Things to do in Princetown

No. 8 of Night Attractions in Australia

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most famous coastal drives, located in Victoria and stretching approximately 243 kilometers. It features numerous breathtaking natural attractions, the most famous being the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks rising majestically from the Southern Ocean. The Great Ocean Road is not only a scenic drive but also an excellent way to experience the natural beauty of Australia's southern coastline.

No. 12 of Best Things to Do in Victoria

Twelve Apostles

Twelve Apostles stand in Australia inthe Great Ocean Road-adjacent Port Campbell National Park (Parks Victoria), and are the product of the Southern Ocean's waves and strong winds eroding limestone cliffs over tens of millions of years. Seawater carved caves into the cliff face, the caves widened into arches, and when the arches collapsed, they formed isolated stacks that broke away from the coast, some reaching approx. 45 m in height. These stacks were named Twelve Apostles in the 1950s—although only nine remained at the time. The name comes from Jesus' twelve apostles in the Bible, but there were never actually twelve stacks. The waves erode the limestone at approx. 2 cm per year. Stacks collapsed under wave erosion in 2005 and 2009, and this geological process is ongoing. Wooden boardwalk viewing platforms run along the cliff, allowing visitors to walk out and overlook the stacks and the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean. At sunset, the setting sun turns the stacks golden, making it one of the classic scenes along theGreat Ocean Road.

No. 3 of Spring Outings in Australia

Port Campbell National Park (Parks Victoria)

Port Campbell National Park (Parks Victoria) is at the heart of the Shipwreck Coast. The park is named after Captain Alexander Campbell, who was active in this area in the 19th century. Steep limestone cliffs stretch along the coastline, where waves and wind have continuously eroded the soft rock layers for millions of years, leaving behind dense and spectacular coastal landforms such as sea stacks, arches, gorges, and sea caves. Twelve Apostles is the park's iconic landmark—a group of limestone stacks rising from the sea, displaying layered colors of golden yellow and gray-white under the sunrise and sunset. Not far away, Loch Ard Gorge is named after the 1878 shipwreck of the "Loch Ard," with towering gorge walls enclosing a hidden beach. To the west,London Archwas originally a double-arched stone bridge connected to the land, but later became an arch standing independently in the sea after the inner arch collapsed. Gibson Steps allow you to descend from the top of the cliff to the beach to admire the scale of the rock stacks from up close. The Grotto is a sea cave at the western end of the park; after the cave roof collapsed, it formed a natural skylight, with sunlight spilling into the water inside the cave.

No. 11 of Family-friendly Attractions in Victoria

GREAT OCEAN ROAD WILDLIFE PARK

This wildlife park is home to a wide variety of native Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, birds, and reptiles. Visitors can observe the animals up close and interact with these adorable animals.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Port Campbell

Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard Gorge, also known as the Loch Ard Gorge, is located within Port Campbell National Park along Australia's Great Ocean Road. Adjacent to the Twelve Apostles, it is a stop on the Shipwreck Coast with a particularly poignant story. The gorge is named after a shipwreck in 1878: that year, a British immigrant ship named the "Loch Ard" struck a reef near the shore while en route to Melbourne. More than 50 people on board perished, and only two teenagers—ship apprentice Tom Pearce and Irish immigrant Eva Carmichael—survived, escaping to safety by using the waters within this gorge. Today, a small cemetery for the victims remains on the cliff top, burying the few victims who were recovered, while most remain forever in the depths of the sea. This cliff area is connected by several walking trails: along the geological trail, you can walk to the blade-like Razorback rock formation, and you can also see the former Island Arch sea arch—after it collapsed in 2009, only two independent rock pillars remained, which are now officially named Tom and Eva, fittingly echoing the two survivors from that year. Continuing forward, the roaring waves of Thunder Cave and the Blowhole, where seawater surges up from the cave when the waves are high, are also worth a stop. You can reach the beach at the bottom of the gorge by following the stairs; even if you don't go down to the beach, standing on the viewing platform to overlook the crescent-shaped beach at the bottom of the valley, the ochre cliffs on both sides, and the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean, the view is equally expansive and spectacular.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Princetown

Gibson Steps

Gibson Steps, located in Victoria, is a cliffside trail along the coastline. The steps extend down to the beach, situated between the base of the wave-eroded cliffs and the crashing surf. Surrounded by many famous attractions Gibson Stepswere carved into the cliff by local landowner Hugh Gibson in the 19th century. Descend the 86 zigzagging steps to reach Gibson Beach (Gibson Beach). The waves at the beach are very strong and not suitable for swimming, but you can take a walk, watch the seagulls,and a major advantage is that you can get a close-up view of two of the massive rocks of the Twelve Apostles.

No. 9 of Night Attractions in Victoria

London Bridge

London Bridge, located in Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road, is a beautiful coastal view formed by the forces of nature. It was once a headland connected to the mainland, but wave erosion formed 2 circular holes, creating a double-arch shape, hence the name.

Twelve Apostles Marine National Park

In this natural park, you can visit many beautiful bays, towering rocks and steep cliffs. It is a great place to enjoy the scenery, have fun and relax.

Twelve Apostles Viewpoint

The Razorback