Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests
Recommended by 98% of travellers
Melbourne, Australia
+13
- 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the Great Ocean Road’s top attractions on this guided excursion that follows the iconic road in reverse. Embark on your journey and beat the crowds while learning about the region’s scenic landscapes and pretty coastal towns from an informative guide. Visit sites including the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Apollo Bay, and Gibson Steps.
- Explore Victoria’s Great Ocean Road on an all-day reverse tour
- Discover the region’s history and culture with a knowledgeable local guide
- Get going early and enjoy a small-group experience that beats the crowds
- Experience 12 Apostles, Great Otway, Apollo Bay, and other sites
Why Travellers Choose This Tour
An early start and reverse route means you beat the crowds to the Twelve Apostles.
What's Included
- National Park fees
- Live commentary on board
- Professional guide
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Bottled water
- Multilingual Interactive Audio Guide + a complimentary Melbourne City Self-Guided Audio Guide Tour
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
For your convenience, our pickup locations are available within 15 minutes walking distance from any point in Melbourne CBD. 1. At 6:30 am from 196 Flinders Street – Opposite Federation Square, and near Flinders St Station 2. At 6:40 am from 313 La Trobe Street – Near Melbourne Central Station 3. At 6:50 am from 44 Spencer Street – The Great Southern Hotel, near Southern Cross Station. Your pickup time and location will be as selected during the booking process. If you need to change the location, please notify us at least 24 hours before the tour departure. Please arrive at the pickup location at least five minutes before departure, as these are public parking spots and the minibus cannot wait. The drop-off points in the afternoon will be along Flinders Street.
Drop-off points
Select a drop-off point
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Start time.6:50 am
Itinerary
Make your own way to the meeting point for your early morning departure from Melbourne. Settle into the minivan and head inland toward the Twelve Apostles.
Arrive at the Twelve Apostles ahead of the crowds and enjoy the magnificent limestone formations at their most peaceful.
Follow Gibson Steps down to the beach below the vertical cliffs and take in a different view of the giant limestone stacks rising up out of the sea. Make a stop at the Loch Ard Gorge and snap photos of the Razorback, the most impressive formation.
Continue along the Great Ocean Road, through Great Otway National Park, to Maits Rest for a walk through the rainforest. Stop at Apollo Bay Stop for lunch (own expense) before continuing to Kennet River Koala Walk to spot the cute marsupials and orange-bellied parrots.
After a final photo stop at Teddy’s Lookout, your tour ends back where you began.
Arrive at the Twelve Apostles ahead of the crowds and enjoy the magnificent limestone formations at their most peaceful.
Follow Gibson Steps down to the beach below the vertical cliffs and take in a different view of the giant limestone stacks rising up out of the sea. Make a stop at the Loch Ard Gorge and snap photos of the Razorback, the most impressive formation.
Continue along the Great Ocean Road, through Great Otway National Park, to Maits Rest for a walk through the rainforest. Stop at Apollo Bay Stop for lunch (own expense) before continuing to Kennet River Koala Walk to spot the cute marsupials and orange-bellied parrots.
After a final photo stop at Teddy’s Lookout, your tour ends back where you began.
1
Winchelsea
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
The Twelve Apostles
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Gibsons Steps
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
The Razorback
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Loch Ard Gorge
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Port Campbell National Park (Pass By)
6
The Great Ocean Road
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Great Otway National Park (Pass By)
7
Mait's Rest
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
8
Apollo Bay
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Kennett River Nature Walk
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
Teddy's Lookout
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travellers can participate
- We are not able to accommodate children under 7 years of age on this tour, as according to VicRoads regulations they must travel on child restraints, which are not available in our minibuses. Passengers who show up with under 7 years old kids will be refused boarding without refund.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- This is a small groups tour and the vehicles are 12 seaters minibuses Toyota Hiace or similar. In case extra room is required, send us a message so we can arrange large coaches option.
- If you are traveling with people, not in the same booking, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance. We operate with multiple buses and can't guarantee sitting together without being informed.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travellers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveller Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 4,647 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Anthony_P, July 2026
This tour was phenomenal! Our tour guide, Glen, was amazing from start to finish. We got picked up on time and hit all the spots on the itinerary. Our group was small, only 8 of us, so the size and pace overall was great. It was windy and drizzling at certain spots but we still managed to get great pictures and videos while avoiding all the crowds. The ride was smooth and relaxing the entire time. If I ever come back to Melbourne, I would totally book this tour again and hope to have Glen as our guide! We got picked up shortly after 6:30am and got dropped off around 6:30pm. We made a short breakfast stop, stopped for lunch at Apollo Bay and then had ice cream for dessert near the end of our itinerary.
Denise_B, July 2026
We did the reverse trip so we had the long drive in the morning. Even though it was long, it did not seem that long. The vehicle was very comfortable. We stopped halfway through to take a break and pick up breakfast if you wanted to.
