Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Australia Princetown The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles

Nine limestone rock stacks on Australia's "Shipwreck Coast."

Princetown, Australia

Added By
Jo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Twelve Apostles March 2019   Kara Davis / Atlas Obscura User
The Apostles  
  flickr.com/people/monsieurdedalus/
Twelve Apostles March 2019   Kara Davis / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Recently a young couple visiting the Twelve Apostles—confusingly, there are only nine rock formations—walked out onto a section of rock known as the London Bridge. In a moment of life imitating art, the "London Bridge" rock bridge really did fall down, stranding the couple on a spire of rock out in the sea.

The couple kept waving at people for help, trying to attract attention to their predicament (they were too far away to be heard) but the other tourists just kept waving back at them. Finally, someone realized their predicament and the stranded couple was airlifted to safety.

Originally known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922—Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets—the formations were then renamed The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

The Apostles are a collection of eight Miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road. Formed by erosion, approximately 10 to 20 million years ago, the harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which would then become arches, which in turn would collapse—as in the case of the "London Bridge"—leaving rock stacks up to 45 meters high.

Tourism activities (including helicopter tours) are conducted from a visitor center situated on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road, with parking and viewing areas.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Geology Nature

Community Contributors

Added By

canuck

Edited By

Cecile, Blindcolour, Collector of Experiences, Kara Davis...

  • Cecile
  • Blindcolour
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Kara Davis
  • mocchiatto

Published

June 20, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Twelve Apostles
Great Ocean Rd & Booringa Rd
Princetown, 3269
Australia
-38.662102, 143.105092
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Loch Ard Gorge

Port Campbell, Australia

miles away

James Irvine Monument

Peterborough, Australia

miles away

Frederick Valentich Memorial Plaque

Cape Otway, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Nearby Places

Loch Ard Gorge

Port Campbell, Australia

miles away

James Irvine Monument

Peterborough, Australia

miles away

Frederick Valentich Memorial Plaque

Cape Otway, Australia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Australia

Australia

Oceania

Places 610
Stories 94

Related Stories and Lists

Found: Five Drowned Limestone 'Apostles'

geology

By Sarah Laskow

Related Places

  • Winona, Missouri

    Rocky Falls

    A 40-foot waterfall flows into this unique natural swimming hole.

  • Slumgullion mass wasting area

    Lake City, Colorado

    Slumgullion Earthflow

    This National Natural Landmark is one of the best examples of a “mass wasting” in the world.

  • Looking Glass Rock seen from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

    Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

  • Sasso Menicante on Monte Cimino

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone)

    This massive rock balanced for thousands of years being tossed here during a volcanic eruption.

  • Macquarie Island lengthwise, the research station at center.

    Australia

    Macquarie Island

    One of the only places where Earth’s mantle lies above water.

  • Bonhomme de Bourail

    Bourail, New Caledonia

    Bonhomme de Bourail

    A beachside monolith shaped by years of waves crashing against hard quartz.

  • The metal pillars aligned to form the Old Man’s face

    Franconia, New Hampshire

    Old Man of the Mountain Profiler Plaza

    A serene plaza that commemorates one of the Granite State's most iconic figures.

  • The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth

    Yuncheng, China

    Yuncheng Salt Lake

    Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.