A small-group Great Ocean Road day from Melbourne that runs in reverse: drive inland first to reach the 12 Apostles before the crowds, then come back along the storm-carved coastline.
Days
- Full day, about 12 hours
Age
- 7 years and over
Group size
- Small group, max 12
Start / finish
- Melbourne / Melbourne
- Melbourne CBD, around 7pm
Return
- Melbourne CBD, around 7pm
Transport
- Minibus from three Melbourne CBD pick-up points
Meals
- No meals are listed as included; lunch stop at own cost
Route
Included experiences
- 12 Apostles — lookouts ahead of the crowds
- Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and the Razorback
- Great Otway National Park — 20-minute rainforest walk
- Kenneth River — wild koalas and parrots
- Lorne — beachfront stop
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 50 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 50 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the knowledgeable and friendly guides who provide engaging commentary and local insights throughout the tour, as well as the well-organised itinerary and logistics that make the twelve-hour day run smoothly. The reverse route stands out most prominently, allowing visitors to experience major attractions such as the Twelve Apostles, beaches and rainforest with considerably fewer crowds and without feeling rushed, whilst wildlife spotting opportunities including wild koalas, kangaroos and various bird species are repeatedly highlighted as memorable aspects of the tour. The most common caveat is that the day is lengthy and involves substantial walking on paths and stairs, with one reviewer noting that a lunch stop felt somewhat rushed, though these observations are presented as factual aspects of the experience rather than significant complaints.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
Warren was kind and knowledgeable on our Great Ocean Road day, a present for my special needs son's 18th, and he loved it. The whole day was so well organised, from pick-up to brunch and all the great spots.
Patrick's energy was high from the early pick-up, with a thorough intro at every stop and well-timed breaks. The reverse route is a better option, as we had time at the 12 Apostles before the crowds, and the group size was ideal. He also has a great record for spotting animals.
Our Great Ocean Road tour was a highlight of our Melbourne stay. Our guide Pit had great luck with the weather and the wildlife, and we saw kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and a kookaburra, along with plenty of fascinating stories.
The Great Ocean Road tour was one of the highlights of our Australia trip, with a well-planned itinerary, plenty of time for the coastal views and a friendly, knowledgeable guide. Smooth, comfortable and great value.
The reverse Great Ocean Road tour with Mark was excellent. He kept to schedule without pushing us, and I especially loved the Twelve Apostles and the rainforest with ferns as tall as a house.
A wonderful day with Chris Bourke along the Great Ocean Road, seeing the Apostles and lots of Aussie wildlife, including a koala waddling down the road. Good for tour lovers and non-tour people alike.
