Shortest
London Bridge
The compact flight
See the flightGroup price calculator
12 Apostles helicopter flights
Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles day trip from Melbourne
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Compare all 3 options
What a coach day, a sunset day and a flight cost
Type your party size and compare the site tour, a sunset day tour and a private helicopter flight from Melbourne.
- Coach dayOur own pick · for each guest from $95
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View - Sunset dayLater start · for each guest from $112
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View - Private helicopterFrom Melbourne · from just $2,244
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Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
Three scenic routes leave from the car park at the 12 Apostles, from a short hop to a flight along the whole Shipwreck Coast. Here are the times, prices and rules.
Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~6 min read
In brief
- The routesFlights leave from the heliport to London Bridge, Bay of Islands and Cape Otway.1,2,3
- ShortestThe London Bridge flight is 45 km and 16 minutes, from A$195.1,4
- LongestThe Cape Otway flight is 220 km and 1 hour, from A$795.3,5
- SeatsA helicopter seats up to 7 passengers, and tickets are for a shared flight.6,7
- WeatherThe operator can fly in rain and wind, and refunds if it cancels for weather.8,9
Flights from the car park
The helicopter base at the 12 Apostles stands on the northern side of the Visitors Centre car park, at the corner of the Great Ocean Road and Booringa Road, with a Princetown address.10 That position means a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles starts a short walk from the lookouts. You can fly and then walk down to the boardwalk without getting back into your car, which is part of the appeal for people on a tight day.
The operator sells flights on these routes. The London Bridge flight is 45 km and 16 minutes, with 5 landmarks.1 The Bay of Islands flight is 90 km and 25 minutes, with 9 landmarks.2 The Cape Otway flight is 220 km and 1 hour, with 17 landmarks.3 The regional tourism body also lists the operator for a flight over the 12 Apostles, to the Bay of Islands via London Bridge, or along the Shipwreck Coast to Cape Otway Lighthouse.11
Each is sold as a shared flight. Tickets are for a tour, not a private flight, and private flights are arranged at extra cost.7 The operator seats up to 7 passengers in one helicopter.6 If you want a helicopter just for your party, ask the operator for a private flight, or look at the listings from Melbourne described below.
Flights compared
The operator flights, side by side
| Flight | Distance | Time | Landmarks | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Bridge | 45 km1 | 16 minutes1 | 51 | A$1954 |
| Bay of Islands | 90 km2 | 25 minutes2 | 92 | A$29518 |
| Cape Otway | 220 km3 | 1 hour3 | 173 | A$7955 |
These are the operator's own from prices in Australian dollars, and flight paths are indicative, so durations can vary by up to 10%.19
What you see on each route
The flights start the same way. The London Bridge route passes the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Sentinel, The Arch and London Bridge.15 It is the compact option. The aircraft flies low, at a maximum of 1000 ft or 300 m, so the stacks and the cliff faces fill the windows.14
The Bay of Islands route adds The Grotto, Schomberg Reef, Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands to the London Bridge route.16 The extra distance matters for photographs of coast you cannot reach from a road lookout. The Cape Otway route goes much further, ending over Cape Otway Lighthouse after stops that include Moonlight Head, Johanna Beach and Aire River.17
The gap between the shortest and the longest is large. The Cape Otway flight is 220 km, against 90 km for Bay of Islands and 45 km for London Bridge.3,2,1 If your only wish is to see the Apostles from above, the short flight covers them. The long flight is a coast trip in its own right, and you should only pick it if the time and the price suit you.
What a flight costs, and what else is priced
The operator's own flight pages list the London Bridge flight from A$195, the Bay of Islands flight from A$295 and the Cape Otway flight from A$795.4,18,5 Those are the operator's own prices in Australian dollars, shown as from prices, and they are not converted here. Children over 2 years need their own seat, priced the same as an adult.22
Helicopter trips sold from Melbourne are a different product. The listing Melbourne: Private Helicopter Flight to the 12 Apostles is 5 hours with 75 minutes of flying and 2 hours on the ground at Gibson Steps, from $2,244, a private group booking. The listing Melbourne: 12 Apostles Helicopter Tour from Melbourne is 5.5 hours for a small group of 2 to 5 people, from $1,960.
Compared with a coach day, the calculator at the top shows the gap. The site tour, From Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles, Wildlife Tour, is listed from $95 for 13 hours 30 minutes. The sunset day tour is from $112. A helicopter from Melbourne costs a multiple of that, so the choice is about what the day is for.
Pick a flight
Which flight suits you?
Choose the line that sounds like your day and the answer sits beside it.
If I want a quick look at the stacks
London Bridge flight
It is 45 km and 16 minutes with 5 landmarks.1
If I want more of the coast
Bay of Islands flight
It is 90 km and 25 minutes with 9 landmarks.2
If I want the whole Shipwreck Coast
Cape Otway flight
It is 220 km and 1 hour, ending over Cape Otway Lighthouse.3,17
If I am travelling alone
Buy a ticket on the day
A single ticket can be bought at the heliport on the day.20
If I want a flight from Melbourne
Private trip listing
The listing is 5 hours for a private group.
