Port Campbell National Park

National park in Australia Port Campbell National ParkIUCN category II (national park)Port Campbell National Park coastlinePort Campbell National ParkLocationVictoriaNearest cityPort CampbellCoordinates38°39′02″S 143°03′46″E / 38.65056°S 143.06278°E / -38.65056; 143.06278Area17.5 km2 (6.8 sq mi)Established5 May 1964 (1964-05-05)Visitorscirca 2,000,000 (in 1998)Governing bodyParks VictoriaWebsiteOfficial website Aerial views of Port Campbell National Park and Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. The Port Campbell National Park is a national park in the south-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 of Warrnambool. The park is located adjacent to the Great Otway National Park and the Bay of Islands Coastal Park.

[edit] The Port Campbell National Park was dedicated on 5 May 1964 (1964-05-05), initially with 700 hectares (1,700 acres), to protect the limestone formations on and near the coastline adjacent to the Great Ocean Road. By 1981 the park had grown to 1,750 hectares (4,300 acres); extending from the eastern side of Curdies Inlet at Peterborough to Point Ronald at Princetown. 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, but were satisfied with the later Victorian Government decision not to allow seismic exploration at the same site by Benaris Energy; believing it would harm marine life.