The Great Ocean Road offers a comprehensive introduction to Port Campbell National Park, allowing you to experience the area and its inhabitants during your Great Ocean Road Tours. You can drive along the coast to see the scenery or explore on foot to observe the animals, plant life, and landscape more closely.
Exploring Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell National Park is a popular destination in Australia known for its famous natural landmarks. Travelers on the Great Ocean Road scenic drive can explore the park’s rugged coast, observe wildlife, and learn about the area’s history.
Victoria is home to a must-visit national park known for its exciting sights. Spend a day or two exploring all the best attractions, like the 12 Apostles and Mutton Bird Island. Port Campbell National Park is a popular destination along the Great Ocean Road.
Directions to Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell National Park is situated on Australia’s southern coast in Victoria. Visitors can access the park by flying into Melbourne’s International Airport and driving approximately ten minutes east to the town of Port Campbell.
Port Campbell National Park can be accessed via the Great Ocean Road or coastal paths, providing visitors with views of top tourist attractions along the coast.
Activities available at Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell is a popular tourist spot on the Great Ocean Road due to its proximity to attractions like the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. The town itself has much to offer, with homemade baked goods, a local beach popular with surfers, and craft stores for souvenirs.
The town’s main street, Lord Street, is easily recognizable with its lined trees. Named after Captain Alexander Campbell, who supervised a nearby whaling station in Port Fairy, Port Campbell is halfway between Warrnambool and Lavers Hill and boasts a stunning coastline with dramatic cliffs.
Port Campbell National Park offers a range of activities and attractions, including natural rock formations, native wildlife, and historical sites. Established in 1964, the park spans 1750 hectares and is ideal for beachcombing, snorkelling, bird watching, and other recreational activities.
Port Campbell Discovery Walk
Port Campbell offers excellent outdoor recreation opportunities. Instead of driving on the Great Ocean Road, you can hike on the Port Campbell Discovery Walk. This path runs along the coast, providing views of local landmarks and colourful flora for a unique experience.
The Port Campbell Discovery Walk is the primary hiking trail in the park, covering a loop path of about four kilometres. The average time to complete the hike is 1-2 hours, but it may vary depending on how long you spend admiring the scenery.
The discovery walk features stunning views of the 12 Apostles, Sentinel Rock, and Loch Ard. Don’t forget to visit the viewing platform at the trail’s end for a panoramic view of the Port Campbell harbour and coastline.
Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles is a natural landmark on the coast made up of a group of towering rock stacks just off the beach. It is recommended to visit the site before it disappears.
The 12 Apostles are seven limestone stacks formed by water erosion. Originally arches, they became stacks when the linking bridges collapsed. Initially eight, one collapsed in 2005. The remaining stacks continue to erode and may face the same fate.
One of the popular attractions in Port Campbell National Park is visiting the 12 Apostles. The rock structures against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean offer a stunning natural beauty worth experiencing.
There is a viewing platform that offers excellent views of the stacks. Visitors can also stand on the beach below to experience the height of the stacks, which can reach up to 50 meters.
London Bridge
London Bridge is a famous rock formation located off the coast in Port Campbell National Park along the Great Ocean Road in Australia. Formerly known as the original London Bridge, it has been renamed the London Arch after a recent collapse.
The site known as London Bridge gets its name from its visual resemblance to the actual London Bridge. The arched design of the rocks was created through continuous water erosion from the ocean, resulting in two perfectly formed arches on the protruding rock.
Visitors could access the cliff’s edge by walking across the bridge before its collapse. The bridge provided stunning coastal views and ocean scenery. The main bridge to the mainland collapsed in 1990, leaving behind a single arch, leading to the name change.
A viewing platform is available along the coast, providing views and information plaques about the site.
The Grotto
The Port Campbell National Park coastline has many unique rock formations. The Grotto is a popular spot to visit, a natural sinkhole with a stunning sea view. It is one of the most photographed locations in the park.
The Grotto is a unique rock formation created by erosion, easily accessible via the Great Ocean Road. Visitors can explore this site, which has a nearby car parking lot for convenience.
At the top of the site is an information plaque explaining the formation of the Grotto. Visitors can see the Grotto from above, but for the best photo opportunities, they can climb the stairs down into the Grotto.
The Grotto offers a view of the ocean through a rock arch and, during low tide, includes a small pool inside.
Gibsons Steps
Port Campbell National Park visitors can access the park from either the east or west. Those entering from the east will enjoy the Gibsons Steps attraction, which provides an excellent viewpoint and leads down to the beach.
At Gibsons Steps, a clifftop offers a beautiful view of the sea and the cliffside. To reach Gibsons Beach, one of the best beaches in the park, you walk down the stairs. The beach has golden sands with blue waves crashing onto it. Many visitors come to the beach for photos and to see the Twelve Apostles from the beach.
Gibsons Beach is best visited during low tide when more of the beach is visible. The rough waters are calmer during this time, although swimming is still not recommended.
To reach Gibsons Steps, it is recommended to park at the 12 Apostles car park and take a walk along the Great Ocean Walk, which is located next to the Great Ocean Road.
Port Campbell Bay
Port Campbell is easily accessible from the Great Ocean Road and serves as the central town hub for visitors to the Port Campbell National Park. One of the key attractions in town is Port Campbell Bay, which offers scenic views along the coast. Formerly a busy area for transporting goods by boat, it is now a popular spot for recreational activities.
Port Campbell Bay is situated at Lord Street’s terminus, the town’s primary commercial thoroughfare. The street, adorned with shops, transitions into a verdant area that descends towards the beach. Despite its modest size, the bay is a popular spot for residents and visitors seeking relaxation.
The bay is sheltered by two cliffs, creating calm waters for swimming and surfing. You can fish at the Port Campbell Jetty in the bay. There are benches for relaxing and picnicking while enjoying the views. It’s a pleasant spot to spend the day.
Mutton Bird Island
The Mutton Bird, a native bird of Australia, can be commonly found in Port Campbell National Park, particularly at Mutton Bird Island. This island, a unique rock formation off the coast, is a popular nesting spot for many seabird species.
Over 12,000 birds inhabit Mutton Bird Island. The ideal time to visit is between September and April. Consult the website for migration times to witness the impressive sight of large flocks returning together.
The Mutton Bird Lookout offers a great view of a small island with a unique shape and features, such as an arch created by erosion. The island is inaccessible to visitors but home to birds that burrow within it.
Visit the visitor information centre to pick up binoculars for enhanced viewing.
Loch Ard Gorge
Loch Ard Gorge, located in Port Campbell National Park, is considered one of the most beautiful sights in the area. Visitors can enjoy the scenery and learn about its historical significance. It is conveniently located just a few minutes away from the Twelve Apostles.
Loch Ard Gorge, situated along the coast, is a popular stop on the Great Ocean Road. Its name reflects a historical shipwreck involving the Loch Ard ship, with detailed information available on-site to learn about the tragic event and its two survivors.
Go down the stairs to reach the beach. Viewing the gorge from below allows you to admire the stunning cliffs rising from the ocean. Information plaques are scattered around the gorge, providing details about the shipwreck site. Additionally, an on-site museum offers tours and exhibitions showcasing its history.
The walking trail on the Shipwreck Coast features points of interest, such as a cemetery honouring those lost during the wreck and the Tom and Eva Lookout, named after two survivors, offering coastal views.
Port Campbell National Park is a popular destination for tourists. It is one of Victoria’s many parks but stands out for its unique features. Visitors can enjoy scenic viewpoints overlooking the Indian Ocean and natural landmarks shaped by erosion. It is a great place to spend a weekend away from Melbourne.