Twelve Apostles booking and entry

Do you have to pay to see the Twelve Apostles?

Not yet. Bookings are free from 16 October 2026 until April 2027; after that, a booking fee applies, and its amount has not been announced.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the fee will be "consistent with other popular nature-based attractions" and that all the money goes back into the coast and parks of the Great Ocean Road. Until April 2027 you pay nothing, but you still need the booking. On a tour, the operator handles the coach's arrival.

Do you need to book to visit the Twelve Apostles?

Yes, if you drive. A timed-arrival booking is required to enter the precinct and guarantees you a car park at a set time.

The official Twelve Apostles website states "Bookings essential". The Authority's industry update says the public can book up to one month ahead, and that the booking system opened on 5 October 2026, ahead of the public opening. A report in ACM's regional newspapers describes number plate readers and QR codes at the gate and bollards along the road, so stopping on the verge to skip the system is not an option.

Without a booking you may have to wait, or be turned away when the car park is full. Book before you leave Melbourne, and keep the confirmation on your phone, since mobile coverage on the coast can be patchy.

How do you book a Twelve Apostles parking slot?

On the official Twelve Apostles website: choose General Admission, pick a date and an arrival time, and bring the confirmation.

1. Go to the official website (twelveapostles.org.au) and choose General Admission, which covers the visitor centre and the Twelve Apostles at your own pace.
2. Pick your date and arrival time. The car park opens at 6:00am and the visitor centre at 8:00am, so early slots suit sunrise and the quiet hours.
3. Add your vehicle details as asked, so the gate can recognise you.
4. Arrive at your booked time. The official site suggests allowing 1 to 2 hours to explore at a relaxed pace.

Group visits for schools, tours and community groups use a separate booking.

Do tour groups need a booking at the Twelve Apostles?

No. Tour operators book a guaranteed coach bay at a set time, and coaches use a separate boom gate on Booringa Road.

This is the simplest way around the new system. You book the tour, and the operator books the arrival. The reverse boutique tour reaches the Apostles early in the day, and the sunset tour arrives for the evening light, so you get the time of day you want without hunting for a slot. The operator of the reverse tour lists a Twelve Apostles entrance ticket in its price, though entry itself is free until April 2027; the sunset tour includes national park entry fees.

All the road day tours on this site cancel free up to 24 hours before. You can reserve a date while you plan the rest of the trip.

Nothing to book at the gate: inland first to the Twelve Apostles, then Loch Ard Gorge, a rainforest walk and koalas, up to 12 guests.

★ 4.9 · 12 hours · from $97

Explore the reverse boutique tour → Tour details

Who is exempt from the Twelve Apostles fee?

Locals and the Eastern Maar community are to be exempt from the booking fee when it starts in April 2027. Who counts as local is still to be decided.

The Authority's FAQ lists both groups. The Eastern Maar are the Traditional Owners of this coast, and in March 2023 the Federal Court recognised their native title over 8,578 km2 of south-west Victoria, including the Twelve Apostles. The Welcome Garden at the new centre tells part of their story.

For visitors, the exemption makes no difference to the booking itself. Everyone who drives in books an arrival; the fee question only begins in April 2027.

Are Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge part of the booking?

No. The Authority says public access to Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge is unchanged by the booking system.

Both have their own car parks off the Great Ocean Road. Gibson Steps is about 2 km east of the main precinct, with 86 steps down to the beach when conditions allow. Loch Ard Gorge is a few minutes west. Its lookouts are open, while the beach steps stay closed for repairs to the staircase and cliff.

London Bridge and The Grotto, past Port Campbell, are outside the system too. Our guide to Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge has the details and the current closures.

What are the opening hours of the Twelve Apostles visitor centre?

The visitor centre opens 8:00am to 8:00pm, with last arrival at 7pm; the car park opens 6:00am to 9:00pm, and cars can leave at any time.

Those are the hours on the official Twelve Apostles website for the daylight-saving months. The Authority's industry notes give shorter 9am to 5pm building hours in standard time, so check before a winter visit. The official website lists the centre as open daily.

How long do you need at the Twelve Apostles?

One to two hours for the platforms and the visitor centre. Half a day if you add Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge.

The new centre sits about 400 m behind the old one, and a report in ACM's regional newspapers puts the walk to the coast at about 10 to 15 minutes. Allow time for that each way, plus the rooftop deck. There is little shade on the cliff top, so bring a hat, sunscreen, water and closed shoes, as the official site advises. Dogs are not allowed in Port Campbell National Park.

Tours fit the stops around the Apostles into the same day. The reverse tour adds The Razorback, the Gibson Steps lookout and Loch Ard Gorge; the 10-stop tour adds London Bridge.

Frequently asked questions