If you cannot get a carpark at the steps, you can walk safely along the Great Ocean Walk to reach this area. It is narrow though, so wheelchairs and prams are not advised! The Gibson steps are closed at times due to high tide and unsafe conditions.

While the 12 Apostles are famous for their towering limestone stacks viewed from the cliff-top lookouts, you cannot walk directly down to the base of the main Apostles themselves for safety and conservation reasons. The cliffs are highly unstable and prone to erosion. However, you can experience the beach and the sheer scale of the coastline by walking down the Gibson Steps, located about 1 kilometer east of the main 12 Apostles Visitor Centre. These 86 steps, carved into the cliff face by local settler Hugh Gibson, lead you down to the sand where you can see two specific sea stacks—Gog and Magog—from sea level. This provides a dramatic perspective of the 70-meter high vertical cliffs that isn't possible from the official boardwalks. Note that access to the beach via Gibson Steps is often closed during high tide or heavy swells when the ocean reaches the base of the cliffs, making it dangerous. For the main cluster of the Apostles, the experience is strictly a cliff-top one, utilizing the extensive network of paved paths and boardwalks designed to protect the fragile environment while providing panoramic views.