Scientists estimate the giant limestone sea stacks that jut out from the Southern Ocean - the Twelve Apostles - are thousands of years old; the limestone itself millions of years older.
About two million people each year visit the mysterious ancient formations of the Great Ocean Road. In the past people rocked up, parked their car and walked to the lookout. But those days are nearly gone.
On Friday, free walk-up access comes to a halt, with the official opening of the new $126 million visitor centre, now called the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre. Governments sold it as a tourism and jobs engine. Critics have opposed the project and the entry fee that is set to come with it next year.
How did we get here? The centre was born from the state government’s Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, released in 2015.
The plan has a target of completing 72 projects between Princetown and Peterborough, creating 3,500 jobs and increasing annual spending in the region to $254 million over 20 years.
The Geelong City Deal, signed in March 2019 to improve investment in Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, locked in funding from the Australian and Victorian governments, with the final split bringing $88 million from federal and $38 million from the state.
Construction began in May 2025. More than 750 people worked on construction and 100 employees now work at the centre permanently.
Before and after: The previous facilities offered 246 parking spaces, a kiosk open from 10am to 5pm selling drinks, light food and souvenirs, a toilet block and information boards about the Twelve Apostles and other nearby attractions.
With the new booking and eventual fee system comes the new centre, placed 400 metres behind the old facility, including a 230-seat cafe plus a takeaway kiosk, a gallery and exhibition spaces, visitor information, a rooftop lookout, and 950 parking spaces, including for tour buses and coaches.
The cafe offers acai bowls, toasties and croissants, bacon and eggs, salads, hot dogs, curries, noodles, pasta, soups or fish and chips.
How it works: Opening hours are from 8am to 8pm during daylight savings time, and from 9am to 5pm in the off season. The online booking system provides the option to book as an individual or in a group tour.
Patrons can select whether they need a parking spot, and are asked to enter their licence plate to be scanned at the boom gates on entry, or scan the QR code ticket emailed to them.
There is no time limit on the duration of visits, and you can arrive one hour early or late and still access the car park. If you are outside that window of time, the website asks for you to change your booking time. There are no cancellation or rescheduling fees.
You can arrive without a booking, but may have to wait to gain entry to the centre or the car park on a busy day. The website notes staff will be available to assist visitors.
The debate: Liberal opposition leader Jess Wilson described the proposed fee as a cash grab to the ABC in March.
Polwarth MP Richard Riordan has publicly opposed the project and questioned how the revenue from fees will be spent.
Acting federal Minister for Regional Development Catherine King said in a statement the new visitor centre would support sustainable tourism by attracting visitors to the region for longer.
State Minister for Regional Development and Eureka MP Michaela Settle said in a statement the project “backed local jobs and businesses”.
Now what? Fees are expected to be introduced in April 2027. They have not been set, but Settle has previously told media the fee would be “really small”.
The state government said fees would go back to supporting the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) to preserve the coastline and to help fund other projects in the region.
Local residents are expected to be exempt from paying fees, although the geographical boundaries are yet to be determined.
Header image: Twelve Apostles Precinct