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Great Ocean Road Reverse SUNRISE TOUR–SML GRP-LUX BUS Hotel Pikup

Recommended by 98% of travellers
Badge of Excellence
Melbourne, Australia
Popular pick
Booked 20+ times last week!
  • 12 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travellers loved this

4.9
·
· fook_k ·
Mar 2026
A great trip to explore Melbourne and the famed great ocean route. Did not disappoint, get to experience the ocean drive, the 12 apostles, Apollo bay, and seeing koala and kangaroo in the wild. Great service and narrative from Steve, our guide. Highly recommend.
· Lisa_C ·
Mar 2026
Steve was great! The day was enjoyable, and we got to see so many interesting places. Steve was able to take us to see both kangaroos and koalas along with all of the beautiful coastal scenery. His stories were great. I truly enjoyed the day.

Overview

Relax in your luxury mini bus as you explore the wonders of the Great Ocean Road on this group day trip from Melbourne. You won’t have to deal with sticking to a large group, plus, you travel in reverse to avoid the crowds. Stretch out between stops like the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Make sure your cameras are ready for excellent shots.
  • Hotel pickup from any Melbourne CBD or Southbank hotel for convenience
  • Spot iconic Australian wildlife, including koalas and kangaroos
  • A reverse itinerary means you have more time to spend at each location
  • Sit back and relax while an expert navigates the winding roads

What's Included

  • Hotel pickup (Melbourne CBD & Southbank hotels)
  • Luxury, Air-Conditioned -Mini Premium Coach
  • Professional driver-guide
  • All national park entry fees
  • Bottled water
  • More time at each stop thanks to reverse itinerary
  • USB Charging Ports Available
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Morning tea/coffee
  • Personal expenses

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Don`t Have TO Rush To Pick UP SPOT. We Will Pick You From Your ALL HOTEL. IN MELBOURNE CBD-SOUTHBANK-DOCKLANDS We will message you pick up time from specific hotels From Melbourne CBD & SOUTHBANK A DAY BEFORE THE TOUR.

or

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

  • 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Operating hours
.06:50

Itinerary

1

Colac

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

The Twelve Apostles

45 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

3

Tom And Eva Lookout

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

4

The Razorback

25 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

5

Loch Ard Gorge

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

Port Campbell National Park (Pass By)

6

Melba Gully National Park

25 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

7

Great Ocean Road

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

8

Apollo Bay

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

9

Kennett River

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

10

Memorial Arch at Eastern View

15 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

11

Anglesea

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

12

Immigration Museum

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travellers can participate
  • Travel time is already included in total tour duration.
  • We Will Confirm Pick Up Time A Day Before the Tour. We will message you pick up time from specific hotels From Melbourne CBD & SOUTHBANK .
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveller's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveller's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveller's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveller's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveller's review)

Featured review

Rosemary_B
What an awesome trip 👏. The scenery along the Great Ocean Road and getting to see the Apostles was an amazing experience. The tour guide, Steve, was outstanding. He had an enthusiastic and cheerful character, and his commentary was interesting, informative and educational. I would highly recommend this trip. It is very worthwhile. Rosemary B.

Reviews

4.9
based on 1,210 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great tour!

Renata_S, May 2026
It was a great tour, just wished we have had more time in thr 12 Apostles. The guide was very kind and had lots to tell us during the journey and places where we stopped by.

Amazing experience

Alex_Y, May 2026
Absolutely fantastic experience. The hotel pick-up service made everything so easy and stress-free from the start. Bill our guide was excellent. He made the seemingly long tour much more enjoyable. The views along the way were simply breathtaking, and the well-timed stop in the middle for lunch was perfect to relax. Everything felt well-organised without being rushed. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to experience the Great Ocean Road and the The Twelve Apostles in comfort.

Great time

Grace_C, May 2026
It was a great experience thanks to Steve!! Got to see koalas and kangaroos on the trip which was a great bonus

Super friendly guide....

