The 12 Apostles opens its new visitor centre on 16 October

The 12 Apostles opened the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre in Port Campbell on 16 October 2026, bringing a new arrival system to the coastal landmark. The opening marks a change for travellers visiting this section of Port Campbell National Park, with advance booking now required for the precinct and viewing areas.

Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the $126 million redevelopment opened to visitors on 16 October 2026. The authority operates the centre, which is designed as a gateway to the coast and the surrounding region. Its official opening update gives the date and explains the new visitor arrangements.

The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre contains immersive exhibitions, digital experiences, regional visitor information and facilities shaped by Eastern Maar culture and perspectives. A rooftop garden and observation area, known as the Great Ocean Lookout, adds a new element to a visit that previously centred mainly on the coastal viewing platforms.

The booking system opened on 5 October 2026, ahead of the public opening. The operator states that visitors need a pre-booked arrival for the new precinct, including access to the viewing areas, so the practical change concerns both parking and entry rather than only the building itself.

The 12 Apostles gains a new visitor route

The centre is the main building in a 3,300m2 precinct redevelopment. The authority describes the project as a way to improve visitor movement, provide expanded parking and create more space for interpretation of the landscape and its cultural context. The project information names the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority as the future operator.

The rock stacks rise from the Southern Ocean beside the Great Ocean Road in Port Campbell National Park. The regional tourism authority places the park between Princetown and Peterborough and records that only seven of the original formations remain, while about 30 rock formations line this part of the coastline. That continuing erosion makes the new centre’s geological interpretation directly relevant to the landscape outside.

The redevelopment also changes the rhythm of a visit. Travellers now encounter interpretation, cultural material and a rooftop viewpoint before reaching the coastal lookouts, linking the date of the opening with the place’s geology and Eastern Maar custodianship. Access to Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge remains unchanged, according to the operator.

Visiting The 12 Apostles: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre and the new precinct opened on 16 October 2026 at The 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park.
• A reservation is required for the precinct and viewing areas; the operator says the booking model also secures a place in the visitor parking area.
• The site is on Booringa Road in Port Campbell National Park, beside the Great Ocean Road and about 7 km east of Port Campbell.
• The visitor route includes sealed paths, lookouts, viewing platforms and a boardwalk; the regional tourism authority records 600 metres of sealed paths through the centre and viewing area.

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Frequently asked questions about The 12 Apostles

When did the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre open at The 12 Apostles?

The centre opened on 16 October 2026 as part of a $126 million precinct redevelopment operated by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

What has changed at The 12 Apostles?

Visitors now need a reservation for the new precinct and viewing areas, while the centre adds exhibitions, Eastern Maar perspectives and a rooftop observation area.

Where is The 12 Apostles and how do you get there?

The site is on Booringa Road in Port Campbell National Park, beside the Great Ocean Road and about 7 km east of Port Campbell.