Tourists will soon have to pay an entrance fee to see the Twelve Apostles on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
The Victorian government will on Monday announce a fee for tourists visiting the $126 million Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, which is scheduled to open in late 2026.
Only seven limestone piles now remain of the original 12, as erosion has caused several to collapse over time.
The entry fee to see the natural wonder is not yet known and will be decided after consultation with interested parties. The government said people living near the site and members of the indigenous Eastern Maar community will not be charged.
A visitor reservation system will also be implemented to manage the number of visits and ensure parking at peak times, the government said.
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the funds raised would support improvements to beach access and visitor facilities and maintain historic monuments.
“The Twelve Apostles are visited by more than two million people every year and the Great Ocean Road is visited by more than six million people, and we want even more people to come and enjoy it,” he said.
“We are investing in the future of the Great Ocean Road region and ensuring that every penny spent in the region stays there.
“It is only fair that visitors to the region pay a small fee to visit this world-class destination so we can maintain it for future generations.”
Corangamite Shire Council and the Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Board issued a joint statement in September urging the state government to introduce a user-pays model to visit the site, coinciding with the opening of the visitor centre.
At the time, they said a charge of between $10 and $20 would help manage crowds and protect the coastal environment.
The government said fees are currently in place to ensure the preservation of other popular and world-renowned destinations across Australia, including Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kosciuszko National Park and Wineglass Bay Lookout.
