Port Campbell National Park is a popular tourist spot in Victoria. It offers scenic viewpoints and natural landmarks created by erosion. The park has must-see sights to explore in a day or two. It’s a perfect option for a weekend trip from Melbourne.
Explore Port Campbell National Park's natural wonders
Port Campbell National Park is a 30-km stretch along the coast of the Great Ocean Road where visitors can witness the breathtaking formations created by the Southern Ocean over millions of years.
The national park forms part of the Shipwreck Coast, predominantly consisting of massive cliffs eroded by the ocean. Every viewpoint accessible by foot or vehicle offers a glimpse of the country’s untamed coastline, featuring remarkable limestone formations and numerous shipwrecks from the Australian Gold Rush era in the 1850s.
Spend a few days exploring the unique coastline. There are many accommodation options in the national park. Drive to the attractions and explore on foot. If time is limited, visit the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, the main attractions in the area.
Directions on how to get to Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell National Park is situated on the southern coast of Australia in Victoria. Visitors can fly into Melbourne’s International Airport and then drive to the park, approximately ten minutes east of Port Campbell.
Visitors can access Port Campbell National Park through the Great Ocean Road or by hiking along coastal paths. Many of the major tourist attractions can be seen along the coast.
Park Details
Port Campbell National Park is open to the public year-round, and admission is free. The park primarily features natural landmarks that are easily accessible by driving and provide scenic views.
The park is a popular tourist destination in Australia due to its location along the Great Ocean Road tour. Visiting during weekdays or the winter season is recommended to avoid large crowds. Tours can be conveniently booked from Melbourne.
Activities at Port Campbell National Park
Port Campbell is a popular stop for tourists on the Great Ocean Road. Why? It’s conveniently close to major attractions like the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Also, remember to explore the town itself. You can try homemade baked goods, enjoy the waves at Two Mile Bay Beach, and pick up a souvenir at local craft stores.
The town known as Port Campbell is located halfway between Warrnambool and Lavers Hill, and its main street, Lord Street, is easily identifiable due to its lined trees. The town was named after Captain Alexander Campbell, who supervised a nearby whaling station at Port Fairy. Port Campbell boasts a stunning coastline bordered by impressive cliffs.
The National Park offers visitors various forms of entertainment, including stunning rock formations, a diverse range of native wildlife, and an intriguing history. Established in 1964, the National Park spans 1750 hectares, allowing ample space for exploration. It provides opportunities for activities such as beachcombing, snorkeling, and bird watching, among others.
Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles is a notable natural landmark on the coast that should be visited before it erodes. The site comprises a collection of tall rock formations just off the coast.
The 12 Apostles are limestone stacks formed by erosion. They started as arches, but the bridges connecting them collapsed. There were originally eight, but one fell in 2005. The remaining stacks still erode and may face the same fate someday.
Visiting the 12 Apostles is a popular activity in Port Campbell National Park. The natural beauty of the rock structures against the Indian Ocean is a captivating sight.
There is a viewing platform that offers optimal views of the stacks. Alternatively, you can stand on the beach below to gain a better perspective on the height of the stacks, which can reach up to 50 meters.
Port Campbell Discovery Walk
Port Campbell is an excellent spot for outdoor activities. Rather than driving on the Great Ocean Road for sightseeing, you can hike on the Port Campbell Discovery Walk. This path runs along the coast and offers beautiful views of local landmarks and colorful flora.
The Port Campbell Discovery Walk is the main hiking trail in the park, extending approximately four kilometers in a loop path. It typically takes people 1-2 hours to complete, depending on how long they stop to enjoy the sights.
The discovery walk offers incredible views of the 12 Apostles, Sentinel Rock, and Loch Ard. Reaching the viewing platform at the trail’s end is recommended for the best Port Campbell harbor and coastline view.
Port Campbell Bay
Port Campbell is the central town hub for visiting the Port Campbell National Park. One of the main sights in town is Port Campbell Bay, a scenic spot along the coast. In the past, it was a busy area for transporting goods by boat. Now, it’s a popular place for recreation and relaxation.
Port Campbell Bay can be found at the end of Lord Street, which is the town’s main commercial area. This street, filled with shops, converts into a green area that descends towards the beach. Despite being a small bay, it is a popular spot for locals and tourists to unwind.
