Pay to see the Twelve Apostles
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382005)
Rockingham, Australia
March 11, 2026 2:46am CST
Some Australians, and no doubt others, are up in arms over the government’s decision to introduce a fee and booking system on those wishing to view the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
These iconic limestone stacks are quite close to each other and six of the seven are visible from a viewing platform. Despite the name, there were only nine originally.
The $126m Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre is due to open at the end of 2026. Six million tourists travel and Great Ocean Road each year with two million visiting the Twelve Apostles. The money raised will be used to combat coastal erosion, climate change and the impact of visitors along the 240km stretch of coastline.
We travelled the road in 2018 and the not-particularly-good photo is mine of the Apostles.
14 people like this
13 responses
@toniganzon (77128)
• Philippines
11 Mar
Is the fee expensive? The intention seems to be good to me. Coz too many visitors can impact the environment and the fee is for the reservation of such.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77128)
• Philippines
11 Mar
@JudyEv Yes and I understand why the government has to impose a fee. Venice imposed a fee on peak days to reduce the crowd and I understand that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382005)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar
@toniganzon They have to have some way of controlling the number of people in an area at one time.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Mar
Interesting rock formations. Nice costal pic of the coastline. I miss the ocean. I used to go every few years and haven't been in quite a while.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Mar
@JudyEv ........I'm more of a mountain and forest type a gal.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174358)
• United States
11 Mar
If they want to see them, then they shouldn't complain about a fee. They should have made the trip earlier when it was still a free-to-use site. *shrug*
Nothing wrong with your photo. Please stop apologizing when you took the photo instead of Vince. 
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (3828)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
16 Mar
i saw them in a magazine or telly but i forgot their name. wow, they are so big yet gracious, since it's an important place to see, fee is expected.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382005)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar
A lot of these tourist places take money to keep them going.
@snowy22315 (208846)
• United States
11 Mar
Oh well, if they charge a fair price, it might not be too bad.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382005)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar
It's going back into improvements so it's probably fair enough.
@FourWalls (86652)
• United States
11 Mar
We’ve had that in the popular national parks out west pretty much since Covid. I didn’t get to visit any national parks out west because of the reservation system. 
There have always been fees for most parks here, and more for tours (such as Mammoth Cave here in Kentucky). I know it’s a shock if it’s always been free. HOPEFULLY the fees will help maintain the place, not go into politicians’ pockets.
There have always been fees for most parks here, and more for tours (such as Mammoth Cave here in Kentucky). I know it’s a shock if it’s always been free. HOPEFULLY the fees will help maintain the place, not go into politicians’ pockets.1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Mar
It will be used good it sounds like. But I understand being upset as it's always been free. They could try a donation system first. That often works well
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97991)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Mar
Never visited Australia but I do armchair travels and I have written about these Apostles,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
11 Mar
I hope it all works out for the best.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (5216)
• Northampton, England
11 Mar
One collapsed when I was there .Stunning drive though
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382005)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar
I'm pretty sure part of the road washed away during our recent floods. It is indeed a stunning drive.
