Find a stop on the map

Restaurants near the 12 Apostles, and where to stay

Quick summary

Restaurants near the 12 Apostles are mostly in Port Campbell, and the Gourmet Trail through Timboon is approximately 88 km.

Eat and stay

  • The new centre will have a 230-seat restaurant3
  • The trail takes about 5 hours2
  • Book rooms and campsites early in peak seasons5

Map of 18 stops

The Apostles coast, pin by pin

Tap a route first, then a pin or stop, for its note and Google Maps.

Map of the Twelve Apostles coast with Port Campbell, Loch Ard Gorge, the Visitor Centre, Gibson Steps, Princetown and London Bridge

  1. The Discovery Walk starts in Port Campbell township and leads to Two Mile Bay.

    Google Maps

  2. Loch Ard Gorge is just minutes from the Twelve Apostles.

    Google Maps

  3. The Visitor Centre is on Booringa Rd in Port Campbell National Park. Every visitor needs a booking from 16 October 2026.

    Google Maps

  4. Gibson Steps is on the Great Ocean Road, 5 km west of Princetown township.

    Google Maps

  5. The helicopter base sits at the corner of the Great Ocean Road and Booringa Road, with a Princetown address.

    Google Maps

  6. London Bridge lies on London Bridge Rd, Peterborough.

    Google Maps

Mapping data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Port Campbell has the cafes and the beds, Timboon has the makers and the food trail. This guide sorts the towns, the Gourmet Trail and the sensible bases, with a map.

Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~6 min read

In brief

  • Eat in townPort Campbell has relaxed dining spots to refuel between sights.1
  • Food trailThe Gourmet Trail is approximately 88 km, so allow about 5 hours.2
  • At the stacksThe new centre will include a 230-seat restaurant and a kiosk.3
  • Where to sleepNearby towns like Port Campbell provide accommodation and dining.4
  • Book earlyPeak seasons call for early booking of rooms and campsites.5

Where to eat in Port Campbell and at the stacks

Restaurants near the 12 Apostles are mostly in Port Campbell, the coastal township next door. The regional tourism body says relaxed dining spots there make it easy to refuel between exploring the area.1 Waves Cafe, Bar and Restaurant serves a broad range of a la carte dishes, many with an Asian influence.6 REAL Pizza Pasta Salads offers a seasonal, create-your-own meal using ingredients from regional suppliers.7

The Eat & Drink listing for the area also names Port Campbell Hotel, Barrels Bar and Frying Nemos Fish and Chips among the places to eat in town.8 Sow and Piglets Brewery, on Tregea St, is a stop on the Gourmet Trail.9 Prices are not given in the sources checked, so look at menus when you arrive.

At the stacks themselves, the new Visitor Centre will include a 230-seat restaurant and a walk-up kiosk overlooking a new Welcome Garden.3 Elizabeth Andrews Catering runs two food and beverage outlets there, partnering with Timboon Distillery and Timboon Fine Ice Cream.10 Every visitor needs a booking from 16 October 2026, so an easy meal at the centre still starts with a reservation for entry.11

Gourmet Trail stops

Trail places and where they are

PlaceTownWhat the page saysListed street
Timboon Fine Ice CreamTimboonFree tastings and rotating flavours15Barrett St12
Timboon Railway Shed DistilleryTimboonIn a restored railway shed18Bailey St13
Gorge ChocolatesCooriemungleOn the trail map28Princetown Rd
Apostle Whey CheeseCooriemungleCheese made on site, free tastings17Gallum Rd29
Sow and Piglets BreweryPort CampbellOn the trail map9Tregea St
Dairylicious Farm FudgeJancourt EastOn the trail map16Timboon-Colac Rd
Keayang Maar VineyardDixieOn the trail map30Maguires Rd

Streets are as the tourism body lists them for the trail, and opening hours are not given there, so check each place before you drive.

Princetown, Peterborough and Cobden

Beyond Port Campbell the options are smaller but real. Princetown General - Store, Cafe and Bar sits above the Gellibrand River Estuary, and is the stop for coffee and craft beer for those walking the Great Ocean Walk or driving the road.19 It is a handy stop if you are staying near Gibson Steps, which is on the Great Ocean Road, 5 km west of Princetown township.20

To the west, Peterborough has a General Store and Takeaway and a House Cafe and Restaurant on the Eat & Drink listing.21 That puts a meal near London Bridge, on London Bridge Rd, Peterborough.22 Inland, Cobden Bakery is among the Cobden entries on the same list, which suits a stop on the way back toward Colac.23

The listing groups the places as bakeries, bars and pubs, breweries and distilleries, cafes, produce and farmgates, restaurants and wineries.24 It spans Port Campbell, Princetown, Timboon, Cooriemungle, Simpson, Cobden, Peterborough, Mepunga, Jancourt East and Tesbury.25 The list is long enough that you can plan a different style of meal in each town, not just a coastal fish and chips stop.