The bay consists of two cliffs that protect it from strong ocean currents. This results in a calm bay with small waves perfect for swimming and surfing. The bay is home to the Port Campbell Jetty, a great fishing spot. There are also many benches where visitors can relax and admire the views or have a picnic. Overall, it is an enjoyable place to spend the day.
London Bridge
London Bridge is a well-known rock formation located off the coast. It is a popular destination along the Great Ocean Road within the Port Campbell National Park. It is considered Australia’s natural version of the original London Bridge, but it was recently renamed the London Arch following a recent collapse.
The site known as London Bridge gets its name due to its visual resemblances to the original London Bridge in London. The arched design of the rocks results from continuous water erosion from the ocean, which has formed two perfectly arched structures on the protruding rock.
Visitors could walk across the bridge before it collapsed. The bridge provided stunning coastal views and ocean scenery. In 1990, the main bridge connecting to the mainland collapsed, leaving behind only one arch. This led to a name change.
Gibsons Steps
The Port Campbell National Park can be accessed from the east and the west. If you enter from the east, you will be greeted by the Gibsons Steps attraction. These steps provide a picturesque view and lead directly to the beach.
Gibsons Steps is located at the clifftop, providing a beautiful view of the sea and cliffside. You can walk down the stairs to Gibsons Beach, one of the park’s top beaches. The beach has golden sands and blue waves crashing onto it. Many people visit for great photos and a view of the Twelve Apostles.
One recommendation for visiting Gibsons Beach is to go during low tide when more of the beach is exposed. The rough waters also tend to be calmer during this time, although swimming is still not advisable.
To reach Gibsons Steps, the recommended method is to park at the 12 Apostles car park and walk along the Great Ocean Walk adjacent to the Great Ocean Road.
The Grotto
The coastline of Port Campbell National Park features distinctive rock formations. One popular location to visit is the Grotto. The Grotto is a natural sinkhole providing a unique sea view. It is a highly photographed spot in the park.
The Grotto is a unique rock formation created by erosion, allowing visitors to climb into its unique environment. It is conveniently accessible via the Great Ocean Road, with a nearby parking lot for easy exploration.
At the top of the site is an information plaque explaining the formation of the Grotto. From this vantage point, you can see the Grotto, but for the iconic photos, you can descend the stairs into the Grotto.
Mutton Bird Island
The Mutton Bird is an Australian bird commonly found in Port Campbell National Park. The best location to observe the short-tailed seabirds is at Mutton Bird Island. This island is another distinct rock formation located off the coast that attracts numerous birds for nesting.
Mutton Bird Island has over 12,000 birds. The ideal time to visit is from September to April. Check the website for migration times to see the fantastic sight of large flocks returning together. It is an impressive sight for anyone who sees it.
The Mutton Bird Lookout offers the best view of the inaccessible island, which has a distinct shape and features an arch created by erosion. The island is also home to birds that burrow within its surface.
Visitors can visit the visitor information center to obtain binoculars for enhanced viewing.
Accommodation options and places to stay
If you plan on visiting the Port Campbell National Park, located around 3 hours west of Melbourne, consider finding accommodations for one or several nights.
Numerous towns in and around the Port Campbell National Park and nearly 100 campgrounds within a 100km radius of the park provide a wide range of options.
Port Campbell is the main town within the national park, offering a wide range of accommodation options, including luxury holiday homes, boutique hotels, camping parks, and backpackers hostels.
Camping at the Port Campbell National Park
In addition to the numerous campsites located in national and state parks near Port Campbell National Park, there are also many options for camping directly within the park itself. However, it should be noted that private camping parks run these options.
Port Campbell has large and busy private camping parks, but if you prefer a more remote atmosphere with facilities, you can head east to Princetown, just ten minutes away.
Princetown has two main campgrounds. The Apostles Camping Park is located in the center of Princetown, across from the 12 Apostles Inn. The inn offers affordable accommodation. At the Apostles Camping Park, you can bring your caravan, pitch a tent, or rent a cabin. The park is well-maintained, with neat surroundings and views of the Princetown wetlands. The facilities are clean and in good condition.
The Princetown Recreation Reserve is near the Gellibrand River, between the center of Princetown and the beach. It offers an affordable camping experience where you can pitch a tent on the old cricket oval. You’ll have the opportunity to camp alongside kangaroos and listen to the powerful sound of the Southern Ocean as it meets the nearby Gellibrand River Mouth, providing a soothing backdrop throughout the night.
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