Marty was our driver and gave us great suggestions for breakfast and at our lunch stop. He was a great commentator going out and coming back. Very knowledgeable of the area and conducting this tour.
We were provided enough time at each stop to go down to the areas we wanted to and take pictures and just enjoy the beautiful scenery around us.
We saw several kangaroos. The koalas were hard for us to spot but Marty was able to spot them pretty easily and point them out to us.
Highly recommend this tour.
Veera_P, July 2026
We had a lovely driver (whose name unfortunately can’t remember anymore) who was originally from Taiwan but had lived in Australia already for years. He started to tell us straight away stories of Melbourne’s history. He was very sweet and the spots where he took us were breathtaking. We even saw some koalas and kengurus on the way! Definitely worth it, especially if you don’t have many days in Melbourne this is a must. I would totally recommend it. I did this early July and occasionally it was raining a bit so remember to take a jacket with you and umbrella/rain jacket!
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you enjoyed the reverse itinerary and had the chance to see the breathtaking scenery, as well as wild koalas and kangaroos along the way.
We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Jimmy. It's great to hear you enjoyed his stories about Melbourne and that he helped make your day so memorable. Thank you for recommending our tour and for the great tip about bringing a jacket during winter—we couldn't agree more!
We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Nilmar_F, July 2026
Amazing landscape and sightseeing spots. Our tour guide Martin was fantastic, one of a kind! Very gentle and with great spirt.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon.
Hend_A, July 2026
Really nice trip and jimmy was very friendly and very helpful
The weather was not good though but we managed to see the most sightseeings
Thank you
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon.
ChiYeung_C, July 2026
Chris, the travel guide is superb and knowledgeable about all tourist spots. it is a truly memorable trip!!!
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon.
Angela_M, July 2026
Mark was fantastic! He was knowledgeable and took us to great sites for photos, views, and good food. Would recommend this tour to anyone!
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased you enjoyed our reverse itinerary and had such a great day exploring the Great Ocean Road.
We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Mark. His local knowledge and passion for showcasing the best photo spots, scenery, and food always make for a memorable experience.
Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
Aishika_C, July 2026
If you're heading towards the Southern hemisphere of the world to explore Australia's nature and wildlife this Great Ocean road tour is highly recommended.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review and recommendation! We’re so happy you enjoyed exploring the beautiful nature and wildlife along the Great Ocean Road. We hope to welcome you on another Australian adventure soon!
Rosemary_C, July 2026
Five star tour. The reverse order means no crowds, and the itinerary is full of stunning scenery. The small group was a bonus. Pete was a fantastic guide.
Vyom_M, July 2026
Great tour, great guide, hits all the highlights. Marty is a great guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Kept the tour lively during the entire 12 hours. We also saw some Koalas and Kangaroos. Overall 10/10 highly recommend it esp if you’re on a short trip like I was.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review and recommendation! We're delighted to hear you had such a great day with Marty. He'll be thrilled to know his knowledge and enthusiasm helped make the 12-hour tour enjoyable from start to finish.
We're also glad you were able to spot koalas and kangaroos in the wild—always a memorable part of the experience! Thanks again for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back on your next Australian adventure.
Jamar_A, July 2026
Our Guide Mr. MARK was all you can ask for a SUPERB and RELAXING TRIP.
He is a like a Father on a Road Trip with Children. SALUTE TO YOU SIR.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a relaxing and enjoyable day with Mark.
Your kind words will mean a lot to him. We'll be sure to pass on your compliments.
Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable road trip in the future!
Norah_H, June 2026
Absolutely fabulous day. Our guide Marty was fantastic, very knowledgeable. Amazing variety along the coast, from the geography to the weather, and get to see kangaroos and koalas in the wild as well. Can’t wait to return.
Response from Host, July 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Thank you for travelling with us, and we can't wait to welcome you back again!
Parashor_G, June 2026
Very friendly tour guide , excellent behaviour, and very patient. Also the itinerary was excellent. The itinerary was also excellent, did not miss a single spot.
Giulietta_G, June 2026
I've dreamt of visiting Australia since I was a young teen, long ago. Finally I've made the trip and this tour was everything I imagined a visit to Australia could be: koalas in trees, a field full of placid, yet bouncy kangaroos, gorgeous beaches and rock formations, and friendly people. An extra, wondrous bonus was wandering through an ancient, almost pre-historic temperate rainforest.
It is a long day and there are windy and bumpy roads sometimes but it is one of the best travel experiences I ve had.
Mark, our driver and guide was wonderful. If you are considering this trip, don't hesitate to. It was fantastic.
