Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests
Recommended by 98% of travellers
Melbourne, Australia
- 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
Type to search
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 4,910 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
We had such a great day exploring the Great Ocean Road, Warren was a great guide with lots of fun facts along the way, plenty of time to check out each attraction and we packed so much into our day. Loved our day and would highly recommend.
We had an incredible day out and I would definitely book this tour again in the future. The whole trip was paced perfectly with a variety of stops that allowed us not only to see the great views from the coast but also Koalas, Kangaroos, and a beautiful forest. We stopped for lunch in a nice little town where the beach was amazing. The guide/driver was very informative, nice and also drove really well.
I had a great time on the great ocean road. Warren was the best tour guide I ever had. Highly recommended.
It was a small group tour. The driver guide did well in ensuring us ahead of other tour group so we could take better spot for photos.
The only con was the seats for the van were not that comfortable.
Great day! Pickup was easy, van was comfortable and we saw so many excellent sites. Apostles, rain forest, ocean views, koalas and kangaroos! Warren was a great driver and tour guide.
**A fantastic day with Warren!**
Our Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour with Warren was excellent. The reverse route helped us avoid the crowds, and the day was well paced with plenty of time at each stop.
Warren was friendly, professional, and a wonderful guide. His local knowledge, stories, and wildlife-spotting made the drive especially memorable, and the Twelve Apostles were spectacular. We would highly recommend this tour—and Warren—to anyone visiting Melbourne.
Peter was an absolute amazing tour guide. He took his time to make sure that everyone had a fabulous experience seeing the wildlife and the wonderful 12 Apostles. Would take another tour with him anytime.
I am conflicted as I write this review. Nothing bad happened on this tour. The driver was pleasant. The places we saw were great. However, the tour was almost 12 hours long. Of that 12 hours, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours was time spent actually out of the car. The other 9 hours or so was driving. It was a LONG day driving. All of us on the tour felt this way. Again, the sights were great. We saw the 12 (8 left) apostles, we saw koalas way up in the trees. We saw some pretty beaches. We ate at a nice restaurant at a seaside town. That was all great. However, most of the day we spent in the car. Our driver was pleasant but did nothing to help us pass the time. He mostly just drove and from time to time gave us some commentary. The entire trip he played techno elevator music. I was so sick of it by the time we arrived. The trip was pretty much as advertised, but they don't really tell you how long you will be spending in the car. I wouldn't do it again. With a driver who was entertaining and some decent music it would have been more enjoyable.
First time visiting Australia & Melbourne and wanted to experience a lot of what made this region special and this tour checked off all the boxes. Marty was an awesome tour guide that mixed facts with fun making the long drive fun and engaging. The tour blended the perfect balance of food, sightseeing, and wildlife experiences and I don't think anything could be changed to make it better.
We had an excellent guide, Pete. He was knowledgeable and funny. He made the day an even more incredible experience. He took us to each stop when there were not crowds and knew exactly where to take us to see tons of wildlife. SO many koalas, kangaroos, wombats and many more!!
If there is one tour that you do from Melbourne, this would be the tour to pick. It is very smart to do the reverse small group tour to avoid the crowds. Kevin, our guide was absolutely wonderful and he didn’t overwhelm us with too many facts and details or ramble on endlessly. He kept the history simple and interesting snd played great music in between stops. We had a group of 11 travelers and all of them returned to the van in time and we were on time for every stop that we made. Kevin even made a few extra stops to a chocolate factory and to see the kangaroos. if I had only one constructive comment to make, it is that the seats on the van are too tight and not very comfortable. The seatbelts cut into my neck when I wore them. This was not the tour guide‘s fault but I have been on more comfortable vans for tours.
What a great day with Marc our guide! Our whole group was fantastic and made it a very memorable day, Izzie, Joanie, Tracy, Maddie, Ryan and the rest of our group! It was incredibly windy but just breathtaking! Highly recommend this tour.
Ann was a good tour guide and knowledgeable. The sites visited are very good and the weather is nice too. However the van is uncomfortable and lacks suspension. We are often tossed around the van and feel every bump. Otherwise a good experience
Peter was so nice and friendly! This tour specifically avoids the big crowds based on the reverse itinerary and it really made a difference. We also got to see koalas and kangaroos in the wild between locations.
Loved the tour itinerary and our tour guide Pete as well, it's definitely worth it! Even though it rained in the afternoon we were still able to enjoy it completely.
Loooong day but great tour. Totally worth it if like me you don't want to drive on the left. It really wasn't crowded at the sites, and I was grateful. Be prepared for wind! Also, we stopped to see koalas and kangaroos and even after 2.5 weeks in Australia, it did not disappoint. The road is truly beautiful.
This was a wonderful, small tour that beat the crowds. I didn’t realize I signed up for the reverse tour, but so glad I did. Kara was a great tour guide and I met some of the nicest people on the tour. Highly recommend.
The trip contains a variety of activities with the highlight being the 12 apostles but it also took us to a number of other lookouts and even to view wild koala bears and kangaroos. Our guide and driver, Brandon, was amazing. He kept us on schedule and alway arrived ahead of crowds from other tour groups. He provided a lot of local information and stories throught out the trip, making a long journey seemed short.
We had an absolutely incredible 12-hour Great Ocean Road tour with Ann! Everything was stunning, and the Twelve Apostles were every bit as amazing as we hoped they would be. We were also incredibly lucky to have absolutely fabulous weather, which made an already spectacular day even better.