Martine_L, Apr 2026
Super friendly guide. Amazing place to see. Doing in reverse gives you the best light to take pictures at the 12 apostles

Spectacular sites and great experience.

Denise_A, Apr 2026
The coach used was very comfortable. Sites stopped at are amazing! So much natural beauty. Driver/Guide is entertaining and took us to unplanned stops to see animals in their natural habitat. Highly recommend this tour.

Stunning Views + The Best Guide!

Jorida_c, Apr 2026
Such a memorable day! The Great Ocean Road is stunning, but what made this tour stand out was our guide Bill. He brought the journey to life with history, stories, and fun facts, all while showing genuine pride in his country. You can tell he loves what he does, and it really made a difference. Highly recommend this tour—and if you get Bill, you’re in for an even better experience!

It was a fun and...

Budhaditya_D, Apr 2026
It was a fun and memorable day sight seeing across the great ocean drive and Apostles. Steve our guide for the day had a great sense of humour and was super fun as he kept us hooked and excited throughout. He made sure we spotted Koalas and Kangaroos in the wild and had the most of our tour that day.

Why a title? Did you name the last dump you took?

Sridhar_C, Apr 2026
Bit long. Mostly driving. Harrowing safety belt lecture. Too many Americans and Chinese on the tour. Booking a private tour is recommended.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your feedback. Safety is our top priority, especially on a long 12-hour journey along the Great Ocean Road. The seatbelt briefing is not optional—it is a critical part of ensuring every guest remains safe throughout the day. We must also be very clear that our tours are open to everyone, and we do not accept or support comments that single out or target any nationality. Guests from all over the world join our tours, and mutual respect is a basic expectation. The whole purpose of a group tour is to share the experience with people from different backgrounds and enjoy the journey together. If a more private and personalised setting is preferred, a private tour would certainly be a better fit. Regards, Tours Around Melbourne

Amazing trip thanks to Steve

Anjishnu_B, Apr 2026
The trip was very well planned. We got there before the rush hit and Steve was such a delight. He knew all hidden gems and showed us a sleeping koala. His stories are super fun and he's very respectful of people and animals around. Go ahead and take his restaurant reccos as well cause the food there was amazing. If I visit again, I will surely take this trip again.

It was a memorable tour....

Ania_P, Apr 2026
It was a memorable tour. Our guide, James, was enthusiastic, accommodating and shared many interesting stories. He remained focused during this demanding journey. The reverse itinerary worked well, as we avoided overcrowding along the route.

If you need Professional , Unforgettable experience ,and worth for money. This is your choice!!

Tassanan_K, Apr 2026
Steve is professional ,friendly, and kind. He always replied any questions/query through chat. There is a confirmation pick up point & msg sent through Viator chat, E-mail, and mobile sms on a day before trip. The bus is clean, 27 seats minibus , USB charging port & free bottles of water along the trip. Jay ,Koala hunter, is a good driver but not the best (sorry Jay, you are about 80% safe drive for me). View along GOR is incredible. Thx for a good experience even we're facing of rain at started. I will recommend this with my friends.

Big thanks to...

Linelyn_M, Apr 2026
Big thanks to James—he kept things fun and made sure everyone had a great time! James was awesome—easygoing, polite, and made the tour a blast. Highly recommended!

Friendly and No Rush

Tom_N, Apr 2026
Beautiful views and good bus. Steven and James were great all around. They didn’t rush us even if we had time constraints.

Highly Highly Recommended 👍👍

Martin_S, Apr 2026
This trip was great, well organised and I'd recommend. We had James for our driver who picked us up from our Hotel. There Mini Bus was Very comfortable and Modren with Charging Spots at every Seat. We made several stops along the Road to see views and along the way James gave us history and insight. Once at Great Ocean RD. we made Great Memories on this Day Tour . The Bus was clean and plenty big enough for all the people. We did Helicopter Ride at 12 Apostles. I'd highly recommend it. I would do it again. We even saw koalas and kangroos in Wild. The whole trip, again informative and comfortable. Staff friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend the trip and I'll be looking at booking Doubtful next year.

