One of the most beautiful and scenic drives in Australia is the journey from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles. Travelling from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles takes you through the state of Victoria, crossing the border into the state of South Australia. With that being said, this blog will detail the complete journey and the weather travelers can expect as they hit the road from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles. Aside from that, readers will also get an update on how many of the 12 Apostles are left, as well as other interesting facts about these scenic limestone formations.
The Complete Journey Map From Melbourne To 12 Apostles Via Great Ocean Road
Melbourne To Geelong
To leave Melbourne for the 12 Apostles, you’ll need to take the M1 highway in a southern direction until you hit the Geelong highway. Along the way, you can stop and visit:
- Eastern Beach Reserve
- Geelong Botanical Gardens
- Kardinia Park
- National Wool Museum
- Serendip Sanctuary
- Baywalk Bollards
Total Length: 73 km
Geelong To Lorne
From Geelong, set your next journey at Torquay and travelling eastwards through the B100. Go past Anglesea and Bells Beach, you’ll greet the Great Ocean Road sign. Notably, this route will take you along some of the most scenic coastlines in Victoria. With many wild and natural attractions that will highlight your long trip from Melbourne to 12 Apostles, such as:
- Erskine River Caves
- Bells Beach
- Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Bellarine Railway
- Australian National Surfing Museum
- Fort Queenscliff
- Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
Total Length: 70 km
Lorne To Apollo Bay
As you leave the Great Ocean Road sign, continue your journey down B100. This route will take you to Teddy’s Lookout where you can see the Great Ocean Road set against the backdrop of the tranquil ocean waves. Along this road, there are also many natural attractions to explore such as:
- Erskine Falls
- Kennett River
- Sheoak Falls
- Cumberland River
- Artillery Rocks
- Shipwreck Memorial
- Carisbrook Waterfall
Total Length: 45 km
Apollo Bay To 12 Apostles
This is where you can conclude your trip from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles. From here, you have 2 options to proceed your trip. Your first option is to continue venturing past Great Otway National Park forests with your car to the 12 Apostles. With this option, you may make another stop at Marriners Lookout for sweeping views over Apollo Bay. On the other hand, you can take on the 8-day challenge with Great Ocean Walk—a 100km walk that will take you along the coastline, through beaches and rainforests, and give you some incredible views. With either way, you’ll get to see these attractions:
- Great Otways National Park
- Elliot River
- Maits Rest Rainforest Walk
- Cape Otway and Historic Lighthouse
- Aire River
- Johanna Beaches
- Lavers Hill
- Otway Fly Treetops Walk
Total Length: 86 km
Conclude Melbourne To 12 Apostles Trip With Nearby Attractions
Now that you’ve made the trip all the way from Melbourne to 12 Apostles, you might as well make some more stops along the way before heading back! So here are some other great locations to check out:
- Gibson’s Steps to the Beach
- Loch Ard Gorge
- Port Campbell
- The Arch
- London Bridge
- The Grotto
- Princetown Boardwalk
- Warrnambool
When Is The Best Time To Visit The 12 Apostles?
It’s important to check the weather forecast before driving all the way from Melbourne to 12 Apostles. Overall, the weather in Princetown, where 12 Apostles is located, is relatively stable. But the warm weather from September to February definitely makes it more enjoyable to visit. Though, you have to keep in mind that there will be more crowds during these months. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, you may want to consider visiting during Autumn (March – May) or Winter (June – August), when the weather is usually cold by Australian standards.
How Many Of The 12 Apostles Are Left?
If you hit the road from Melbourne to 12 Apostles now, you would see for yourself that there are only 7 apostles still standing. The first apostles collapsed in 2005 and the next in 2009 – all due to erosion, the same process that created them. However, it’s also worth nothing that, despite their name, there were never twelve of them. There were only 9 apostles when it was first found.
Trivia Highlight: 10 Interesting Facts About The 12 Apostles
Before you hit the road from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles, you might want to check out these facts first:
- 12 Apostles is a result of erosion
- Limestone, consisting of shells, coral, and animal bones, forms the Apostles
- Sow and Piglets was the original name of 12 Apostles
- The stacks were also known as the Pinnacles
- The new name was given to attract tourists and it has nothing to do with the Bible
- In January 1798, Englishman George Bass was the first to view the 12 Apostles and dubbed them the Sow and Piglets
- The 12 Apostles are believed to be 15-20 million years old
- There are additional rock formations nearby like London Bridge and Thunder Cave
- The 12 Apostles will eventually completely disappear and reform in different ways
- There’s Apostles Visitor Center
