The best view of the Apostles is from Castle Rock
In the heart of the Port Campbell National Park on the Shipwreck Coast, right between the famous 12 Apostles and much less-known but photographed just as much, Gog & Magog is Castle Rock.
Castle Rock sits about 45 metres above the ocean and gives incredible views of 5 of the 12 Apostles, you’ll have to head to the Razorback from the Loch Ard Gorge car park to see the remaining Apostles. When facing the opposite direction to the Apostles, you’ll be looking at Gog & Magog, although they’re geologically the same as the Apostles (Sandstone and Limestone stacks), they’re not officially part of the group.
View to the west of Castle Rock: 12 Apostles
Looking to the east: Gog & Magog off Gibsons Beach
Getting out to Castle Rock to see the best of the Apostles
It’s the best place to see the Apostles from. So, when you’re as far to the south and the east as you can get walk on the track from the 12 Apostles Visitors centre, you’re then on standing on Castle Rock.
You’ll see five of the Apostles to your west, then Gog & Magog on Gibsons Beach, accessed via Gibson Steps to your east (back towards Torquay/Melbourne).
Don't use your GPS on this one..
Although this huge, incredible chunk of sandstone is named Castle Rock, there’s also another Castle Rock in Aireys Inlet on the Surf Coast at the start of the Great Ocean Road.
The other one is known better and visited more often. If you’re to use your GPS or Google Maps, you’ll most likely be taken to the other one, which is about 150 kms away.
Although this huge, incredible chunk of sandstone is named Castle Rock, there’s also another Castle Rock in Aireys Inlet on the Surf Coast at the start of the Great Ocean Road. The other one is better known and more searched for. If you’re to use your GPS or Google Maps, you’ll most likely be taken to the other one, which is about 150 kms away.
How the Sandstone was formed
Over 20 millions years ago, Castle Rock and this entire part of the coastline was deep under the ocean. All of the plant and fish that died, sand from the rivers and other debris that sunk to the ocean floor compacted over millions of years and formed the sedimentary rock that makes up coastline.
About 6,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age, the current water level was reached. The pounding waves of the Southern Ocean has eroded the stone at a rate of about 1.5-2cms per year to create what we see today.