Beautiful ocean drive

Stefano_B, Apr 2026
Bring your own coffee...good food at apollo bay hotel...for lunch and drinks.....good luck with the koala

Great time

Polly_T, Apr 2026
Great tour seeing the 12 and Apostles and Great Ocean Road with animals and great guide (Bill). Fun and memorable day.

Great tour for those who don’t like structure

Shahin_M, Apr 2026
The itinerary for tour was great. All the sites were remarkable. The reason for the score of three were two folds. One was an unfortunate issue with a driver the night before that caused our small tour to be combined and it turned into a large tour and we ended up at the back of a larger bus. Not what we were hoping for but that was somewhat understandable. The second issue was with the personality of our tour guide. He used profanity as humor and a bit much on a 12 hour tour. He was also very free flowing with the tour early in the process which caused us to fall behind schedule and the only way to make up the time was to rush the schedule on the back half of the tour. While some people appreciate the casual style and not sticking to the itinerary, I didn’t, and didn’t like feeling rushed at lunch. The other consideration is that the slower paced approach in the first part, caused us to delay lunch to 2:30 pm. Make sure and pack snacks.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your kind words about the itinerary and the sites — we’re really glad you enjoyed the experience overall. Regarding the changes on the day, due to an unforeseen circumstance the night before, we had to move you to a different group. To ensure you were not inconvenienced, we issued a refund and still accommodated you on the tour. We genuinely tried our best to look after you under the situation. That said, we appreciate your feedback regarding the guide’s style and the pacing of the day. We understand that not every guiding approach suits every guest, and your comments have been noted. We do regret if refunding the tour and still arranging your experience did not meet your expectations. Your feedback helps us continue improving our service.

Steve is very informative...

Mandy_T, Apr 2026
Steve is very informative friendly and fun. We had a good time, keep up the good work Steve! Take care n thanks again 👏🏼

Great tour

DaleS_M, Apr 2026
Our original tour got cancelled as the driver and kangaroo collided upon his way to pick us up the company was great and moved us into a van but gave us the first 4 seats and a reduction in price as we had booked a smaller tour group. Our tour /driver was Steve whom we enjoyed immensely. He was funny, and made you feel very welcome to his van. We would like to thank you from your 4 Canadian jet lagged passengers

My friend, visiting from...

JOCELYN_C, Apr 2026
My friend, visiting from overseas who I took on this tour enjoyed it. For a Melbourne local, the historical aspect of the places we went to (most of which I’ve seen from private visits in the past) that Bill, our tour guide shared was a what I appreciated most. Having a smaller tour group was also good.

💯 ✨⭐⭐ Tour # Highly Recommend 😍

Shreem_S, Apr 2026
We thoroughly enjoyed the Great Ocean Road Day Tour with Lawrence .It was a long tour with lots of driving but he made it worth our while every moment. He was very engaging Guide, a careful driver, very witty and so knowledgeable, not only about the tour but the country and much more. We would give him 100 stars if we could. Every piece of the tour was so interesting and also so very beautiful. Mini Bus Super comfortable with charging Pots behind every Seat From 12 Apostles to Drive By ocean and finishing the day at Anglesea , which was a fascinating story with a fun ride to the long home. This day was definitely one to remember on our visit here to Melbourne. Even Saw Kangaroos and koalas in the wild. Thanks again Lawrence!

A day travel that’s totally worth it.

MariaDulce_R, Apr 2026
It’s an experience a traveller shouldn’t miss. The 12 Apostle is a really a wow factor! Bill is wonderful..no dull moment at all. Convenience of pick up and drop off was a plus

If you have a "guide"...

