Seen at dawn, the towering rock stacks below glow golden against a blue-grey sky. They are the Twelve Apostles, sculpted by surging seas and wild southerly storms which howl in from the frigid waters above Antarctica.

There are not actually twelve and they are in a constant state of change as the ocean wears away at their soft limestone foundations. But no matter what their number, the Apostles are among the true natural icons of Australia and remain captivating no matter how often you view them.

More than 2400 hectares of coastal majesty between Princetown and Peterborough in Victoria's west has been carefully protected in the Port Campbell National Park, and the good news for visitors is that this superb scenery is remarkably easy to enjoy.  A convenient car park is just metres from a well-surfaced walkway offering access to several lookouts. Come early in the morning, when the sun's warm rays first strike the rock stacks just a few dozen metres offshore. Or visit in the late afternoon to watch the sunlight filtered through a late afternoon sea haze, dramatically silhouetting the Apostles against the fading light.

Utterly unique and memorably spectacular, the Twelve Apostles make up a natural experience that may just be the scenic highlight of your travels, no matter how long or how far.