Discover the Natural Wonders of Port Campbell National Park on Australia’s Great Ocean Road

Australia is a breathtakingly gorgeous country that is home to an abundance of stunning natural beauty. Port Campbell National Park is one of Australia’s most celebrated natural wonders. Located in the southwestern district of Victoria, Port Campbell National Park features stunning rock formations, miles of picturesque coastline, and plenty of opportunities to view some of Australia’s legendary wildlife.

The best way to fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of Port Campbell National Park is to travel along the Great Ocean Road—which offers some of the world’s most spectacular ocean views. Tour companies such as Aussie Tours offer a one-day Great Ocean Road Tour that includes transportation from Melbourne, stops at charming seaside towns for tea and refreshments, and tours of delightful Port Campbell National Park spots such as Loch Ard Gorge. Visitors can also opt to drive the Great Ocean Road themselves by renting a car in Melbourne. Port Campbell National Park and the most scenic stretches of the Great Ocean Road are located roughly two hours away from Melbourne.

One of the grand highlights of Port Campbell National Park is Loch Ard Gorge. Named after an infamous 1878 shipwreck with just two teenage survivors, Loch Ard Gorge is home to a sandy beach surrounded by a maze of stately rock formations that have been sculpted by relentless erosion. Visitors can climb a stairway to gain a panoramic view of Loch Ard Gorge. There is also a small museum that details the geological and social history of the area. No trip to Loch Ard Gorge is complete without viewing a collapsed archway with two distant pillars named Tom and Eva, in honor of the survivors of the Loch Ard shipwreck.

Located approximately 10 miles away from Loch Ard Gorge, the Twelve Apostles are some of the most impressive sea stacks in the world. If you only count nine rock formations, your eyes are not deceiving you. The Twelve Apostles were once simply known as The Apostles, but the incredible scope of the sea stacks inspired the biblical name—even if there are only nine rocks. Visitors can view the Twelve Apostles from a lookout point or sign up for a helicopter tour at a nearby visitor center.

Muttonbird Island is home to a wide variety of birds, including the short-tailed shearwater—otherwise known as the muttonbird. Visitors can also scan the horizon for whales. No trip to Australia is complete without a stop at the gorgeous Port Campbell National Park.

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