Time budgets

Hours to plan for the food trail and the drive

  • Melbourne, inland road3
  • Gourmet Trail5
  • Melbourne, coast road5

The inland road from Melbourne takes approximately 3 hours, the Gourmet Trail about 5 hours and the scenic road along the coast approximately 5 hours.26,2,27

What the Gourmet Trail is and where it runs

If you are wondering what the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail is, the tourism body describes it as a way for visitors to the coast and the Timboon hinterland to experience artisan food and beverage destinations.36 The trail is approximately 88 km, so allow about 5 hours.2 A downloadable map of the trail is offered on the page.37 It is a day of its own, not an add-on to a day tour.

Most of the stops are in Timboon: Timboon Fine Ice Cream on Barrett St, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery on Bailey St, Berry World on Egan St, Schulz Organic Creamery and Cafe on Ford and Fells Rd, Bouchier's Timboon Butcher, Babche Wines Shop and Little Bit of Sweet Shop on Main St.12,13,14,38,39,40,41 Timboon Railway Shed Distillery is just 15 minutes inland from the stacks and Port Campbell.33

The rest are spread around. Gorge Chocolates is on Princetown Rd and Apostle Whey Cheese on Gallum Rd, both in Cooriemungle.28,29 Dairylicious Farm Fudge is on Timboon-Colac Rd at Jancourt East, and Keayang Maar Vineyard is on Maguires Rd at Dixie.16,30 Apostle Whey Cheese is a family-run dairy making cheese on site from milk from its own herd, with free tastings.17

Pick a base

Where should you eat and sleep?

Choose the line that sounds like your trip and the answer sits beside it.

  • If I want the shortest hop to the stacks

    Stay in Port Campbell

    The town provides accommodation, dining and other amenities.4

  • If I want food makers

    Base yourself in Timboon

    Most trail stops are in Timboon.12,13,14

  • If I want a sunrise at the stacks

    Stay nearby

    The tourism body suggests staying nearby for coastal sunrises.35

  • If I am visiting at peak time

    Book early

    Rooms and campsites should be booked early in peak seasons.5

  • If I only have a day

    Join the day tour

    Lunch is at Apollo Bay and dinner is in Colac on the site tour.

Three bases

Port Campbell, Princetown or Timboon

Closest to the sights

Port Campbell

The coastal base

  • DiningRelaxed spots in town1
  • Stacks7 km to the car park31
  • StaysTop pick on the list32
See the tour

Quieter base

Princetown

Near Gibson Steps

  • DiningStore, cafe and bar19
  • Steps5 km to Gibson Steps20
  • StaysRecreation reserve32
See the tour

Inland

Timboon

The food base

  • DiningThe trail's makers2
  • Distance15 minutes inland33
  • StaysListed on the Stay page34
See the tour

The best place to stay near the stacks

The best place to stay near the 12 Apostles depends on what you want from the morning. Nearby towns like Port Campbell provide accommodation, dining options and other amenities, since the national park itself has limited facilities.4 The tourism body also suggests staying nearby to wake up to coastal sunrises, cosy pubs and fewer crowds.35

The Stay listing gives the range: backpackers and hostels, B&Bs, farmstays and cottages, camping and holiday parks, holiday houses and apartments, hotels and motels, and resorts and retreats.48 Its top picks are Port Campbell Recreation Reserve, Princetown Recreation Reserve and Anchors Port Campbell.32 Stays are listed in Port Campbell, Princetown, Timboon, Cooriemungle, Simpson, Peterborough and Nirranda, among others.34

Booking early matters. The park advises booking accommodation and national park campsites early in peak seasons.5 Peak season on the Great Ocean Road is the summer holidays from late December to January and around the Easter long weekend.49 The cooler months are quieter, so if your dates are flexible, autumn or winter gives a better choice of rooms.50

A food day in order

A day on the trail, stop by stop

  1. Start

    Pick a town

    Timboon holds most of the trail's stops.12,13,14

  2. Sweet

    Ice cream or fudge

    Timboon Ice Creamery offers free tastings, and fudge is made at Jancourt East.15,16

  3. Dairy

    Cheese tasting

    Apostle Whey Cheese makes cheese on site with free tastings.17

  4. Spirits

    The distillery

    The distillery sits in a restored railway shed at the end of the rail trail.18

  5. Lunch

    Back to the coast

    In Port Campbell, relaxed dining spots make it easy to refuel.1

  6. Finish

    Brewery or stacks

    Sow and Piglets Brewery is on Tregea St in Port Campbell.9

Choosing a base: coast or hinterland

A coastal base puts you within minutes of the sights. Port Campbell is the town the park authority names for accommodation and dining.4 From there, Loch Ard Gorge is just minutes from the Apostles, and the Discovery Walk starts in the township itself.45,44 Princetown is the choice for Gibson Steps and the Great Ocean Walk.

