Victoria’s iconic 12 Apostles has a new viewing platform, designed in partnership with the local Eastern Maar community.

 

Visitors to the Great Ocean Road and Shipwreck Coast can now enjoy a safer and more accessible experience at the 12 Apostles with the completion of the new ‘Saddle Lookout’ viewing platform.

Parks Victoria worked in partnership with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to design and deliver the new platform, which is built on Keerray Woorroong Country.

The project is part of the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan which aims to protect the fragile coastal environment, improve opportunities for visitors, and strengthen the local economy.

The 12 Apostles Lookout is also the finishing point for the multi-day Great Ocean Walk. After trekking just over 100km along the spectacular coastline, you can soak up the iconic vistas from the new viewing platform!

 

Completed Twelve Apostles lookout, image 2, Credit Parks Victoria

Ready to visit! The completed ‘Saddle Lookout’

Improved Design and New Views of the Coastline

The new ‘Saddle Lookout’ viewing platform has replaced viewing areas that no longer catered for the over 2 million visitors who make the drive (or hike!) to the popular coastal destination each year. It includes wider paths and accessible viewing areas and has opened up a greater view of the stunning coastline.

The design of the lookout, led by the Eastern Maar community, resembles two clapsticks and includes the colours of the Ngayook / Sulphur Crested cockatoo and Ponponpoorramook / Red-Tailed Black cockatoo – two important totemic species to Eastern Maar peoples.

 

The 12 Apostles Has a Brand New Lookout, photo by Parks Victoria, Saddle Lookout, Great Ocean Road

Wider, more accessible pathways – and new aspects!

New Lookout to Follow at Loch Ard Gorge

As part of the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, works are underway at the nearby Loch Ard Gorge visitor area.

A viewing area is under construction at the ‘The Blowhole’ – a spectacular opening in the cliffs that fills with roaring ocean waves in big swell conditions.

It’ll be the third project in Stage One of the Master Plan, following the completion of the new 12 Apostles viewing platform this month and a 60m suspension bridge over Port Campbell Creek completed in 2020.

 

Images thanks to Parks Victoria

We share news on topics relevant to our mission of getting people outdoors and protecting the environment. We choose carefully to cover the topics we reckon you’ll find interesting or need to know about, this means quirky stories as well as the hard-hitting ones. We're all human here, so occasionally you'll get our writers' opinions as well. We’re proud to follow our Editorial Standards in every article we publish.