Great Ocean Road in a small group and reverse direction
From €84 per personThe tour lasts around 12 hours and includes many stops, so the pace can be intensive.Final booking with external provider
Check availability
Maximum 11 travellers

Full-day tour from Melbourne

Great Ocean Road in a small group and reverse direction

★★★★★ 12 h · 4.8/5 Rating
From €84 per person Reviews

A full-day Great Ocean Road tour for a maximum of 11 travellers. The route runs in the opposite direction to many conventional tours, aiming to reach several major sights before large groups arrive.

Check availability View times and price

⚡ Pickup included from designated Melbourne locations · Check the final price and availability for your selected date.

Published pickup points are 06:30 at 196 Flinders Street, opposite Federation Square near Flinders Street Station; 06:40 at 313 La Trobe Street, near Melbourne Central Station; and 06:50 at 44 Spencer Street, The Great Southern Hotel, near Southern Cross Station. The published itinerary lists 328 Flinders Street as the finishing point. The activity is marked as likely to sell out and may offer a reserve now, pay later option. Accessibility is not specified and should be confirmed if you have specific requirements.

✔ Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge
✔ Great Otway National Park and Maits Rest rainforest walk
✔ Opportunities to look for koalas, kangaroos and birds
✔ Pickup included from designated Melbourne locations

Quick summary before booking

Who is it for?

  • Seeing the major Great Ocean Road highlights in one day
  • Travelling in a group of no more than 11
  • Avoiding the need to drive from Melbourne
  • Combining coastal scenery, rainforest and possible wildlife sightings

How long does it take?

The tour lasts around 12 hours and includes many stops, so the pace can be intensive.

What's included?

  • Guide
  • Minibus transport
  • Small-group format
  • Pickup
  • Wildlife spotting

Is it worth it?

It can be, particularly if you want to see the major highlights in one day without driving and prefer a small group. Its main appeal is combining organised transport, wildlife, rainforest and the route's best-known coastal sights in a single day.

💡 TourBookGo tip

Check your pickup point and arrive at least five minutes early. If you need a particular audio-guide language, confirm how to access it before departure. Budget separately for breakfast and lunch and remember that the itinerary is indicative and may change.

Maximum group size of 11The small-group format is one of the tour's main attractions, with a maximum of 11 participants travelling by minibus.
Reverse itineraryThe tour first travels inland to reach the Twelve Apostles area in the morning, then heads back towards Melbourne along the coast.
Coast, rainforest and wildlifeThe route combines coastal cliffs and formations, Great Otway National Park and areas where travellers can look for wildlife in its natural environment.
No need to driveMinibus transport and pickup from designated locations in Melbourne are included.

📖 What does the tour involve?

Leaving Melbourne, the minibus first travels inland to reach the Twelve Apostles area in the morning. It then heads back towards Melbourne along the coast, reversing the order followed by many traditional tours.

Stops include the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, The Razorback, Great Otway National Park, Maits Rest Rainforest Walk, Apollo Bay, Kennett River and Teddy's Lookout.

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Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and The Razorback

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Great Otway National Park and Maits Rest Rainforest Walk

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Apollo Bay, Kennett River and Teddy's Lookout

★

The maximum group size of 11 and reverse itinerary are the standout features.

The route includes several of the Great Ocean Road's best-known coastal landscapes. Coast

What's included and what to budget for separately

The tour includes a guide, minibus transport, small-group format, pickup, wildlife spotting, a rainforest walk at Maits Rest, bottled water, an interactive multilingual audio guide, an additional self-guided Melbourne walking audio tour and scenic stops.

Breakfast and lunch are not included and must be paid for separately, so allow an additional food budget for the day.

Twelve Apostles Maits Rest Wildlife Small group

TourBookGo practical view

The maximum group size of 11 and reverse itinerary are the standout features.

Reviews frequently highlight the guides, coastal scenery, Twelve Apostles, rainforest walk and wildlife encounters. The main drawback is the pace, as many locations are covered in a single day.

12 hApproximate duration
11Maximum participants
4.8/5Rating
1,769Reviews

🗣️ TourBookGo practical view

A comprehensive route with limited time at some stops

The tour lasts around 12 hours, with some relatively brief stops: approximately 40 minutes at the Twelve Apostles, 20 minutes at Gibson Steps and 25 minutes at Loch Ard Gorge and The Razorback.

Hiring a car provides more freedom if you prefer spontaneous stops or want to spend several hours in one location. This tour prioritises seeing a broad range of Great Ocean Road highlights in one day.

The Maits Rest walk adds a rainforest section to the itinerary. Rainforest

Quick booking overview

From €84 per person

From €84 per person

The published details indicate approximately 12 hours, a maximum group size of 11, an English-speaking live guide, a 14-language audio guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

DurationApproximately 12 hours
Group sizeMaximum 11 participants
Live guideEnglish
Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indonesian, Arabic, Dutch, Hindi and Vietnamese
CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Minimum age7; under-18s must be accompanied by an adult
View price and availability

Check the final price and availability for your selected date.

A full-day option designed to cover many major highlights without driving yourself. Full day

How to book this experience

1

Choose a date

Open availability and check updated times, language and conditions.

2

Compare options

Check final price, duration, meeting point and what's included.

3

Book securely

The booking is completed with the external provider before payment.

Who is it best for?

This tour suits first-time Great Ocean Road visitors, travellers who prefer smaller groups, anyone who would rather not drive and visitors with limited time in Melbourne. It can also work well for families with children aged 7+ who are comfortable with a long day out.

It is not ideal if you want a short excursion or plenty of time at every viewpoint. Overall, it is better suited to travellers wanting a broad Great Ocean Road experience without driving than to those who want to explore every stop without a schedule.

First-time Great Ocean Road visitors Travellers who prefer small groups Visitors who would rather not drive Families with children aged 7+ comfortable with long days
The minibus uses public parking areas and cannot wait, so arrive at least five minutes before your scheduled pickup time. Melbourne pickup

❓ Frequently asked questions

Is this Great Ocean Road tour worth it?
It can be, particularly if you want to see the major highlights in one day without driving and prefer a small group.
Is it available in Spanish or other languages?
The live guide speaks English, while the interactive audio guide is available in 14 languages.
What makes the tour different?
Its maximum of 11 travellers and reverse route, designed to reduce overlap with many tours following the conventional itinerary.
Can I cancel?
Yes, free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, subject to the conditions displayed when booking.
Are meals included?
Breakfast and lunch are not included and must be paid for separately.

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Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

Check availability for your date

Review your pickup point, departure time, final price and availability before booking.

If you want a full-day small-group tour covering major Great Ocean Road highlights without driving, this option combines coast, rainforest and possible wildlife sightings in one day.

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