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After five years of planning and development, the brand new Twelve Apostles Precinct will officially open to the public on October 16, 2026. The new visitor centre, which cost $126 million to build, will give tourists a new way of experiencing the Twelve Apostles.
The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre, which is situated on 3,300sqm, has been designed in consultation with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, whose lands the centre sits on. When tourists visit, they will be able to understand the Eastern Maar culture through exhibitions, digital experiences, artefacts and guided experiences that explore the history and geology of the changing coastline and Eastern Maar country.
The Welcome Garden will share First Nations culture through native gardens and trails, and there will be audiovisual and status displays showing the climate, geological and environmental story of the national park.
The new visitor centre also encourages people to linger around the Twelve Apostles for longer, turning it into a destination rather than a mere day trip stop. A 230-seat cafe and walk-up kiosk will overlook the Welcome Garden, offering food and drink from local businesses including Timboon Distillery and Timboon Fine Ice Cream.
From the centre, it’s an approximate 1km stroll to the Twelve Apostles Viewing Deck. Along the way is when you’ll learn more about the site, rather than just viewing the limestone rocks.
There are almost 600 car spaces, plus an additional 100 for coaches and coasters. Visitors will need to book to visit the Twelve Apostles from October 16. From April 2027, the government plans to introduce a visitor fee. This is to help manage high tourist crowds, protect the fragile environment around the Twelve Apostles and also centre the culture of the Traditional Owners of the land.
The Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre will operate 365 days a year from 8am-8pm during daylight saving and 9am-5pm during standard time.
You can book to visit the Twelve Apostles online here.
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