Gibson Steps

Gibson Steps is a historic cliff stairway and beach access in Port Campbell National Park on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, within Corangamite Shire. The 86 steps carved into a 70-metre limestone cliff lead to Gibson Beach, a wide sandy beach at the eastern end of the Twelve Apostles coastline. Originally cut by settler Hugh Gibson, it is notable for dramatic cliffs, expansive ocean views and close proximity to the Twelve Apostles.

Visitors can expect a clifftop car park and lookout with panoramic views of the Southern Ocean, limestone cliffs and the Twelve Apostles in the distance, followed by a descent of 86 steep steps carved into the cliff face to a wide sandy beach. At the base, visitors can walk along Gibson Beach, view towering 70-metre cliffs, sea stacks and rock formations, and experience strong surf and wind. The setting is exposed and natural with no commercial development on the beach itself.

The steps were originally carved into the limestone cliff in the late 19th century by pastoralist Hugh Gibson, an early settler in the Princetown area, to provide access from the clifftop to the beach below for fishing and beach access. The original 86 steps have been maintained and reconstructed over time and are now managed within Port Campbell National Park.

Located within Port Campbell National Park on Eastern Maar Country. The coastline holds cultural significance for the Eastern Maar people as part of their traditional Country, with the broader Great Ocean Road region recognized for its Aboriginal heritage and natural values.