Autopia Tours Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour with lunch

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The Great Ocean Road in reverse, to see it without the crowds. Heading inland first means we reach the 12 Apostles before the tourist masses, with the same key sights and highlights as the standard Great Ocean Road tour.

Days

13 hours

Age

All ages; child seats for under 5s

Group size

Small group, max 28

Start / finish

Melbourne / Melbourne

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Air-conditioned midi-coach with Wi-Fi and a driver guide, pick-up from central Melbourne points

Meals

Morning tea and a light picnic lunch

Route

Map of Autopia Tours Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour with lunch

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Included experiences

Twelve Apostles — morning visit before the crowds
Loch Ard Gorge — beach and rock formations
Mutton Bird Island and Razorback Lookout
Melba Gully, Great Otway National Park — guided rainforest walk
Great Ocean Road — koala spotting from Apollo Bay to Lorne
Memorial Arch — photo stop

Autopia Tours Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour with lunch

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: INLAND TO THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Pick-up is early in central Melbourne, and instead of following the coast like most tours, you head inland through Colac, a farming town on the shore of Lake Colac, straight to the Shipwreck Coast. That puts you at the Twelve Apostles before most of the coaches arrive. These limestone stacks rise up to 45 metres from the Southern Ocean and were first called the Sow and Piglets, and there have never been twelve of them. Prefer the view from the air? Scenic helicopter flights leave from here for an extra cost. Morning tea is included along the way.

LATE MORNING: LOCH ARD GORGE AND THE CLIFFTOPS

At Loch Ard Gorge the clipper Loch Ard was wrecked in 1878. Of the 54 people on board, only two teenagers, Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael, made it ashore onto the small beach inside the gorge, and you can walk down to it. Nearby, the town of Port Campbell sits around a small bay. The Razorback is a thin fin of limestone the waves are cutting away layer by layer, and Mutton Bird Island is where thousands of short-tailed shearwaters return each spring after flying from the North Pacific.

MIDDAY: RAINFOREST IN THE OTWAYS

Lunch is a light picnic included in your fare. Then your guide leads a walk of about 2 to 3 km in Great Otway National Park, at Melba Gully or Maits Rest, among tree ferns, myrtle beech and moss. These gullies are some of the wettest places in Victoria, with up to 2 metres of rain a year, which is why the rainforest grows so thick.

AFTERNOON: THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD BACK TO MELBOURNE

Now you follow the Great Ocean Road east, built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to those killed in the First World War. It hugs the cliffs through Apollo Bay, Kennett River, Lorne and Anglesea, and the gum trees around Kennett River are among the most reliable places in Victoria to see wild koalas. Your guide will look for them, though they can't be promised. The last stop is the Memorial Arch at Eastern View for a photo, then it's back to Melbourne in the evening, about 570 km after you started.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Selected Melbourne inner-city pick-up points. Be ready at least 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Duration: About 13 hours, with 570 km of driving and 2 to 3 km of walking.
Suits: All ages. Children up to 4 must travel in a child seat, not on a lap; these are free but must be requested when booking.
Dietary needs: Let us know about any dietary requirements or medical conditions.
Please note: The tour runs in rain or bad weather. The route or schedule may change with seasonal weather or park closures.

What to bring

1 litre refillable water bottle
Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
All-weather comfortable clothing
Comfortable walking shoes
Raincoat or windbreaker
Small day pack (5 to 7 kg)
Money for snacks and extra meals
Camera

What is included

National park entry fees
Light picnic-style lunch
Morning tea with wildlife
Guided walks of about 2 to 3 km
Experienced driver guide with local commentary
Modern air-conditioned midi-coach with Wi-Fi and USB charging
Selected Melbourne inner-city pick-up and drop-off points
Audio and text translation app in 10 languages

Not included

12 Apostles scenic helicopter flights, paid to the operator on arrival
Other meals and snacks
Transfers from your hotel to the pick-up point
Travel insurance
Personal spending money

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)

The reverse Great Ocean Road tour gave us stunning coastal views without the crowds. Our guide Anthony was knowledgeable, great company and knew the best spots to find wild koalas and kangaroos.

Ben CHAN Verified· Travelled 22nd October 2026

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(5/5)

I'm so glad I chose the reverse Great Ocean Road tour. Joe was a funny, knowledgeable and caring guide, the ride was comfortable despite my motion sickness, and we got to spot koalas and kangaroos.

Duong Nguyen Verified· Travelled 16th October 2026

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(5/5)

We did the reverse Great Ocean Road tour with Joe. It was well organised with a tidy bus and on-time pick-up, and Joe was friendly, funny and knew the places we visited well.

Balaji M Verified· Travelled 15th October 2026

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