Perth, Oct 7: From October 16, every visitor to Victoria’s Twelve Apostles will need a booking, as a $126 million visitor precinct opens on the Great Ocean Road and changes the way millions of people visit the landmark.
The redevelopment aims to turn one of the world’s most photographed coastlines into a place where people stay, rather than a quick stop for a photo before getting back on the bus.
At its centre is the new 3,300-square-metre Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre. It includes exhibitions, digital displays, regional visitor information, guided experiences and the Great Ocean Lookout, a rooftop garden and observation area facing the Southern Ocean.
Eastern Maar culture at the heart
The centre was designed in consultation with the Eastern Maar people, the Traditional Owners of the land, and their culture and knowledge run through the whole experience.
Visitors arrive through a Welcome Garden of native plants and trails that introduces Eastern Maar culture. Inside, interactive displays, artefacts and guided experiences cover the area’s deep history, its geology and ecology, the changing coastline and the people connected to Country.
A dedicated Keerray Woorroong exhibition uses audiovisual and static displays to trace millions of years of climate and geological history, along with the environmental story of the national park.
Precinct general manager Andre Smaniotto said the landmark now offered far more than its famous view.
“The new Visitor Centre gives people the opportunity to slow down, discover the stories of this remarkable place and experience the coast through a broader lens,” he said.
Local food and a regional boost
Food is a big part of the new precinct, with a 230-seat café and a walk-up kiosk overlooking the Welcome Garden. Local producers including Timboon Distillery and Timboon Fine Ice Cream are on the menu, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Operators hope that longer visits will spread tourists across the region and help local businesses, hospitality venues and accommodation providers.
Visitor Ambassadors, talks and self-guided audio tours will help visitors plan the rest of their trip. The precinct also has family, accessible and sensory facilities.
Getting there
The precinct has almost 600 car spaces and 100 coach and coaster bays. Access to nearby Loch Ard Gorge and the Gibson Steps is unchanged.
The centre opens every day of the year, from 8am to 8pm during daylight saving and 9am to 5pm in standard time. The operator suggests allowing one to two hours.
The project was funded through the Geelong City Deal and delivered by Development Victoria. Grimshaw and Aspect Studios were the lead architects and landscape architects, and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority will run the site.
Visitors who arrive without a booking can make one at the gate, but they may have to wait if the car park is full.
Bookings are free for now through twelveapostles.org.au, with a separate option for schools, tour operators and community groups. A fee will be introduced in April 2027, with all revenue going back into coastal protection, conservation and visitor facilities. The fee amount has not been announced.
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