An inland base trades the sea view for the food. The Graze and Stay page names Timboon, Port Campbell, Peterborough, Cobden, Camperdown and Terang as towns to stay and play, and turns the Graze the Day food experience into a weekend in the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland.51,52 Its itineraries run for 2 days, a family taste of Timboon, and for 3 days, a short break for couples.53,54

Whichever you choose, the Visitor Centre booking has a grace period of 1 hour either side, so a slow breakfast does not break the plan.55 If you want a sunset, stay on the coast, because the road home after dark has animals on it, especially near sunset and sunrise.56 The sunset page on this site covers the light, and the helicopter page covers the air.

Video

A cheap base for the Twelve Apostles, the food trail and the Great Ocean Road

Perth 4WD and Camping on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.

In Port Campbell, relaxed dining spots make it easy to refuel between exploring the area, while just inland, Timboon and the surrounding countryside form a true foodie bowl.
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism1

Eat and stay

A checklist for meals and a bed

Eating4

  • Look at the Eat & Drink list for each town before you drive25
  • Check opening hours, as the trail page does not give them2
  • Add the distillery or ice cream stop in Timboon33
  • Plan a Gourmet Trail day of about 5 hours2

Sleeping4

  • Book rooms and campsites early in peak seasons5
  • Choose Port Campbell for the shortest drive4
  • Look at the Stay list for family and group options48
  • Remember the Visitor Centre booking when planning mornings11

Eating and sleeping on a day trip from Melbourne

A day trip skips the question of where to sleep. This site's tour is a day trip from Melbourne of 13 hours 30 minutes with pickup from selected hotels in the Melbourne CBD, morning tea included, and stops that include Apollo Bay, where guests buy their own lunch. Dinner on the way back is bought by the guest in Colac. So the day tour solves where to eat by putting lunch in Apollo Bay and dinner in Colac, and the stacks are the afternoon.

The regional tourism body says you can technically drive from Melbourne to the Apostles and back in a single day but does not recommend it.57 An overnight stay lets you add the food trail and a quieter morning. The inland route from Melbourne takes approximately 3 hours, so a night in Port Campbell or Princetown makes the trip into a weekend rather than a marathon.26

Listing prices are from prices. This site's tour is listed from $95 with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Compare that with the cost of a night on the coast and your own transport before you decide whether to join a coach or stay. If the tour is your choice, the map at the top shows the towns it passes and the hinterland places you may want to return to.

FAQ

Questions answered quickly.

Where are the best restaurants near the stacks?
In Port Campbell.

Port Campbell has relaxed dining spots, including Waves Cafe, Bar and Restaurant.1,6

Will there be food at the new Visitor Centre?
Yes, a restaurant and a kiosk.

The new centre will include a 230-seat restaurant and a walk-up kiosk overlooking a new Welcome Garden.3

What is the Gourmet Trail near the stacks?
An artisan food route of about 88 km.

The trail is approximately 88 km, so allow about 5 hours, and the page offers a map to download.2,37

Which town is best to stay in?
Port Campbell is a sensible base.

Nearby towns like Port Campbell provide accommodation, dining and other amenities, while the park has limited facilities.4

What kinds of stay are there?
From hostels to resorts.

The Stay listing covers hostels, B&Bs, camping and holiday parks, holiday houses, hotels and motels, and resorts.48

Do I need to book a stay in advance?
Yes in peak seasons.

The park advises booking accommodation and national park campsites early in peak seasons.5

Is there a food stop on the way back?
Yes, dinner in Colac.

The site tour lists dinner bought by the guest in Colac on the way back.

Sources

  1. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  2. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  3. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre - Twelve Apostles ↩
  4. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Port Campbell National Park ↩
  5. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Port Campbell National Park ↩
  6. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  7. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  8. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink ↩
  9. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  10. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre - Twelve Apostles ↩
  11. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre ↩
  12. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  13. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  14. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  15. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  16. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  17. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  18. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  19. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  20. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Gibson Steps ↩
  21. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink ↩
  22. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · London Bridge, The Grotto and The Arch ↩
  23. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink ↩
  24. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink ↩
  25. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Eat & Drink ↩
  26. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here ↩
  27. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here ↩
  28. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  29. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  30. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  31. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here ↩
  32. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Stay ↩
  33. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · A Taste of the 12 Apostles Coast and Hinterland ↩
  34. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Stay ↩
  35. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre ↩
  36. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  37. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  38. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  39. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  40. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  41. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail ↩
  42. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Frequently Asked Questions
  43. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  44. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Port Campbell Discovery Walk ↩
  45. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Loch Ard Gorge ↩
  46. Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority · Twelve Apostles
  47. 12 Apostles Helicopters · How to get here
  48. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Stay ↩
  49. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
  50. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Frequently Asked Questions ↩
  51. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Graze and Stay ↩
  52. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Graze and Stay ↩
  53. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Graze and Stay ↩
  54. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Graze and Stay ↩
  55. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre ↩
  56. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Road Safety ↩
  57. Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism · Frequently Asked Questions ↩

More to read

More to read before you go

GuideGreat ocean road day tour from melbourneGuideSelf drive or tour great ocean roadGuideGreat ocean road itinerary and best stopsGuidePrivate and small group great ocean road tours

Last call for the coast

Keep a seat on the coast road.

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