The best way to view the Shipwreck Coast and the Twelve Apostles is without doubt from the air – with Great Ocean Road Scenic Flights. Helicopter flights are quickest and can be taken right from the Twelve Apostles, though there are other places to depart from and you can even ride in a seaplane, Tiger Moth or WWII fighter.
The 12 Apostles Helicopters outfit operates the bulk of the Great Ocean Road scenic flights. They are located just behind the Twelve Apostles visitor centre, which is at the eastern end of the actual Twelve Apostles area, within Port Campbell National Park.
They specialise in scenic helicopter tours and have been flying tourists over the Twelve Apostles since around 2000, operating every day. These scenic flights range from a short, 15-minute jaunt over the apostles and London Bridge to a 220-kilometre flight across the Great Ocean Road region at large.
Flights can include the nearby Bay of Islands region, together with Port Campbell and then Cape Otway and its lighthouse in the other direction. The latter would typically involve a one-hour flight. Even the short ones offer so much more than a lookout point on foot and will include a look at Loch Ard Gorge.
Other scenic flights go from the small Peterborough Airport, just west of Port Campbell. Apostle Coast Aviation offers flights over the Twelve Apostles and to the Bay of Islands and Childers Cove. Keep an eye out for blue whales.
In the other direction, those at Apollo Bay can also do a scenic flight over both Cape Otway and the Apostles by aeroplane. Or, if you’re only travelling as far as Torquay, you can take a flight with Tiger Moth World.
In addition, Warbird Air Adventures run 15-minute aerobatic flights and half hour combat-style flights in WWII-esque fighters from Barwon Heads, which is just north of Torquay. You get fine views over Port Philip Bay and the Great Ocean Road.
The knowledgeable pilots provide commentary with all these Great Ocean Road scenic flights, plus you can get some video footage with your camera or smartphone. Both tour groups and standard holidaymakers are catered to.
Map of Great Ocean Road
