| Port Campbell National Park Victoria | |
|---|---|
 Port Campbell National Park coastline | |
  Port Campbell National Park | |
 | |
| Nearest town or city | Port Campbell |
| Coordinates | 38°39′02″S143°03′46″E / 38.65056°S 143.06278°E /-38.65056; 143.06278 |
| Established | 5 May 1964 (1964-05-05)[1] |
| Area | 17.5 km2 (6.8 sq mi)[1] |
| Visitation | circa 2,000,000 (in 1998)[1] |
| Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
| Website | Port Campbell National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Victoria |
ThePort Campbell National Park is anational park in thesouth-western district of Victoria, Australia. The 1,750-hectare (4,300-acre) national park is situated approximately 190 kilometres (120 mi) south-west of Melbourne and approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east ofWarrnambool. The park is located adjacent to theGreat Otway National Park and theBay of Islands Coastal Park.
The Port Campbell National Park was dedicated on 5 May 1964 (1964-05-05),[1] initially with 700 hectares (1,700 acres), in order to protect the limestone formations on and near the coastline adjacent to theGreat Ocean Road. By 1981 the park had grown to 1,750 hectares (4,300 acres); extending from the eastern side of Curdies Inlet atPeterborough to Point Ronald atPrincetown.[2] In 2002, the Port Campbell Professional Fishermen's Association unsuccessfully attempted to block the creation of a proposed marine national park at the Twelve Apostles location,[3] but were satisfied with the later Victorian Government decision not to allowseismic exploration at the same site by Benaris Energy;[4] believing it would harm marine life.[5]
The Port Campbell National Park features an array of sheer cliffs overlooking offshore islets, rock stacks, gorges, arches, and blow-holes.[2] As part of theShipwreck Coast,[6] it hosts several tourist attractions; includingThe Twelve Apostles, theLondon Bridge,Loch Ard Gorge, theGibson Steps, andThe Grotto.
The park is subject to salt-laden breezes, and the cliff-tops are particularly exposed to the harsh weather conditions from theSouthern Ocean. However, fragile grasslands and heaths are still able to develop, supporting plant species such assun orchid andspider orchid. In protected areas, plant life includesbeard-heath,bower spinach,coast daisy bush, daisies and cushion bush. The wilder terrain hosts an assortment of she-oaks,dogwoods, correa,messmate, trailing guinea-flower, woolly tea-tree and scentedpaperbark.[2]
The fauna in the park is largelyornithological; and includeshoneyeaters, southern emu and fairywrens, swamp harriers, rufous bristlebird,peregrine falcons,pelicans, ducks, black swans and egrets.Penguins, terns and dotterels are located along the shoreline, with hooded plovers nesting in exposed locations. Australasian gannets, wandering albatrosses and short-tailedshearwaters live out at sea. Land animals in the park include southern brown bandicoot, swamp antechinuse and echidna.[7]
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