Great Ocean Road Tours from Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road is a return journey of more than 500 km from Melbourne, and a day on it takes about 12 hours, around 7 of them driving. Four of the tours we describe run 12 to 13 hours, while the helicopter option takes about 5. We list 20 Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne. Travellers have left more than 770 reviews on the tours shown here, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.

Coast road, Otway rainforest walk and the Apostles

Two of the tours we describe follow the classic day of about 13 hours, combining the coast road, a guided walk in the rainforest of Great Otway National Park, the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. "Guided rainforest walk (easy fitness level)", one listing notes. Guiding on these two is listed in German, English, Spanish and Italian, and one of them aims to reach the Apostles before the crowds arrive.

Sunset at the Twelve Apostles by minibus

A format of about 12 hours reaches the Twelve Apostles at sunset, a timing some tours choose before the drive back inland from Port Campbell National Park. It travels by minibus with an English-speaking guide, and it collects you at your hotel and brings you back there.

Private helicopter flight to the 12 Apostles

For far less time on the road, a private helicopter flight reaches the 12 Apostles in about 5 hours in total. "2-hours of free time at the 12 Apostles", its listing notes, which leaves room for the Castle Rock lookout or the Gibson Steps; that listing promises a window seat and noise-cancelling headsets.

Hike to an Otways waterfall and the Redwoods

A day of about 12 hours adds a Grade 2 hike to one of the Otways waterfalls and a stop among the Californian Redwoods, and its listing also names the Twelve Apostles and the Gibson Steps. Its listing puts the Apostles before the crowds arrive, and the day runs in English.

Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.

Four of the tours here run 12 to 13 hours; the helicopter flight trades the coast drive for about 2 hours at the 12 Apostles. Of the tours shown here, the one with the most reviews is "Melbourne: Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles & Rainforest Tour", with more than 202 reviews and a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Standard or reverse route

A standard route drives the coast in the morning and reaches the Twelve Apostles in the afternoon, when many groups share the lookouts; a reverse itinerary heads inland first and gets to the Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge before the afternoon crowds. Leaving Melbourne on a standard route, a seat on the left puts the ocean cliffs by your window.

The winding stretch past Lorne

The road between Lorne and Apollo Bay is very winding, so bring medication if you are prone to motion sickness, or choose a smaller group. Southern Ocean weather turns fast; it can be sunny in Melbourne and cold and windy at the Apostles, so pack a windproof layer.