National Parks and Reserves

The iconic golden cliffs and crumbling pillars of the Twelve Apostles can be found seven kilometres east of Port Campbell. As well as the above water beauty, spectacular arches, canyons, fissures, gutters and deep sloping reefs make up the environment below the waves. Powerful waves of the Southern Ocean constantly pound the coastline which has shaped the area into what you see today.

The remarkable underwater structures provide a complex foundation for magnificent habitats including kelp forests and colourful sponge gardens. Many animals prosper here including seabirds, seals, lobsters, reef fish and sea spiders. The intertidal and shallow subtidal reefs are known to have the greatest diversity of invertebrates on limestone reef in Victoria.

Marine mammals, such as whales, are also known to visit the area. Patient visitors after dark or in the early morning may see Little Penguins which nest in caves below the Twelve Apostles.

Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.