Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests
Recommended by 98% of travelers
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 Travelers 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
Operating hours.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 travelers 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 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 4,546 reviews
Evan_K, Jun 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, Jun 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.
llkoerner, May 2026
This is a great full day tour, well worth the early pickup time. Our driver Ann was just great, very knowledgeable. Great beautiful ocean views, koalas, kangaroos and birds. The max 12 size and going reverse order is important because Ann our driver could get us in and out before crowds showed up.
Giorgio_H, May 2026
Highly recommended experience! The reverse route was very effective and helped avoid large crowds at several attractions, making the trip much more enjoyable and relaxed. Mark was a great guide, everything was well organized and on time throughout the day. We also had enough time at each stop to properly enjoy and explore all of the attractions mentioned in the itinerary. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, and the overall experience exceeded expectations. I would be very happy to join this tour again in the future.
Aleksandar_P, May 2026
Great experience, great guide, don't miss it. You avoid the crowds. The group is 12 people. The program is tight. Places to stop for rest and food are well selected. Last but not least, during the trip, in addition to the detailed stories of the guide, well-chosen music is also played.
Mark_R, May 2026
This reverse itinerary really made the day spectacular, getting the day started with the longer drive out while we were all still half asleep was definitely the move. We got out to the first few sites just as coffee was kicking in and then it was back to back hit after hit of amazing sites. This has truly been the highlight of my month long trip to Australia... The most stunning coastal drive I've ever witnessed, getting my feet wet by the Antarctic/Southern Ocean, seeing Koalas just hanging out doing their thing in the wild, seeing a couple of wild mobs of kangaroos too... So much better than going to a zoo to see the wildlife. I don't remember my guides name, but he was definitely a fun man (maybe mid 50s bloke) and knew his stuff. Don't skip this tour, it was well worth every minute and penny.
Asif_S, May 2026
We had an amazing time on the Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour! The weather was absolutely perfect, and the entire experience was unforgettable. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, shared great stories throughout the journey, and helped us spot kangaroos and koalas in the wild — such a highlight of the trip!
They were also a very safe driver, kind, friendly, and made sure everyone was having a great time from start to finish. The reverse itinerary was a fantastic idea as it helped avoid the crowds and made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Melbourne!
Miranda_B, May 2026
We saw so much amazing nature on the tour and our guide, Peter, was so charismatic! We got out often in order to get better wildlife sightings and avoid crowds. It was truly one of my favorite tours I’ve ever been on, I’m already looking to go again!
Subramanian_R, May 2026
Very professional and entertaining tour. Was picked up at appointed spot around 6.30 in a nice Mercedes van. Number of fellow travelers was small so made the trip more relaxing. Our tour guide Marty was excellent...all of us enjoyed his commentary and personality.
I was evaluating driving by myself but after taking this trip I believe I made a wise decision as I could admire the sights better and go to some lesser known spots to watch koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat.
Georgia_W, May 2026
Marty was an amazing tour guide! We got to see so many things including koalas, kangaroos and a kookaburra. It was a long day but so much was packed in and I absolutely loved it. Definitely book and make sure you wear sensible clothes because it gets windy on the coast!
Denise_G, May 2026
I rarely leave reviews. This is an excellent tour - it takes you to multiple beautiful/interesting destinations, including stops to see koalas and kangaroos!) More importantly, this tour company went the extra mile to help me. I realized I had left my raincoat in the restaurant where we had lunch about 10 minutes before we got dropped off back in Melbourne. Our very friendly, knowledgeable and fun driver/guide suggested I call the tour company as it runs this tour every day of the week. I called and ended up texting with the nicest person - he had one of the other guides pick up my jacket (some nice person had turned it in) and then mailed it to our next hotel. We had rain several days of our trip, and it was wonderful to have the rain jacket once again. Highly recommend.
Nick_C, May 2026
We had a beautiful day riding the ocean road - looking for wild koalas and kangaroos. Peter was inciteful. Thank You
Pranay_T, May 2026
Fabulous experience. The tour was well organised and our guide peter was a gem and extremely knowledgeable. He literally knows everything about Australian history and weather.
Shira_S, May 2026
This is the tour to book if you only have one day to explore the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles were a stunning first stop, and working our way back to Melbourne felt like the perfect route. Our guide Peter was a highlight, with his sharp eyes for wildlife (multiple koalas, a family of wallabies, and dozens of kangaroos up close!) and a great sense of humor to carry the group through a long day. Small group size made all the difference for quick, easy stops. Highly recommend!
Connie_S, May 2026
Fabulous day enjoying all the sights on Ocean Road! Loved that it is a war memorial and loved the story about it!
Mariana_B, May 2026
We had an incredible time on the Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary tour! Doing the route in reverse was a game-changer for avoiding the biggest crowds at the main sights. Our guide, Marti, was fantastic—knowledgeable, engaging, and made the whole day run smoothly. Since it’s a boutique tour with a small group, it felt much more personal and relaxed than the big bus tours. Highly recommend!
CJ_J, May 2026
What an amazing day! A lot of driving, but so many cool sights. The Twelve Apostles were stunning. Our driver even helped us find some koalas and kangaroos on the way back — what a delight! Punctual pickup and dropoff.
Jiong_H, May 2026
We didn’t expect to see so many highlights in one day — kangaroos, koalas, the 12 Apostles, and the rainforest all in a single trip. We originally thought a 12-hour tour would be exhausting, but it really wasn’t, since most of the attractions didn’t require very long walks.
There were some steps at Gibson Steps, but it was absolutely worth it. It was a great spot to take photos on the beach with the rock stacks, and there were no railings, which made it feel even more natural and scenic.
The view of the 12 Apostles was truly breathtaking. Our driver was excellent and even found several spots where we could see wild koalas and kangaroos up close — which ended up being the best part of the trip.
We would definitely recommend this day tour to anyone visiting Melbourne for the first time.
Laurie_S, Apr 2026
Mark was a great guide! He spoke clearly, knowledgeable, kept us on time schedule and took us to great sights without the hordes of tourists. He found a wild koala in a tree right by the road then 5-6 koalas in trees close to our lunch town. He also stopped at a pasture with wild kangaroos. The day was filled with beauty, peace, and animals exactly as advertised. The day ended exactly as he said it would at 6:30pm.
Manas_V, Apr 2026
Really amazing experience with a fantastic tour guide. Aside from the seeing the landmarks along the coastline, we also got to learn about the history of the area.
kikimoseley2014, Apr 2026
Wha an amazing day! Ann was a great guide and gave us many opportunities to walk, take photos and explore this beautiful area. She provided great information and tips about the various sites and had planned stops for food/drinks/toilets. We had perfect weather and my dream of seeing the 12 Apostles was fulfilled. Thank you!
Timothy_N, Apr 2026
Guide (Barbara) was knowledgeable and made it fun. Itinerary and extra stops were what I wanted and enjoyed each. Well planned and executed tour. The small van was uncomfortable and the seats hard. Make sure to get one of the newer and larger vehicles.
Mavis_S, Apr 2026
We are lucky to have Jimmy as our driver cum guide. He knows the place very well and took us to spot the wild life. Throughout our whole day trip, he is responsible and helpful. The vehicle is clean and in good condition. We are all delighted and satisfied with the Great Ocean Road trip. $ well spent!
Dushyanth_H, Apr 2026
This was a great one day tour, loved it. Kevin , our driver and guide was good fun as well.
After seeing the sites realised that a one day tour doesn’t do justice - would recommend just a day for the 12 apostles and nearby sites to just sit and marvel. Teddys lookout is another place I would spend a day.
From $100.45
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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12 hours
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