Go West Tours Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour

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A guided small-group day trip from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, with the 12 Apostles, a rainforest walk in the Great Otway National Park and koalas in the wild.

Days

12 to 13 hours, full day

Group size

Small group

Start / finish

Melbourne / Melbourne
Melbourne, 8:30pm to 9:30pm

Return

Melbourne, 8:30pm to 9:30pm

Transport

Air-conditioned bus with a guide, Melbourne hotel pick-up

Meals

Beachside morning tea; lunch and dinner stops at own cost

Route

Map of Go West Tours Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour

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Included experiences

Torquay — beachside morning tea
Memorial Arch — photo stop
Great Otway National Park — wild koalas
Maits Rest — guided rainforest walk
12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge
Gibson Steps — down to the beach

Go West Tours Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: MELBOURNE TO TORQUAY AND THE MEMORIAL ARCH

After a hotel pick-up in Melbourne between 7 and 8am, the small bus heads south-west to the Surf Coast. In Torquay, where the Great Ocean Road begins, you stop for morning tea by the beach. Then it's on to the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View for photos. The road itself is the memorial: about 3,000 soldiers back from the First World War built it by hand between 1919 and 1932, making it the world's largest war memorial. The coast drive that follows hugs the cliffs, with a new view around every bend.

LATE MORNING: KOALAS IN THE GUM TREES

Along the drive, your guide stops where wild koalas live in the eucalypts. Look for a grey bundle wedged into a fork high up; koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day, so most are dozing. King parrots and crimson rosellas, both bright red, often land close by. Sightings depend on the animals, so keep your eyes on the treetops.

MIDDAY: APOLLO BAY AND THE OTWAY RAINFOREST

Lunch is in Apollo Bay, a fishing town on a long curved beach, with time to buy a meal and wander the foreshore. Then the bus climbs into the Great Otway National Park for a guided walk through cool temperate rainforest and beneath mountain ash, the tallest flowering plant on earth, which can grow past 90 metres. Your guide explains how the tree ferns, mosses and myrtle beech survive in the high rainfall of the Otway Ranges.

AFTERNOON: THE 12 APOSTLES AND LOCH ARD GORGE

In Port Campbell National Park you walk the viewing paths above the 12 Apostles, limestone stacks the Southern Ocean has carved from the cliffs, the tallest about 45 metres high. Once known as the Sow and Piglets, they still lose a stack now and then to the waves. Want the view from above? A 16-minute helicopter flight can be booked on the day for an extra cost. At Loch Ard Gorge your guide tells the story of the clipper Loch Ard, wrecked here in 1878 with only two survivors, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael.

EVENING: COLAC AND BACK TO MELBOURNE

On the inland road home you stop for dinner in Colac, a farming town on the shore of Lake Colac (meal at your own cost). Then it's an easy run back to Melbourne, arriving between 8:30 and 9:30pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Select hotels in Melbourne City. Your actual pick-up point may differ from the one selected and will be shown on your ticket.
Departure time: Hotel pick-ups between 7am and 8am.
Finishes: Back in Melbourne between 8:30pm and 9:30pm.
Please note: Tours are in English; recorded tour information in 16 languages is available through the free Go West Tours app. The tour runs rain or shine.

What to bring

Clothes for the weather, with light clothing and warm layers
Comfortable walking shoes
Refillable water bottle
Snacks
Power bank (there is no charging on the bus or at many stops)
Card for any purchases
Headphones for the audio guide app

What is included

Select hotel pick-ups and drop-offs within Melbourne City
Air-conditioned bus with upgraded seating
Professional guide
Beachside morning tea in Torquay
All national park entry fees
Onboard wifi
Audio guide app in 16 languages

Not included

Lunch, dinner and drinks — there are meal stops, or bring your own

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 3 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

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.

(5/5)

Our Great Ocean Road small group tour was exceptional. Ben handled the roads well, found a safe spot for us to photograph wild koalas and gave spot-on food and photo tips, and I especially liked the guided rainforest walk. It's a long day, but Ben kept us entertained, and trainee Nae was lovely too.

Patricia Bell Verified· Travelled 19th October 2026

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(5/5)

With limited days in Melbourne I booked the Great Ocean Road tour, leaving in the morning and getting back after dark, and it was well worth it. I'd have liked more time for lunch in Apollo Bay and a bit less at the Twelve Apostles, but our guide David N was the best I had in Australia: funny, knowledgeable, and he found us koalas in the trees.

halcyonhours Verified· Travelled 19th October 2026

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(5/5)

I joined the Great Ocean Road full day eco tour with Alisha, who was kind, knowledgeable and a very good driver. When I left my earphones at lunch in Apollo Bay, she went out of her way to drive me back for them. As a solo traveller she made me feel completely at ease.

Yiwen Tu Verified· Travelled 17th October 2026

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