Great Ocean Road Boutique Eco Tour small Group-melbrne hotel pick
Description
Experience the Great Ocean Road the smart way on our famous Reverse Great Ocean Road Tour from Melbourne. Unlike most tours, we travel inland first and visit the iconic Twelve Apostles before the crowds arrive, giving you more time, space, and better photo opportunities. Discover the breathtaking Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Razorback, and Loch Ard Gorge while learning the fascinating history of Australia's Shipwreck Coast. Enjoy free time for lunch in Port Campbell or Apollo Bay before exploring the lush rainforest of Great Otway National Park on a guided walk. Travel back along the spectacular Great Ocean Road coastline, taking in stunning ocean views, charming seaside towns, and opportunities to spot wild koalas, kangaroos, and colourful native birds. Finish the day with a scenic stop in beautiful Lorne before returning to Melbourne. A perfect mix of nature, wildlife, history, and breathtaking coastal scenery.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The highlight of the tour! On the reverse route, you arrive at the 12 Apostles early in the morning — before the crowds — and experience the iconic limestone stacks bathed in soft golden light. Your guide will share the fascinating geology and history of these ancient formations as you walk the clifftop boardwalk. Marvel at the dramatic Southern Ocean crashing against the base of the stacks, and take stunning photos with minimal crowds. There are currently 8 remaining stacks, each up to 45 metres tall, rising from the sea in one of Australia's most photographed landscapes.
Named after the iron clipper that wrecked here in 1878, this stunning gorge features towering sandstone cliffs framing a sheltered beach. Your guide will share the dramatic story of the two survivors. Walk down to the gorge floor, explore the sea cave, and photograph the iconic arch and blowholes. One of the most picturesque spots on the entire Great Ocean Road.
lime stone formation
Stretching 243km along Victoria's coastline, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most spectacular coastal drives. Built by returned soldiers after WWI as a memorial, it winds through rainforest, past dramatic cliffs and pristine surf beaches. Stop at the iconic memorial arch at Lorne, watch for wild koalas at Kennett River, enjoy the charming village of Apollo Bay, and take in breathtaking panoramas at every turn. The reverse route means you enjoy the iconic coastal scenery heading east in the afternoon light.
The Port Campbell National Park is a national park in the south-western district of Victoria, Australia. The 1,750-hectare national park is situated approximately 190 kilometres south-west of Melbourne and approximately 10 kilometres east of Warrnambool
It`s more than a rainforest walk. Will see towering mountain ash eucalyptus trees some awesome fern trees & ancient trees such as the myrtle beech
This lush rainforested park offers excellent hiking trails, waterfalls, and the opportunity to see native wildlife like koalas. Don’t miss Hopetoun Falls and Triplet Falls, both of which are easily accessible via short walks.
The Great Ocean Road itself is the world’s largest war memorial, as it was built entirely by soldiers who returned from World War I. Many of the soldiers who built the road had little to no experience with road construction, yet they persevered and created one of the most scenic drives in the world. The Memorial Arch is a small but powerful reminder of their contribution.
A picturesque seaside town that makes for a great stop to relax, grab a meal, and enjoy the beach. It’s also a great base for exploring the Great Otway National Park and nearby attractions.
scenic drive and costal towns along the way
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Guests will be picked up from the designated meeting point. The driver/guide will arrive in a clearly marked tour vehicle and will identify the lead traveler by name. Guests will also receive the driver’s contact number prior to departure and can contact the guide directly if they are unable to locate the vehicle at the pickup location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- ** For Infants /child under 7 we recommend private tour
Reviews(12)
Our guide Redi was an amazing guide that made a great experience even better. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. It was a great way to spend a day exploring the Great Ocean Road. I would recommend Redi to everyone.
Fun filled trip with friends made enjoyable with excellent support and punctuality by the tour operator.
We went as a group of 5 friends. Redd was a great guide at making the trip customised for our interests, we told him we preferred to spend more time at each location, wanted to do a rainforesty walk and wanted to see more animals. He adapted the trip itinerary on the spot based on our time constraints and shared some local knowledge about where to see koalas!
It’s was a great experience to Australia. Good scenic places. Had reasonable prices. The day trip worth the time.
We recently booked the Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour with Great Ocean Tours Melbourne, and it was the highlight of our trip. If you are visiting Melbourne, I highly recommend this tour—especially the 'reverse' itinerary. Because we traveled against the flow of the usual tour buses, we arrived at the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge well before the afternoon crowds. It made for a much more relaxing experience and allowed for amazing photos without the heavy foot traffic. The guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable about the region's history, and kept the day moving at a great pace. Everything felt well-organized, and we really appreciated the comfort and convenience of the transport. It’s a must-do for anyone looking for a memorable Great Ocean Road day trip!
Highly recommend well planned we all enjoyed the trip been with them for second time amazing experience
10 hours peaceful drive explained well stops are well planned love 100% recommended
Went to ocean view, photos stops were great 10-12 hours including pickup and drop off experienced driver with local knowledge
Such a euphoric trip with my family! We all were ecstatic when we got there and managed to make many life-lasting memories! For sure a must trip for families.
Booked a driver for a 3-day trip along the coast. The guy was on time, car was clean, and he drove smoothly even on those narrow cliff roads. Didn’t rush, knew all the good photo stops, and gave local tips without being overbearing. Made the whole trip way more relaxing since I didn’t have to focus on driving and parking.
