A perfect spot for an Earthcache due to the incredible Geology on display, but also because of the high Muggle activity at this popular attraction, which is visited by an estimated 1.6 million people a year.
When the owner of the previous Earthcache at this spot archived it, I leapt at the chance to create this one to keep the spot alive from the Geocache point of view. I hope you enjoy the views and the lessons.
The formations were originally known as "The Sow and Piglets", with the Sow being the arch known as Muttonbird Island near Loch Ard Gorge, a little further up the road and the stacks you see today being the Piglets. In 1922, it was renamed The Apostles and later the 12 Apostles, as this was deemed a much grander name for tourism purposes.
Reaching the cache
This cache is wheel-chair accessible and is reached via a pedestrian underpass from the carpark and visitor centre on the Northern, or inland side of the road (WP1) and a series of well made and maintained pathways and viewing platforms.
For those in wheelchairs, the first access point you will reach has a set of stairs. You will need to proceed a little further along the path to a point where the platform and path are level.
There are dangerous and unstable cliffs in the area, so do not leave the pathways and platforms !
A coastline on the move
The coastal cliffs in this area are predominately Limestone from the mid-Miocene period. The Miocene period was from approx 5.3 - 23 million years ago. The limestone was laid down when sea levels were higher and the area was sea-bed. Limestone is mainly Calcium Carbonate and is the skeletons and shells of marine animals such as corals and microscopic creatures called diatoms. When the sea level dropped approximately 5 million years ago, the limestone was exposed. Erosion by wind and water has resulted in the many spectacular formations for which this stretch of coast is famous. This soft stone is being eroded away at the rate of approximately 2.5cm per year at the base of the cliffs and stacks.
The relentless action of waves, wind, sun and rain act on differences in hardness of the limestone itself, or of its overburden, widening any cracks and wearing away the softer parts first. As the various areas and layers erode away at different rates, the forces of nature carve out a variety of formations.
Rock Stacks
This particular group are known as Rock Stacks and they are formed in a process that begins with small headlands being eroded into arches, with the stack remaining after the arch collapses.
Also, caves can be pushed into the cliff, which in turn develop arches and finally individual stacks are left. Eventually, these collapse as well, leaving the stacks behind.
The most recent collapse in 2005, which reduced the number of "Apostles" from 9 to the 8 you can see today. The remains of the one that collapsed are clearly visible from the viewing platform.
Softer materials such as clay, or aggregate soils tend to collapse long before arches and stacks can be formed, but chalk and some types of limestone are suitable for this type of formation.
(Information from Wikipedia)
To claim this cache
Parks Vic have updated signage recently and the coordinates and questions now relate to this new sign. I will accept answers to the previous question for a while, as I know people will have caches saved for offline use.
The published coordinates will have you at a sign which contains a variety of information about the park you are now in. Part of that information is a list of points which describe the formation of the Apostles now and of the future.
Please send me a message describing the process by which the Apostles of the future are formed and the name of the other site, quite close to here, where the event described in the last point happened.
I will delete any log where I don't receive the answer to this question within a week of the log being submitted. If you would like a reply, please ensure you send your email address along with the message.
Preferred method is via the Goecaching.com or phone app "Message this CO" option, or an email to cachehunter(at)jucsurfer.com ...you need to replace (at) with @ of course....
It would be great if you could include a picture in your log:
Even though it's not compulsory, a photo of you and your GPS would be welcome too, as part of the interest is seeing the coastline in a range of weather conditions, as well as seeing the various people who pass by the cache. Please don't include the sign in your photos though. I will reluctantly delete any logs where the sign is clearly visible
As mentioned above, the cliffs in this area are unstable and dangerous. You do not need to leave the pathways and platforms to do this cache and it is dangerous and illegal to do so !