 17:00 in summer.
BeachesModerate30 minGibson StepsAbout 86 steps down a cliff to the sand; the swell is strong and the water is cold — look, don't swim.
TrailsEasy1–1.5 hLoch Ard Gorge and the shipwreck walkSteps down into the gorge, then the clifftop path to the cemetery and the Tom and Eva lookouts.
ViewpointsEasy20 min eachLondon Arch and the ArchShort fenced walks from the car parks; London Arch lost its landward span in 1990, stranding two visitors on the outer section.
CavesEasy15 minThe GrottoA sinkhole and arch at the western end of the park, reached by a short path and steps.
WildlifeEasyJun–SepWhale watching from the clifftopsSouthern right and humpback whales pass offshore in winter; bring binoculars.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

AUD ranges · check
Fees for Port Campbell National Park
ItemRangePerNote
Park entryFreepersonNo entrance fee and no gate; parking at the signed stops is free.
Twelve Apostles kiosk parkingFreevehicleFree, but fills by mid-morning in summer.
V/Line coach, Melbourne to Port CampbellAUD 30–60person one way2026 estimate; limited weekly services, book ahead (check).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry no permit

No permit or ticket; drive in and park at the signed stops.

Camping no permit

Not available — camping and sleeping in car parks are prohibited. Sleep in Port Campbell or Warrnambool.

Drone flight permit or guide

Recreational drones are not allowed in Victorian national parks without a permit from Parks Victoria (check).

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
Stay behind the fences
Cliff edges are undercut and crumble without warning; the signed lookouts are the safe viewpoints.
No camping or sleeping in car parks
Prohibited throughout the park; the nearest beds are in Port Campbell and Warrnambool.
No drones
Recreational drone use needs a Parks Victoria permit and is banned at some sites (check).check
Speed limit
80 km/h on the Great Ocean Road through the park; slow for wildlife and pedestrians.
Leave no trace
Take all rubbish out; there are no bins at most stops.

Where to stay

Near the park

Port Campbell

Motels, holiday units and a hostel 10–15 min from the Twelve Apostles; the closest base.

Near the park

Warrnambool

Larger town with more rooms and services, about 1 h west.

Near the park

Apollo Bay and the Otways

East along the Great Ocean Road; pairs this park with Great Otway National Park.

Safety

Cliff edges and undercut rock high

Keep behind the fences and off the crumbly edges; several collapses have happened here.

Cold water and strong swell high

Do not swim at Gibson Steps or the gorge beach; the water is cold year-round and there are no lifeguards.

Wind and rain medium

Bring a windproof layer; clifftop weather changes fast and umbrellas fail in the wind.

Wildlife on the road medium

Drive at or below 80 km/h and watch for animals at dawn and dusk.

Accessibility

  • The Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge lookouts have paved, wheelchair-accessible paths from the car parks.
  • Gibson Steps and the gorge beach are reached by stairs only.
  • Accessible parking and toilets are at the Twelve Apostles car park.

Visiting lightly

  • Carry out everything you bring; bins are scarce and wildlife raids them.
  • Give hooded plovers and penguins space — nests and burrows are on the beaches and dunes.
  • Take a commercial tour or the V/Line coach instead of a second car where you can.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Port Campbell National Park?

Nothing. There is no entrance fee, no gate and no ticket — parking at the signed stops is free. You pay only for transport, food and any tour you book.

What are the best hikes in Port Campbell National Park?

The Loch Ard Gorge and shipwreck walk (1–1.5 h) is the best short hike, with steps into the gorge and a clifftop path to the cemetery and the Tom and Eva lookouts. Gibson Steps is a 30-minute descent to the beach, and the Twelve Apostles boardwalk loop takes 30–45 minutes.

When is the best time to visit Port Campbell National Park?

December to March for the warmest weather, or October–November and March–April for mild days with fewer coaches. Winter (June–August) is cold, wet and windy but quiet, and it is the season for whales offshore.

How do I avoid the crowds at the Twelve Apostles?

Arrive before 9:00 or after 17:00. Coach groups peak between about 10:00 and 16:00, and the car park fills by mid-morning in summer. Loch Ard Gorge and the western stops are quieter at any hour.

Can I camp or stay overnight in the park?

No. Camping and sleeping in car parks are prohibited. The nearest accommodation is in Port Campbell, 10–15 minutes away, or Warrnambool about an hour west.

Can I swim at Gibson Steps or Loch Ard Gorge?

No. The water is cold year-round, the swell is strong and there are no lifeguards. Treat every beach in the park as a viewpoint, not a swimming spot.

Related

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Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

Sources