Compare the routes
Flights matched to your appetite
Middle pick
Bay of Islands
The middle option
See the flight
Longest
Cape Otway
The full coast
See the flightBooking, seats and weight limits
The operator needs a minimum of 2 tickets per flight, so single passengers cannot book online. A single ticket can be bought at the heliport on the day, and the operator aims to join you with other passengers.20 Online booking is recommended, though walk-in passengers are catered for.12 Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the flight for tickets and a safety briefing.13
Weight matters in a small aircraft. There may be a delay if an individual passenger weighs over 136 kg or a group of 3 passengers weighs over 285 kg.24 Seating is set by a weight and balance calculation after check-in, and groups of 4 or 5 passengers may need to split into 2 smaller groups.6 Tell the operator about your party size when you book so that seats can be planned.
Families get a clear rule. Children over 2 years take their own seat at the adult price, while infants under 2 can sit on an adult's lap for a small fee.22 Single-person bookings and gift vouchers are not accepted, because of the minimum of 2 tickets per flight.20
A flight in order
How a flight day runs at the heliport
Booking
Reserve online
Online booking is recommended, though walk-ins are catered for.12
Arrival
Check in
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the flight for tickets and a safety briefing.13
Weighing
Seats are set
Seating follows a weight and balance calculation after check-in.6
Take-off
Fly low
The helicopters fly at low altitude, a maximum of 1000 ft or 300 m.14
Landmarks
Follow the coast
The London Bridge route passes the Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Sentinel, The Arch and London Bridge.15
Landing
Walk to the stacks
The base is beside the car park, so the boardwalk is a short walk away.10
Light, weather and cancellations
The operator says the colours of the coast change through the day, in both the water and the rocks, and that mornings are good because of the lighting.21 It can fly in rain and wind, and overcast weather can produce amazing colours in the rocks and cliffs, though on rare occasions visibility and low cloud stop a flight.8 Check the forecast but do not expect an automatic cancellation at the first shower.
Sunset flights are not possible. The operator says Parks Victoria does not allow flights from its heliport at sunset.26 The base opens 10 AM to 6:30 PM in summer, and 9 AM to 1 hour before sunset in winter, 7 days a week.27 If sunset light is what you want, a sunset day tour is the better route, as the sunset page on this site explains.
On cancellations, the terms give a full refund if the operator cancels because of adverse weather.9 If you cancel more than 72 hours ahead you get a 100% refund, within 72 hours a 50% fee applies, and within 24 hours the fare is forfeited.23 Advertised durations are approximate and can vary by no more than 10%.19 Read the terms on the operator's site before you pay.
Video
Helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road
DB TRVL - Broshar's Adventures on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
Throughout the day there is a large change to the colours of the coast, in both the water and rocks. We do enjoy the mornings, as the lighting is beautiful.
Before you fly
A checklist for a helicopter flight
Booking4
Flight, coach day or both
A flight and a coach day answer different questions. The coach day covers the road, the wildlife and the walks, and the site tour lists stops at Torquay Surf Beach, Apollo Bay, the Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. A flight gives the long view in 16 minutes to 1 hour, and the operator describes limestone cliffs and crumbling pillars created by the stormy Southern Ocean.1,3,15
Some visitors do both. The base is beside the car park, so a flight can sit inside a day when you arrive by coach, if the coach stop is long enough. There is another air option in the area: the regional tourism body lists a skydive over the 12 Apostles with a jump from 14,000 feet.28 It belongs to a different budget and a different appetite for risk, so it is mentioned here only to complete the picture.
Before you book anything, remember the Visitor Centre rules. From 16 October 2026 every visitor to the Twelve Apostles needs a booking, and the booking system is free until April 2027.25,29 The helicopter base sits at the same car park, so check how your flight time fits with the entry slot. Booking in advance is strongly recommended by the authority.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How long is a helicopter flight over the stacks?
How much is a helicopter flight over the stacks?
Can I take a helicopter from Melbourne?
Yes, as a private trip.
A listing from Melbourne is 5 hours for a private group and starts from $2,244.
Can a single passenger fly?
Only by buying a ticket on the day.
The operator needs a minimum of 2 tickets per flight, and a single ticket can be bought at the heliport on the day.20
Do helicopters fly in bad weather?
Is there a weight limit?
Yes, and it can cause a delay.
There may be a delay if one passenger is over 136 kg or a group of 3 is over 285 kg.24
Can I fly at sunset?
No, not from this heliport.
Parks Victoria does not allow flights from the heliport at sunset.26
Sources
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Scenic flights over the Great Ocean Road ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Scenic flights over the Great Ocean Road ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Scenic flights over the Great Ocean Road ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to London Bridge ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to Cape Otway ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Terms and Conditions ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here ↩
- Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Sky Dive or Fly over the 12 Apostles ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to London Bridge ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to Bay of Islands ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to Cape Otway ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · 12 Apostles to Bay of Islands ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Terms and Conditions ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Terms and Conditions ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · FAQs ↩
- 12 Apostles Helicopters · Scenic flights over the Great Ocean Road ↩
- Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Sky Dive or Fly over the 12 Apostles ↩
- Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre - Twelve Apostles ↩