Located seven kilometres east of Port Campbell, the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park is Victoria's second largest Marine National Park and covers 7,500 hectares along approximately 17 kilometres of coastline. The park extends out from the renowned Twelve Apostles and includes some of Victoria's most spectacular underwater scenery. There are rich intertidal and subtidal invertebrate communities, dramatic underwater arches, canyons, fissures, gutters and deep sloping reefs. Although the Marine National Park itself is relatively inaccessible from the shore because of the high cliffs and powerful sea conditions, the park includes the Twelve Apostles rock formations, and is the third most visited natural site in Australia.

The wild and powerful Southern Ocean that sculpts the area's limestone landscape also shrouds a remarkable seascape beneath the waves; a submarine labyrinth of towering canyons, caves, arches and walls. These natural features are festooned with colourful seaweed and sponge 'gardens', resident schools of reef fish, such as sweep, gliding above and the occasional visit by an Australian Fur Seal.

Breeding colonies of seabirds regularly inhabit the rock stacks and islands within the park and the adjacent coastline has sites of significance for flora and fauna. There are also sites of geological and geomorphological significance including karst (i.e cave) topography.

For the latest information on track closures and park access, please see the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire smart. Follow the Parks Victoria checklist before travelling.

Local directions

The park is located southeast of Port Campbell bewteen Sherbrook and Pebble Point. The high energy coastline and rugged cliffs of the coast makes access difficult.

Facilities

Activities

Additional business information

Heritage
Like much of the Victorian coast, the region covered by the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park is significant due to the wide use of the area by coastal Aborigines. A number of indigenous cultural sites of significance have been identified along the adjacent coast including middens and stone artefact scatters. There have been no archaeological sites identified within the park, however local indigenous communities still hold a strong affiliation with the marine and coastal environment of the area. Notable sites within the Marine National Park relating to European Settlement include: * Gibson's steps and tunnel adjacent to the Marine National Park, dating back to the 1880s, which were constructed to provide access through a cliff to the beach; * Marie Gabrielle anchors, from a shipwreck in 1869. An iron anchor and part of the capstan from the French barque are located near Moonlight Head. This ship was on route from China with a load of tea when it hit the reef after being forced ashore by strong winds. Bass Strait was a major shipping route supplying the growing colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. Five ships, comprising both immigrant ships and traders, are located in or near this park. The Loch Ard was wrecked in 1878. Fifty-two lives were lost. The two survivors were cared for at the Glenample Homestead. Four casualties from the wreck are buried in the Loch Ard cemetery. Other shipwrecks in the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park include the Marie Gabrielle, mentioned above and the Fiji, an Irish barque that ran aground in 1891 after losing its way near Cape Otway in heavy seas. Twelve lives were lost in this wreck. Both of these ships are found on a stretch of coast known as Wreck Beach at Moonlight Head.

Precautions
For your own safety, only undertake activities appropriate to your skills and abilities. Take all necessary precautions, be aware of changing conditions, and watch for potential hazards, such as rips. A number of Victorian marine animals are potentially harmful if not treated with respect and care, so ensure that you familiarise yourself with these species. Sunburn and hypothermia are also potentially harmful but easily avoided. SCUBA diving is a potentially high risk activity and should only be undertaken by appropraitely qualified people that have completed recognised training and certification. Victoria's cool water environments can be extremely challenging to those used to diving in warmer waters so ensure that local knowledge is sought before undertaking a dive in a new location. Dive charter operators can provide some of the best advice on diving in Victoria.