About this tour
An 11.5-hour small-group tour of the Great Ocean Road starting at the Twelve Apostles and working backwards to avoid peak crowds. You'll travel in a premium coach with reclining seats, Wi-Fi and water included, with no more than 11 passengers. The reverse route means quieter stops and better light for photos, plus genuine chances to spot wild koalas and kangaroos. Hotel pickup from Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands; lunch not included.
Highlights
- Reverse itinerary starts at Twelve Apostles, fewer crowds throughout
- Coach with reclining seats, Wi-Fi, air-con for full-day comfort
- Maximum 11 guests — smaller than standard group tours
- Wild koala and kangaroo spotting in natural settings
- Optional helicopter flight upgrade available
- Bottled water and Melbourne CBD hotel pickup included
- Knowledgeable guides share local history and insights
What to expect
You'll be picked up from your Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands hotel in the early morning and travel south in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach. The tour reverses the standard route, starting at the Twelve Apostles rock formations before working back along the coast. Throughout the day you'll stop at quieter viewpoints, coastal walking areas and wildlife-spotting zones where you may see koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat. Wi-Fi and bottled water are available on the coach. You'll be dropped at Southern Cross Station in the afternoon. Lunch is not provided, so you'll need to organise meals at stops along the way.
What travellers say
- Reverse route genuinely reduces crowds at popular stops
- Reclining seats and Wi-Fi make a long day more bearable
- Small 11-person cap creates more personal, less touristy feel
- Real wildlife spotting opportunities if you're patient and lucky
- Knowledgeable guides offer local context beyond standard commentary
- 11.5 hours is a full day with limited flexibility for longer breaks
- Lunch not included — you'll need to budget and plan meal stops
- Not suitable if you have spinal issues, pregnancy or mobility concerns
- Pickup limited to three Melbourne suburbs; further accommodation requires special arrangement
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone after a comfortable, relatively uncrowded Great Ocean Road experience — the small group and reverse timing mean you avoid bottleneck crowds at major spots. Physically, the tour requires moderate fitness as there's walking involved at various stops; it's not suitable for spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, or serious mobility or walking limitations. The long day (11.5 hours) involves extended coach time. Pickup is limited to Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands; email ahead if you're elsewhere. Lunch is not included — budget for meals at roadside stops. The optional helicopter flight costs extra. Not pram-friendly for continuous touring, though infants can travel in the coach.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.