Linda_O, Apr 2026
If you have a "guide" like the one we had, you would be extremely disappointed. He was a driver, not a guide. There was little explanation about the places we passed which was ok, but at the Great Ocean Road, he simply gave a brief description, told us where he would pick us up and just left us to carry on. Even at the "rainforest", he dropped us off and told us to follow the trail which led to a kind of picnic area-nothing special. From reviews online, I really expected a guide and not a driver. Also, an unfortunate accident the night before occurred and one of us could not go on this tour, so she lost out her $196. We bumped into some fellow travelers on another tour and their guide was with them at the 12 Apostles paths. At lunch, we again were dropped off and told to return to the parking lot in about 40 minutes. Extremely disappointing tour experience. Terrible "guide".

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Linda We can guess where your frusfration is coming from. the cancellation, the request was made approximately 10 hours before departure by your friend. As per standard industry policy, refunds are not possible at such short notice. Your comments don’t reflect the experience of the majority of guests on that same tour. We received multiple 5-star reviews from fellow travellers who specifically praised the guide and overall experience. Our tours are designed to give guests time to explore key locations independently, which is clearly outlined, while still providing essential information and direction. Regards, Tours Around Melbourne

Great Day out.

Scott_G, Apr 2026
Brilliant trip. We were picked up right on time, bill was out driver/guide for the day and he was such good fun and company. The bus was modern and comfortable too. We seen everything that was stated as part of the trip, the weather wasn’t too kind on the day so Bill improvised the route accordingly.

Great day on Ocean Road

Mary_S, Apr 2026
Bill was a wonderful guide. He kept us on schedule on this long day. Dress in layers in case the coast is cool, and take a raincoat just in case. We saw 2 koala bears in trees, and a lot of kangaroos in the distance. Nice lunch stop with fresh fish on the menu ( you pay) as well as burgers and chicken. Doing the trip in reverse did avoid the crowded tour buses.

Great ocean road day

MeuyFou_C, Mar 2026
Steve was great driver and tour guide extraordinaire. Long day but worth the long hours. The 12 apostles was amazing. Thank you steve for finding kangaroos and koalas for us!

Unmissable

Max_P, Mar 2026
Very engaging and interesting tour. Bill was great. Highly recommend to anyone travelling in Victoria

Absolutely awesome day.

Ellen_F, Mar 2026
The entire day was awesome. It was my first full day in Australia and a splendid introduction to the country. As a solo female traveler, I really appreciated being picked up at my hotel early in the morning. Our guide/driver was “Steve”, a charismatic, personable individual who was knowledgeable and anxious to give us the best experience possible. I loved the coastal views; I loved the rolling farm fields and I loved the virgin forests. There was a lot of diversity in the drive and it was all beautiful. Steve is an experienced tour guide and it shows. He went off the beaten path to find us very active kangaroos and koalas. We could not have asked for a better guide. I am so glad I booked this adventure when some of my fellow travelers were just lying around the pool at the hotel. It set a high bar for the rest of my tour in the next three weeks!

Great Ocean Road in reverse with hotel pickup

Heather_K, Mar 2026
I would give this tour more stars if I could! Doing the tour in reverse is brilliant—it’s cooler in the morning and there are fewer people at each stop, especially the Twelve Apostles. Steve, our guide, was passionate about the areas we stopped at, knowledgeable and clearly proud of his countrymen’s efforts to make the road. He was all about making the tour as special as possible. When he found out that one of the passengers hadn’t seen kangaroos yet, he made an unscheduled stop at a recreation park he knew would have kangaroos, and sure enough, we saw a whole mob. Every stop on the tour was special, including Melba Gully and Apollo Bay. This trip is worth the early start time and long day!

Good experience to...

Ana_S, Mar 2026
Good experience to explore Melbourne besides the city. Learn a little history, do the country site and beautiful sceneries of the coast.

From US$73.02

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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On average, this is booked 31 days in advance.

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