Yiwen_S, June 2026
I had an amazing day on the Reverse Great Ocean Road tour. The itinerary was very well planned. Starting from the Twelve Apostles early in the day meant we could enjoy the views without large crowds. We visited beautiful places including the rainforest, and several coastal lookouts. Seeing wild kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat was definitely a highlight.
Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the long drive enjoyable with interesting stories and local information. The pace of the tour was comfortable, and I never felt rushed at any stop.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Melbourne. It was a wonderful experience and a great way to explore one of Australia’s most beautiful regions.
Doug_M, June 2026
Pete was the best. Informative, knowledgeable, funny and personable. He guided us all the way and gave us options and listened to what we wanted.
Baohan_T, June 2026
Our guide was incredible understanding and patient when we ended up missing our pickup time and was quickly able to find an alternate spot to pick up quickly yo minimize lost time. He also chose to extend the tour longer out of the interest of the group to ensure that we got the chance to see Kangaroos and get the most out of experience the tour offered. I would totally recommend the tour to anyone!
Jazmine_S, June 2026
Marty was a great tour guide on this tour! He was knowledgeable about the area and showed us some kangaroos, koalas and wallabies in the wild! I love how this tour was smaller and we got to see some great landscapes!
Belinda_W, June 2026
The views were amazing. Our guide Ann was the best ever. She was knowledgeable, experienced, kind and very helpful. Thank you Ann for making the Great Ocean Rd most memorable.
Sueshe_T, June 2026
It was a great experience. The tour leader is very patient and explained everything very well.
It is worth it.
David_A, June 2026
We saw a lot of Australia in one day: Great Ocean road, kangaroos, Koalas etc. Good way to get out of the city, and see the small towns.
Christelle_M, June 2026
Chris was a great guide. Tour group was a good size. A van as opposed to a big bus like some other tours. Stopped to see koalas and kangaroos. Would recommend.
Evan_K, June 2026
A good old fashioned Aussie road trip with breathtaking views! I appreciated the reverse itinerary to avoid crowds at places like the 12 Apostles. Mark was an excellent tour guide and driver (very friendly, very efficient). We got a close up view of a koala walking down a side road (a rare treat, as they’re usually up in trees), and we finished the day with ice cream and chocolate. Highly recommend!
Jordan_D, June 2026
Peter was FANTASTIC and incredibly knowledgeable on Melbourne’s history. My wife and I were completely happy and glad we decided to book a tour with Hit The Road. It was a small group of people, 10 to be exact and it made the whole experience more intimate and meaningful. Peter took us on an few off road views to see kangaroos and koalas out in the wild, which was so special and unforgettable. We highly recommend taking this guided tour, you will not be disappointed.
Raj_O, May 2026
Fantastic curated boutique day trip
Patrick our tour guide was great
Just the right amount of talking
Kind helpful
Made this long day trip easy and comfortable
Nicole_S, May 2026
The Ocean Road is gorgeous - a must see! We appreciated the multiple stops for sight seeing and photo ops. Our tour guide, Chris, is a life-long local and was full of information that made the journey very special.
Linda_R, May 2026
A small group makes for a more personalized experience, and the reverse itinerary helps avoid the crowds. Our tour guide Patric was knowledgeable, welcoming and simply amazing. Besides taking us to all the planned spots along the way, he also helped us spot koala and roos, and patiently answered all our questions. I highly recommend this tour.
Josephine_B, May 2026
It was absolutely fantastic and amazing! Our guide, Ann, was a legend at giving us great commentary and information along the drive.
We lucked out when I went out where the weather was spot on throughout the journey.
I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting a road trip with views and an amazing guide to boot (Ann 😆).
Got to see Koalas, Kangaroos and a couple of birds along the way. It was just amazing and breath taking.
The minivan was comfortable and clean. The spots for a pitstop for food and toilet break were pretty good too.
15/10 if it were up to me! Definitely worth the price!
Pabasara_R, May 2026
Well arranged and comfortable trip. We were able to spend an appropriate time at each attraction. Our tour guide Patricia was really helpful and knowledgeable.
Denise_D, May 2026
My husband and I went on the Great Ocean Road tour with Hit the Road Tours. They do the tour in reverse and it was nice to avoid a lot of the crowds doing it this way. We had Marty as a tour guide and he did a great job explaining the history of the Great Ocean Road. We stopped for coffee and a great "Brekki". We drove through some great country side with a lot of animals. Marty knew all the good areas to stop to see kangaroos in the field, Koalas in the trees and kookaburras on the beach. We even walked in a rainforest. Our second stop was twelve apostles which were so impressive. It's one of those sights that pictures don't capture the complete beauty of it. We saw so many amazing coast and cliff views. We heard great information about the shipwreck alley. Enjoyed lunch near a beach. Last stop was at a chocolate factory which was a great ending to an amazing tour. We'd recommend this tour. It's a long day but very much worth it.
From USD 98.45
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests
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