Ann was fantastic — entertaining, knowledgeable, and clearly worked incredibly hard to make sure we got the most out of the day. One of my absolute favourite parts of the entire trip was getting to see koalas and kangaroos in the wild. Ann knew all the secret spots and went out of her way to make sure we had the chance to see them. Those moments were genuinely unforgettable!
One thing future travellers should know: the roads are INCREDIBLY bendy, and I get motion sickness. Sitting at the back of the van felt a little like being on a roller-coaster 😂. I would definitely recommend bringing Gravol or whatever you normally use for motion sickness, especially if you're prone to it.
Overall, this was one of the highlights of our Australia trip. Beautiful scenery, incredible wildlife, perfect weather, and a fantastic guide. Highly recommend Ann and this tour!
You have to get up early and it's all day long so pack your bag the night before but it is well worth the time. Our guide, Ann, was absolutely terrific. She was very helpful, knowledgeable and fun.
It is a long day with a lot of driving, but well worth the journey. Even with light rain at times, the views were amazing. Patrick, our driver, was very personable and knowledgeable, and went out of his way to make sure that we were able to take full advantage of this wonderful experience. Highly recommend Patrick and this tour.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Great to hear the journey was well worth it! The Great Ocean Road is spectacular even with a little rain, and we’re glad Patrick’s knowledge and care helped you make the most of the day. Thank you for recommending Patrick and our tour!
Long but rewarding experience! Our guide Jimmy Chan was so insightful and energetic throughout the long day that made the experience so much better! Would definitely recommend!!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
So glad you found the Great Ocean Road journey worth it! Jimmy’s knowledge and energy certainly help make a long day more enjoyable. Thank you for recommending us!
I had a fantastic experience with this tour. The tour guide was knowledgable, friendly, and easygoing. I love the reverse itinerary we went through as we avoided crowds of people. The tour guide was also patient and flexible as we look for koalas and kangaroos as part of our tour. It was a great experience overall!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Wonderful to hear you loved our reverse Great Ocean Road itinerary and the quieter experience! We’re glad you also enjoyed searching for wild koalas and kangaroos along the way. Thanks for travelling with us!
A long day but it’s well worth it. The tour did as described and we got see both the beauty of shore along Great Ocean Road and wild animals. Spotting for wild koalas was a great highlight of the tour along a glimpse of a kangaroo. Our driver was so helpful and funny at times. The stopover at a chocolate factory was a plus and you need try their ice cream - avoid buying 2 scoops, 1 scoop is more than plenty for their serving. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Sounds like you had a fantastic day on the Great Ocean Road! Spotting wild koalas and kangaroos is always special, and finishing with a generous scoop of ice cream sounds like the perfect ending. Thank you for recommending us!
It can be a long drive and is very curvy on the ocean road so be mindful if get carsick easy. Appreciated the little stops along the way.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thanks for sharing your experience and the helpful tip for future travellers! The Great Ocean Road is a long day with some winding coastal sections, so the stops along the way are a great opportunity to stretch your legs, enjoy the scenery and break up the journey. We’re glad you appreciated them!
The tour was AWESOME! Our tour guide Jimmy C. was very knowledgeable and allowed us to visit extra sites as time permitted. It’s a must do adventure!
Response from Host, Sept 2026
AWESOME — we love hearing that! Jimmy’s knowledge and flexibility certainly help make the Great Ocean Road adventure extra special, especially when there’s time to squeeze in a few bonus stops along the way. Thanks for the fantastic “must do” recommendation! We’re so happy to have been part of your Melbourne adventure and hope to welcome you on the road again someday!
I really enjoyed this itinerary. It was well-planned, and the pace was excellent. The attractions we visited were all well worth seeing. The vehicle was comfortable, and the guide was great.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
We're delighted you enjoyed our Great Ocean Road tour! It's wonderful to hear that you appreciated the well-planned itinerary, comfortable vehicle, and excellent guide. Thank you for travelling with us!
It’s an early morning but the reverse itinerary makes a lot of sense. You have to see the twelve apostles in person. Pictures do not do it justice. The natural beauty of the road is spectacular. Seeing wild cockatoos was a treat. Our guide was enthusiastic and fun. Areas to improve would be the size of the bus. For such a long ride would have been nice to have more breathing room. It’s a lot of in and out and a larger vehicle or less people would have been better. The stop for lunch is over-toured and quality of food not great. Wish there was a different stop for lunch.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad you enjoyed the breathtaking Twelve Apostles, our reverse itinerary, and the wildlife encounters along the Great Ocean Road. We appreciate your feedback regarding the vehicle comfort and lunch stop, and we'll certainly take your comments into consideration as we continue to improve our guests' experience. Thank you for travelling with us!
Our guide knew where to go to see koalas and kangaroos in the wild. That was a major highlight fir us.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
We're delighted that spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild was a highlight of your Great Ocean Road adventure! Our guides love sharing these special wildlife encounters with our guests. Thank you for travelling with us!
Our guide Patrick was one of the best guides we've had. He was very engaging and informative. The tour was well paced, plenty of time at each location.
Response from Host, Sept 2026
What a wonderful compliment for Patrick! We’re so glad his engaging personality and knowledge made your Great Ocean Road experience even better. It’s also great to hear you enjoyed the pace and had plenty of time to take in each stop along the way. Thanks for travelling with us!
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USD 93.89
per personWas USD 98.84(-5%)
up 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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