Best things to do in Port Campbell

A striking, craggy land of sheer cliff faces, rock-strewn shorelines, and deserted beaches, Port Campbell National Park sits alluringly on the Victorian coast, less than 200 km (124 mi) from Melbourne. Scenic drives and wind-blown trails are waiting to be traversed in this impressive yet isolated wilderness, where you’re more likely to encounter a roaming emu than a wandering human.

Sculpted by harsh winds and steady waves of the Southern Ocean, Twelve Apostles includes a group of eight limestone stacks--the ninth collapsed in 2005--that emerge from the shallows of the marine national park. The tallest of the crumbling pillars rises up to the height of 50 m (160 ft). The underwater scenery is even more dramatic, featuring some deep sloping reefs with habitats of kelp forests and colorful sponge gardens. These impressive rock stacks are arguably most beautiful when bathed in early morning light, when little penguins can be seen nesting in caves below them.

When one span of a rock bridge collapses, you're left with an arch. See the result of this process at London Bridge. This natural rock arch on the seaside of Port Campbell National Park was a bridge until 1990, when the portion connecting to land collapsed into the ocean. You can no longer walk out to the end of the bridge. Now you stand on the shore to admire the water-surrounded arch with its sheer cliffs plummeting to the sea. Morning provides the best light for photos because the sun is at your back from the lookout point. Sunset, though, also provides superb atmosphere for snapping pictures.

Take a self-guided walk through Loch Ard Gorge and experience the forces of the wind and the sea, shaping this rugged scenery for thousands of years. Steeped in history, this wild stretch of coastline remains known for the abundance of shipwrecks that have perished under the frothing sea. Notice the two pillars--named Tom and Eva after the two sole survivors of 1878 Loch Ard shipwreck--guarding the shore from the rough waves. A series of steps lead down to a wild beach offering stunning views along the way. To learn more about the area's history, visit a small museum nearby.

Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the Otway rainforest at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, which boasts a canopy walkway and a zipline tour. The steel walkway is 600 m (2,000 ft) long and 30 m (100 ft) high, making it the longest and tallest walkway of its type. Roundtrip from the visitor center is a 1.9 km (1.2 mi) through the upper reaches of rainforest. The zipline tour features eight platforms, six flights, and two suspension bridges. The site also has a "dinosaur path" for kids.

Watch water cascade over a 30 m (98 ft) drop, one of the highest drops in the Otways at Erskine Falls. Climb the stone and timber steps to access two viewing platforms. From here, you can photograph the falls from the front. The path to the lower platform has around 300 steps straight up from the base of the falls; there are rest areas along the way.