Australia’s Famous Twelve Apostles (Rock Stacks) Are Getting a $126 Million New Visitor Center

One of Australia’s most famous stops along the Great Ocean Road has a new visitor center. The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre at the Twelve Apostles opens on October 16.

According to Regional Development Victoria, the building has a 230-seat cafe, kiosk, gallery, visitor information, restrooms and a rooftop lookout.

The center is part of a larger $126 million Australian-dollar redevelopment of the Twelve Apostles visitor precinct. The project also includes new parking, roads, paths, landscaping and outdoor gathering areas.

There is also one big change for anyone planning a visit. Starting October 16, visitors need to make a reservation before arriving at the Twelve Apostles.

The new center has a rooftop lookout

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The rooftop gives visitors another place to take in the surrounding landscape. Downstairs, there is a new cafe that is more accessible as it seats 230 people.

The building itself was made with about 1,500 tonnes of rock. Its rammed-earth exterior was designed to pick up some of the same colors and textures as the cliffs and rock stacks across the road.

Native plants surround the center and continue onto the rooftop and through the gardens.

The name Keerray Woorroong comes from the Country and Language of the First Nations people of the area. The center also includes information about Keerray Woorroong culture and the surrounding landscape.

Visitors now need to book before arriving

Reservations opened earlier this month and will be required beginning October 16.

For now, booking is free. Regional Development Victoria says it will introduce a fee in April 2027, with the money going back into the coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road.

The reservation also secures a parking spot. The new precinct has parking for hundreds of vehicles. Parks Victoria estimates the Twelve Apostles receive about 2.2 million day visitors each year.

There were never actually 12 Apostles

Despite the name, Parks Victoria says there were never 12 rock stacks standing together.

There were nine until one collapsed in 2005, followed by another in 2009. Seven can be seen today from the main viewing area. The stacks are made from limestone and were left behind as waves and wind slowly wore away the surrounding coastline.