One of the most dramatic stretches of Victoria’s coastline has a brand-new vantage point. Named in the Keerray Wooroong language, the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout curves out of the Port Campbell National Park cliffs like a seashell, channelling the story of Koontapool, the southern right whale, central to Eastern Maar culture. It officially opened in September, and is the final instalment in a trilogy of striking new designs along the Shipwreck Coast – and it’s worth the road trip from Melbourne for the crashing waves, sea spray and cultural storytelling woven into its form.
Where is the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout?
You’ll find the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout curving along the dramatic limestone cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge, within Port Campbell National Park on Victoria’s wild Shipwreck Coast. It’s a windswept stretch of shoreline in the state’s south-west, not far from the Twelve Apostles.
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What is the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout?
More than just a lookout, this sculptural, shell-like platform is a collaboration between architects (Grimshaw Architects), landscape designers (Aspect Studios) and the Eastern Maar people. Shaped with biomorphic curves and embedded with cultural storytelling, it frames the blowhole as the “breath of the whale” – a place where crashing waves, sea spray and ancient songlines come together.
When did the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout open?
The lookout officially opened to the public on September 12, 2025 – the final piece in a trilogy of design-led interventions along Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast.
How do you get to the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout from Melbourne?
The road trip is half the adventure. From Melbourne, it’s around a three-hour drive (230 kilometres) west via the Great Ocean Road or the faster inland route through Colac. Either way, expect coastal vistas, beautiful rolling farmland and plenty of spots to pull over for a flat white en route.
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