Premium Great Ocean Road Tour Reverse - Max 11 Hotel Pickup
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Melbourne, Australia
- 11 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Travel the Great Ocean Road, while avoiding the crowds, when you book this small-group reverse itinerary tour. Drive straight from Melbourne to the famous Twelve Apostles, where you can opt for a thrilling helicopter flight. Then, slowly make your way back to the city, stopping at sites like Teddy’s Lookout, Gibsons Steps, Apollo Bay, and more while also keeping an eye out for wildlife like kangaroos and koalas. Enjoy incredible views over the sea while you learn all about the road and its storied past.
- Start at the Twelve Apostles to beat the crowds
- Travel in a premium small-group vehicle with Wi-Fi, water, and reclining seats
- Spot wild koalas and kangaroos with expert guidance
- Optional helicopter ride for aerial views of the Apostles
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- WIFI
- Pickup Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Docklands or email if more than 5
- Entrance fee - National Park Fees
- Experienced Guide
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
When booking, please indicate which hotel and address in Melbourne CBD, Southbank, or Docklands Only. If the hotel is in a no-stopping zone, you may be requested to wait nearby at a safer pickup location. We only pick up in Melbourne City Centre, Southbank, or Docklands. Pickups start approximately 6:30 AM, ending at Southern Cross at approx 18:30
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
1
Melbourne
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Colac
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
The Twelve Apostles
35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Loch Ard Gorge
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
The Razorback
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Great Otway National Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Apollo Bay
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Anglesea (Pass By)
8
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
Great Ocean Road
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
11
Southern Cross Station
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12
Teddy's Lookout
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for travellers with walking or mobility problems
- Pickup only available in Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands
- Drop off: Southern Cross Station
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Beth_A
Our family had an amazing time on this tour of Great Ocean Road! We saw koalas, kookaburras, kangaroos and so many breathtaking views. Our tour guide James was the perfect blend of fun, funny, thoughtful and knowledgeable, and by the end, our group felt like family! It was a long day, but we saw it all! We definitely recommend this tour!
Reviews
4.9
based on 390 reviews
Yi_Z, May 2026
I had a great day on the Great Ocean Road tour today! Our guide and driver, Peter, was pleasant, informative, and engaging. He frequently went out of his way to find wildlife for the group; thanks to his efforts, we spotted three koalas and many kangaroos.
The small group size made the trip very efficient. Because we managed to avoid the large tourist crowds, we enjoyed less crowded viewpoints, which allowed for better photos and a much more relaxed experience. The ride itself was very comfortable in a premium small-group vehicle stocked with water.
We highly recommend this tour!
Corinne_S, Apr 2026
This was a great trip. John was an excellent guide. The scenery was amazing. Saw so much. Having a small group was good.
Aidan_S, Apr 2026
This tour is a great way to see the Great Ocean road in a small relaxed environment. The reverse itinerary allowed us to best the big tour bus crowds to the twelve apostates resulting in great photos. Each stop included an explanation from our guide, Peter, who had a wealth of knowledge. He even went out of his way to find koalas in the trees for us to see on a side road. It even ended with a stop at the great ocean road chocolaterie This is a newer company so don’t be put off by the small number of reviews, plus each tour is a max of 11 passengers. I’d highly recommend doing this tour
Ronald_C, Apr 2026
What a great tour! Worth every penny and the long ride. John, our guide, was very pleasant and informative. He catered to all of our needs. This tour was done in reverse so that we did not encounter all the large tourist crowds and the tour was a small group of 8 people. I would highly recommend it!
Dino_S, Apr 2026
We saw a lot. too much to do in one day. For me it needs to be split into two days. Also roads are windy so there is that
HansJurgen_T, Mar 2026
The Trip was very interesting and our tourguide and driver a guy Born in Greece was very funny, wellinformed, gentle and made the Trip to happy experience.
Gilles_G, Mar 2026
Tour was great, and Peter was an excellent guide and driver. The reverse tour is great to avoid the long cues and crowds.
Joanne_D, Mar 2026
Peter was a an amazing driver/tour guide. We had a beautiful tour & also saw koalas & kangaroos. Peter made a rainy day very fun. Please note. The Great Ocean Road is very winding. Not good for anyone who gets carsick.
Keith_S, Feb 2026
This was the best trip in Melbourne
Peter drove us well and explained so much during this 12 hour trip
The highlights were many including The 12 Apostles, along with multiple other beautiful formations along the “Shipwreck coast”
The coastline was beautiful
We particularly enjoyed finding multiple Koalas high in the trees ( despite multiple visits to Australia I’ve never seen them in the wild before) and later a mob of kangaroos on a golf course ( eating not playing golf!)
