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Australia is no stranger to jaw-dropping coastal scenery, but few spots pull crowds quite like the limestone stacks of Victoria's Twelve Apostles. Soon though, visiting the famous landmark could come with a price tag.
The Victorian Government has just announced plans to introduce a fee for people accessing a new visitor hub at the site along the Great Ocean Road. The charge would apply to tourists visiting the upcoming Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, which is scheduled to open later this year.
Wondering how much you’ll be paying? The exact price hasn’t been set yet, with Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos explaining that the amount will be determined after consultation with local councils, traditional owners and businesses across Victoria’s south-west. However, locals and members of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation will be exempt from the fee.
It’s not hard to see why the government wants a better system to fund maintenance of the area. The Great Ocean Road attracts more than six million visitors each year, and roughly two million of them make the pilgrimage to the Twelve Apostles alone. To manage those numbers, the state also plans to introduce a booking system that will guarantee parking during busy periods.
The revenue from the new fee will be managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority and directed toward improvements across the region – including upgrades to beach access, visitor facilities and maintenance of historic sites.
As you’d expect, not everyone’s in support of the measure. Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson criticised the plan, describing it as a government “cash grab” and arguing that one of the state’s most iconic landscapes should remain free to visit. Ultimately though, it doesn’t seem wildly radical – entry fees already apply at other major natural attractions like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Kosciuszko National Park, and small fees for visitors could make a huge difference in preserving the natural beauty of the site.
For now, the plan is still in consultation – we’ll keep you posted if and when fees are confirmed. Find out more over here.
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