On any given tourism brochure, commercial or billboard featuring Australia, there is one image that inspires people to get in their car, get on a plane or even board a bus to see it with their own eyes, this magnificent sight is the Great Ocean Road.
Dreamy shots of the 12 Apostles basking in the sun surrounded by clear blue waters, world-famous surf beaches or people wandering through the Redwood Forrest are high on the list of images to get.
There are some lucky people that live right on this natural beauty’s doorstep but what is a visit to the Great Ocean Road like for the rest of us? How do you get to the Great Ocean Road if you are on holiday in Melbourne?
Luckily we have put together this post on the best Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne so you can tick off a visit to this unique Australian landmark.
Where is the Great Ocean Road?
The Great Ocean Road, located in Victoria, Australia, is a 243-kilometre-long road that travels along the south-eastern coast of Australia and was built between 1919 and 1932 by returning World War I veterans.
The road travels through the Victorian towns of Lorne, Apollo Bay, and Port Campbell taking in some of the most stunning scenery on the planet making the Great Ocean Road one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia.
Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne
If you’re looking for a great way to spend a day, consider taking a tour of the famous Great Ocean Road. There are many Great Ocean Road tour companies that offer GOR day trips from Melbourne, and the options vary in price and scope.
You can choose a Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne that focuses on sightseeing and history or one that includes plenty of outdoor activities like hiking and swimming. No matter what you decide, you’re sure to have a great time exploring this beautiful part of the world on a great tour from Melbourne.
If you’re looking for some of the best Great Ocean Road day trips from Melbourne, Victoria, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will be discussing some of the best Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne and some of the things that you can do while on these trips. So, without further ado, let’s get started on the best Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne!
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Day Tours, Melbourne Great Ocean Road – Coastal highlights, forest and wildlife tour
If you’re looking for Melbourne day tours that combine the beauty of the Great Ocean Road coastline and some of Australia’s iconic animals, this is one of the best Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne for you.
This fantastic tour includes a hotel pickup in Melbourne CBD before heading down to Torquay where you will stop for morning tea and a photo opportunity in front of the iconic Great Ocean Road sign.
You will also have a stop to see some native Australian wildlife including Koalas and beautiful Australian birds, lunch at Apollo Bay and a cool temperate rainforest walk before heading to the big sites on this Great Ocean Road day trip.
After a bit of a drive, you will pull up at Gibson’s Steps, see the rock formations of the Twelve Apostles and check out Loch Ard Gorge. Your Great Ocean Road trip heads back to Melbourne from here, with a stop for dinner in Colac before dropping you off at your Melbourne hotel.
What’s included in Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne:
- Roundtrip air-conditioned transportation
- Morning tea
- Wildlife tours of koalas and parrots in their natural habitat
- Tour Guide for a forest walk
- Coastal highlights tour
- The tour goes for 13.5 hours
You will find that most Great Ocean Road day tours offer the exact same itinerary because, in essence, there are only so many things to see and do in one day on a Melbourne Great Ocean Road tour. You will find that the length of time at spots along the way will vary, the start-finish time will vary, and the number of people on your Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne will vary.
In the end, it’s your choice on who you do a Great Ocean Road day tour from Melbourne with. Below you will find some alternatives to the full-day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
Tour to Great Ocean Road full-day sunset tour
This Melbourne Great Ocean Road day tour is very similar to the tour above. It takes in the entire Ocean Road in southwest Victoria including the Memorial Arch Great Ocean Road, the surf coast, the rainforests and the Shipwreck coast. See Lorne, Apollo Bay, wildlife, pristine beaches the 12 apostles, Lock Ard Gorge and a more spectacular coastline.
The big difference with this tour is it starts and ends a little later, letting you see the sunset over the Great Ocean Road Apostles before heading back to Melbourne. Listen to the expert commentary and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi to share your experience on social media to make your friends and family jealous as it happens. There is just so much to do on the Great Ocean Road.
