One of Australia’s most recognizable natural attractions will cease to be free of charge. The government of the state of Victoria has announced the introduction of a tourist fee for visitors to the Twelve Apostles rock formations on the famous Great Ocean Road. The fee will become mandatory after the opening of the new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, which is expected to launch before the end of the current year. According to authorities, the main goal of this innovation is to preserve the unique landscape, which attracts about 2 million tourists annually.
Only seven of the original twelve remain standing
The limestone columns, formed by millions of years of ocean erosion, continue to deteriorate. Of the twelve original formations that gave the attraction its name, only seven have survived to this day. Time and waves relentlessly erode the remaining pillars, and this process is irreversible.
It is precisely the fragility of the site that became the key argument for the Victorian government in favor of introducing the fee. The funds raised, according to officials, will make it possible to invest in conservation infrastructure and protect the coastal zone, so that future generations will also be able to see what remains of the legendary “Apostles.”
What will be charged and what will still be accessible without restrictions
It is important to clarify the essence of the change. Only entry to the new tourist center—the Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre—will be subject to a fee. Access to other areas of the Great Ocean Road, lookouts, and coastal zones outside the center remains unrestricted, and no separate fee is provided for visiting them.
The Visitor Experience Centre itself is a large-scale infrastructure project worth $126 million. This is a modern tourist and information complex aimed at enhancing the visitor experience in the region. It is precisely the visit to this facility that will require payment.
Reservation system and as-yet-unknown price
Alongside the introduction of the fee, an advance booking system will be introduced to manage the flow of tourists. The change is expected to resolve chronic issues with overcrowding and lack of parking spaces during peak periods.
The specific amount of the fee has not yet been determined. The rate will be set after consultations with local councils, business representatives, and traditional landowners. This means that the final price may be adjusted multiple times before the center opens.
Government’s position and the voice of the tourism industry
Victoria’s Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos explained his decision succinctly: “It’s only fair that visitors to the region pay a small amount to visit this world-class attraction so that we can preserve it for future generations.” He also emphasized that every cent spent in the region will remain in the region.
Head of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Andrew Jeffers reacted cautiously, acknowledging the obvious: “No one likes to pay for something that used to be free.” However, he clarified that the fee concerns only the new center and does not restrict access to other parts of the Great Ocean Road.
Other places tourists visit in Australia
Some of the most visited places in the country are zoos, since there you can see rare animals that are prohibited from being exported outside the country. Tourists also visit the Sydney Opera House, which is one of the most recognizable symbols of Australia. Often, guests of the country also choose gambling entertainment—they visit casinos, of which there are quite a lot in Australia. This is a traditional entertainment, including for residents of India, which provides the continent with one of the largest tourist flows.
Indians gladly visit Australian casinos, even though the most popular among them are gambling games with national themes, such as the Andar Bahar applications. In conducting research, we not only found these titles on andarbahargames.com in the list of the top 5 popular casinos, but also saw the real scale of popularity of the Andar Bahar application, which is offered by many large online casinos.
At the same time, both Indian tourists and guests from other countries find their own charm in land-based Australian casinos, which occupy an important place on the list of sites to visit. So, while in South Africa online casinos are displacing land-based gambling establishments, in Australia they coexist more successfully.
Who will be exempt from payment
A number of categories of Australians will be exempt from payment. Local residents of adjacent areas and members of the Eastern Maar community, the traditional owners of lands in the southwest of Victoria, will be able to visit the center free of charge.
Funds will be collected and managed by the Great Ocean Road Parks and Coastal Authority. Proceeds are planned to be allocated to several purposes:
- improvement of beach access and visitor infrastructure;
- maintenance of historical coastal sites;
- maintenance of the recently constructed Visitor Experience Centre.
Australia has precedents
The practice of tourist fees at natural sites is not new for Australia. A fee has long been in place in Kosciuszko National Park (New South Wales), where the rate is from $29 per car per day during the winter peak and $17 at other times of the year. In Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory, a three-day pass costs $38. Against this background, the future fee at the Twelve Apostles, whatever it may be, will fit within the established logic of monetizing access to the natural heritage of the fifth continent.