Swapna_K, Feb 2026
It was great !!! We had very good time…must visit who ever drops in for Melbourne., this tour is highly recommended
Donovan_C, Feb 2026
Wonderful experience. Saw many coastal views that we wouldn’t normally see had it not been for this excursion. However the experience was throttled a bit by the van’s lack of cup (bottle) holders for the day long trip as well as the bumpy Australian roads (not the tour’s fault). Guide (Peter) was very knowledgeable & impressed us with many tidbits.
Janice_K, Feb 2026
Melvin was an excellent friendly tour guide. He has 11 years experience doing Great Ocean Road tours and provided us with a memorable experience. He told us interesting facts and went out of his way to make sure we saw kangaroos when we didn’t see many at the first stop. He offered to take group photos for us and we all had a wonderful time!
Varun_C, Jan 2026
Very nice experience and very well managed tour. The communication is spot on and timing is also spot on
GILLIAN_B, Jan 2026
Excellent trip , great minibus with snacks. Sights and wildlife amazing . Reverse trip is the way to go - plus ice cream parlour at the end .
Hotel pick up only ( not drop off at end ) .
Barry_B, Jan 2026
The sights were amazing, but lots of driving. There were ppl in the van that were feeling car sick (and took tablets offered ny driver/guide and also the sick bag) so maybe put a note in the description that it is a curvy drive for quite a bit of the journey!
elifserbetman94, Jan 2026
I went on the Great Ocean Road tour yesterday. it was absolutely amazing. Everything was well organised and the views were unforgettable. Highly recommend!
anastasia_k, Jan 2026
In general tour was nice, but I need more time at 12 Apostols. It was very short stop, otherwise it is the main sight on the route and is worth of spending more time on it
sander_s, Dec 2025
Received texts from the tour group confirming pickup the night before, including vehicle registration. Nice Mercedes Van arrived early driven by Mike. After all pickups we headed out. Mike explained the general plan for the day. Coffee and rest breaks were good. The vehicle was very comfortable. The coastal views are spectacular, and the 12 Apostles are beautiful. The other stops such as the Loch and rainforest show the diversity of the country. Mike knows the area well and guided us with information and assistance. Apollo Bay has many good lunch options and enough time to enjoy your food. We stopped in the countryside to view Koalas and again for Kangaroos.
This is a good way to experience the Melbourne surroundings and learn about the Great Ocean Road.
Lanie_K, Dec 2025
Yes it is a long day, but well worth it.
Seeing the Apostles, Apollo Bay, Lorne and touring the Great Ocean Road in a luxury van, being guided by a knowledgeable driver made the experience remarkable. Food stops allow you to enjoy the local cuisine.
Alan_H, Dec 2025
Amazing tour, amazing views. Our guide was very kind and everything worked perfectly. Great interaction with Kangaroos and Koalas. Highly recommended.
Janna_T, Dec 2025
A long day but full of regular and interesting stops. Peter was a fantastic driver and tour guide - true Aussie spirit.
rosalia_S, Dec 2025
I recently took my family on an unforgettable adventure along Victoria’s pride and joy — The Great Ocean Road — and we were absolutely mesmerised from start to finish. Our tour guide, Peter, made the experience even better with his friendly nature and genuinely accommodating approach. He felt more like a local friend showing us around than a guide.We even enjoyed spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild, topped off with a delightful visit to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie.
Karl_L, Dec 2025
It was a 12 hour day. Our tour guide provided little in the way of information. It was a silent tour
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Karl,
Apologies for the experience you felt you had. I was surprised to read your feedback, as Mike is an experienced guide and we received positive comments from other passengers on the same tour.
That said, we understand that individual experiences can vary, and group dynamics can sometimes affect how a tour is perceived. We do, however, take all feedback seriously. One thing we consistently aim to deliver is an informative and engaging tour, as reflected in our other reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Kind regards,
Melvin
VIMAL_M, Dec 2025
Experience was very bad. Although traveling van mentioned was Mercedes. But it was so old and badly maintained that during the journey it was shaking and made all the travelers feel dizzy. Also visit to rain forest was missed.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Vimal,
Apologies for the inconvenience. Our main van was unexpectedly out of action, and Mercedes provided us with a courtesy vehicle for the day. We’re now fully sorted and have our van back in service.
Thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
Melvin
JANE_H, Dec 2025
Was a great tour and Peter our guide was so knowledgeable and fun and friendly
We loved the tour it was ran so well
Annabel_P, Dec 2025
Amazing day having Peter as our guide.
Originally we considered hiring a car and doing this ourselves. However this was a much better idea.
Anyone thinking of doing this, book it. You won’t be disappointed
MEIFEN_T, Nov 2025
Tour guide himself was good.
Tour agency: TERRIBLE. Did not honour paid agreement dated 25/5/25 for round trip to hotel. Tour agency replied Viator saying they will remember to do so but tour agency told customer a different story and ask if i want to cancel my overseas holiday, <12 hours beforehand so that it is easier (for them). Context- I have flewn a 6hrs SIA flight from Singapore to Australia for this holiday to make it easier for the tour agency.
25 May: Tour confirmation, with paid agreement for round trip pick up & drop off @ pre-selected hotel. Itinerary cleared indicated so on viator app before and after
payment on 25/5/25. I even received itinerary details with confirmed round trip back to hotel.
This is in fact, confirmed by Viator on 15/11/25.
Viator groupchat agent, Roseneal B has confirmed with me that i paid for *guaranteed pick-up and drop -up.*. Roseneal even contacted the tour agency and send me an official email reconfirmation reply stating *The supplier said they can pick you and drop you off at Veriu Queen Victoria Market, 91/101 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.
Tour agency whatsapped me <12hrs before Luxury Small Group Tour with
A) Wrong address for pick up.
B) Stated he will drop me off at a train station instead
C) Ignored the Viator reminder screenshot i that sent, stating clearly that his company has replied Viator that it is indeed true that my booking included round trip journey back to hotel.
28/11/25 Update: Tour agency CEO, mr melvin, claimed that his company never had this written correspondence with Viator.
19/11/25 Tour agency had the audacity to say that “i’m not sure what amount yoh paid but we are one of the cheapest small group tours.” Icing to the cake: typo error in message sent to customer.
Tour operator even advertised this experience as a luxury tour. What a joke.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Mei,
Thank you for reaching out.
As outlined in your booking details, confirmation email, and pre-trip reminder, our service includes morning hotel pickups only. For the return, we drop guests at a central location with fast access to Melbourne’s free tram network, which allows everyone to get to their accommodation more quickly—especially during peak evening traffic.
We understand you contacted Viator regarding this; however, we would have been happy to clarify directly. Due to travel times and our guides driving over 12 hours on these days, navigating hotel-by-hotel drop-offs in the evening isn’t feasible or safe. This is also why other similar tours do not offer evening hotel drop-offs.
We are confident we provide excellent value, including hotel pickup, complimentary Wi-Fi, bottled water, and a curated itinerary led by an experienced guide.
As the service was provided as advertised, we are not able to offer a refund.
We appreciate your understanding and hope you still enjoyed the tour experience.
Abdullah_W, Nov 2025
This was an excellent trip that covered the main Great Ocean Road attractions. Our guide Peter managed the trip very well and gave us so much history and facts along the way. I recommend this.
Thank you for the memories.
Tamsyn_F, Nov 2025
Great day out amazing landscape. Regular toilet stops and food options available. Tour guide Marvin was very informative and really took care of us, having a small group we were able to spend more time for photo opportunities. Pick up was right out side my apartment and was dropped off to my appointment. Would recommend.
Terra_B, Nov 2025
We had a great trip and especially enjoyed having Peter as our guide. He provided a lot of great information and was friendly and attentive. The vistas were amazing in spite of the rainy weather and we got to see koalas and kangaroos as well. Highly recommend!
From
-11%
$87.86
per personWas $98.72
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Special Offer
Premium Great Ocean Road Tour Reverse - Max 11 Hotel Pickup
390
11 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$98.72
$87.86
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Princess Theatre Tours & Tickets
- Arts Centre Melbourne Tours & Tickets
- Hosier Lane Tours & Tickets
- Werribee Open Range Zoo Tours & Tickets
- Collins Street Tours & Tickets
- Immigration Museum Tours & Tickets
- Rod Laver Arena Tours & Tickets
- Old Melbourne Gaol Tours & Tickets
- Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery Tours & Tickets
- Brighton Beach Tours & Tickets
- Dandenong Ranges Tours & Tickets
- Flinders Street Station Tours & Tickets
- Melbourne Museum Tours & Tickets
- Yarra River Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Melbourne, Australia