What’s included in Melbourne Great Ocean Road day tours:
- Pickup and drop-off from accommodation
- Guide
- Entrance fees to the Great Otway National Park
- Wi-Fi onboard
- Translation app in 16 languages (link provided after booking)
- You can bring a packed lunch or buy food at stops
- All tours operate with a maximum of 24 participants to ensure an in-depth and personalized experience
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Great Ocean Road and Otway overnight tour
An overnight tour on the Great Ocean Road gives you a chance to experience a more in-depth look at the area and sites. On day one, you leave Melbourne and head west towards the seaside town of Port Campbell.
On the way, you will stop at Tower Hill Volcano site and go on a guided First Nations walk where you will learn about the traditional lifestyle of Australia’s indigenous people, bush tucker, medicine, and skills.
In the afternoon you can explore the Shipwreck Coast and its icons such as the Bay of Islands, The Grotto, London Bridge and Port Campbell National Park.
Heading to Port Campbell where you spend the first night. Grab some dinner which is included in your great ocean road tickets and then end the day at 12 Apostles watching the sun go down.
Day 2 of your Great Ocean Road tours kicks off early as you head to the big ticket locations on the Great Ocean Road before the crowds arrive, head to the beach at Loch Ard Gorge, walk a short distance on the Great Ocean Walk and head down to the sand at Gibsons Steps beach. Back onto the bus and off to the Otway rainforest to walk among the Giants at the Redwoods of the Otways.
You will stare in awe at the tallest and second-tallest species of trees in the world growing side by side in Western Victoria. Turning back towards Melbourne, there are stops at the seaside towns of Apollo Bay and Lorne to enjoy some beaches on the Great Ocean Road.
For those with a sweet tooth, you will have time to check out the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. The tour will have you back in Melbourne by around 7.30 pm.
What’s included in this Great Ocean Rd day trip from Melbourne:
- Overnight tour to/from Melbourne
- 1 night’s accommodation at Port Campbell Hostel with shared bathroom facilities
- 1 dinner, 1 breakfast
- Indigenous culture tour including bush tucker and boomerang throwing
- All national park entrance fees
- Guided bush walks
- Guaranteed Australian wildlife sighting
Extend your stay on the Great Ocean Road: All the best things to do on the Great Ocean Road
Reverse Tour Great Ocean Road
This reverse tour heads to the far end of the Great Ocean Road first, hoping to avoid all the other tours at the iconic sight in the Port Campbell National Park. This will hopefully allow you a better experience and spectacular coastal views at the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard George with fewer tourist buses around. Your tour guide will keep you informed about the local history and more along the way for a better experience.
After taking in the amazing sights, you will experience some of Australia’s best-known wildlife as you enjoy a guided walk through Maits Rest or Melba Gully. This ancient rainforest will have you admiring some of the world’s tallest trees in the Great Otway National Park and your tour guide will be looking for wild Koalas to point out.
Heading back towards Melbourne your final stop of the day on this amazing tour will be the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch near Bells Beach, one of the most photographed spots along this rugged coastline.
What’s included in this Great Ocean Road reverse day tour from Melbourne:
- Tour Guide
- Light picnic lunch
- Experienced driver guide
- National Park entry fees
- Onboard Wi-Fi and water refill station
- Australian wildlife sightings, in the wild!
- Audio translation is available in 10 languages
- Select inner-city pick-up and drop-off points
In reality, a tour of the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne is best done over a few days if you have the time. You can easily grab a rental car in Melbourne, and find accommodation along the way.
This allows you to experience more things such as taking a surfing lesson, visiting the Otway Fly Tree Top Adventure, exploring Apollo Bay, doing a rainforest tour and visiting the absolutely amazing Cape Otway Lighthouse just to name a few. You will not be rushed seeing all the highlights including the twelve apostles, Kennett River and the Southern Ocean.
In conclusion, doing a Great Ocean Road tour is something that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. There are many so many Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne available, with most of them offering the same thing. We have listed some of the best Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne you can take, each offering a little something different.
The views are absolutely breathtaking, and it’s a great way to see some of the best parts of Australia. If you’re looking for an adventure, then there are definitely Great Ocean Road day trips to suit everyone.
If you are looking for more amazing and best places to visit in Victoria or more travel in Victoria destinations Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. If you have an idea, attraction or top spot feel free to leave us a comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com
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