Twelve Apostles to charge visitors entry from April 2027
Visitors to Victoria’s Twelve Apostles will be charged an entry fee from April 2027, ending free access to the landmark. The move has angered some Australians, while officials say the new visitor centre will support sustainable tourism and benefit nearby communities.
The fee amount has not been announced, and local residents and Traditional Owners are expected to be exempt, though eligibility is still being defined. From 16 October, visitors must book to pass through the centre, which has 950 car spaces, a café, gallery and rooftop lookout and cost $126 million to build.
- Entry fees begin in April 2027.
- Bookings are required from 16 October.
- The fee and local exemptions are still being finalised.
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The Twelve Apostles is a famous natural rock formation on the south coast of Victoria, Australia, and has remained free to visit for many years. The site attracts visitors from across the country and around the world.
From April 2027, the landmark will introduce an entry fee for the first time, ending free access. A new visitor centre is opening shortly to manage tourism at the location, with facilities including a café, gallery and lookout point, constructed at a cost of $126 million.
Officials argue that the fee will promote sustainable tourism management and benefit local communities, but the move has angered some Australians who believe natural landmarks should remain free. Local residents and Traditional Owners are expected to be exempt from the charges, though the specific eligibility criteria are still being determined.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Proponents of the entry fee argue that the $126 million visitor centre represents a significant infrastructure investment requiring sustainable funding that protects this precious natural asset for future generations. They contend that managed, paid access enables proper ecosystem stewardship by controlling visitor numbers, maintains the site's quality, and ensures revenue supports local communities and ongoing conservation. The exemptions for residents and Traditional Owners acknowledge legitimate community interests whilst allowing the facility to operate responsibly.
The case against
Opponents contend that natural heritage sites funded by public investment should remain freely accessible to all Australians, particularly as taxpayers have already contributed to the infrastructure. They argue that charging entry fees creates inequitable access based on wealth, undermines regional tourism that benefits surrounding areas, and sets a troubling precedent for monetising publicly-owned natural landmarks. Free access to iconic natural sites is a public good that should not be restricted by ability to pay.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Aussies erupt in fury as it’s revealed visitors to iconic Twelve Apostles will soon be slapped with entry fee: ‘This is a joke’”.