In Australia we are fortunate to have many natural wonders, including the Twelve Apostles, located along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. It’s a place I’ve seen in photos, movies and in print, but nothing prepared me for seeing it in person. I was looking forward to our visit but I was absolutely floored by the beauty and I haven’t stopped raving about it since. It was definitely a highlight of our travel last year. What made it even better was the impressive accessibility at the lookout, which allows for easy viewing for everyone.
Tips for visiting 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road
Rising from the Southern Ocean, seven of the original twelve limestone stacks, known as the Twelve Apostles, remain for visitors to see. Over time, wind, rain and the force of the ocean has worn down the limestone stacks, causing some to weaken and collapse. It’s a good reminder to appreciate nature in all its wild glory and to take the opportunity to see this rugged coastline with its seven remaining limestone apostles while you can.
After a short wheel/walk, the photo above was the first show-stopping look we had of the Twelve Apostles, and it left me in awe. We were thrilled to have a blue-sky day and only the whisper of a gentle breeze for our visit. The conditions could not have been more perfect.
The best advice we received about visiting this famous site was to arrive early. The peak visitor time is between 11am and 3pm, so we took the advice to heart. Arriving at 9.30am we managed to park with ease, wheel to the lookouts without battling crowds and snapped photos without jostling for position.
The added advantage to arriving early when visiting in summer was that it was a cooler experience and there were fewer flies.
Accessibility at the Twelve Apostles is excellent. Step-free access is provided from the car park to the viewing platforms. This includes the Saddle Lookout which is cantilevered above the cliff, offering an exciting perspective of the limestone stacks that’s accessible to all.
It’s such a joy to experience such a scenic accessible viewing platform. It’s somewhere that can be enjoyed by parents with prams, those with mobility restrictions and wheelchair users like Braeden and accompanying family members. And the best bit is: entry to the Twelve Apostles is free.
It took us just under 90 minutes to drive from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles.
It’s an easy day trip from Apollo Bay or it can be a stop on your way to Warrnambool (our next stop) or somewhere further afield.
A kiosk and a unisex stand-alone accessible bathroom are available at the visitor centre.
After checking out the lookouts we were fortunate to have a helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles which was spectacular (info on that coming soon). Once we’d had our flight, I convinced the family to go back to the lookout again. It was 12pm by then and the crowds, heat and flies were all at their peak. While the Twelve Apostles were still shining bright, I was extremely grateful we’d had a peaceful visit earlier in the day. It’s worth making the effort to arrive early.
Whether you are an Aussie or a visitor from overseas, we highly recommend a visit to the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road. It is truly one of the most scenic coastal drives we have done. We have been advised that sunrise and sunset are spectacular times to view the Twelve Apostles and you might even be lucky enough to see penguins on the beach in the distance at dusk.
We were hosted for our visit to the Great Ocean Road but as always our opinions are our own. I’m hoping that our photos will inspire you to pop this natural attraction on you must-see list.
