Tours/Melbourne/Great Ocean Road Reverse Rainforest & 12 Apostles from Melbourne
Viator · group up to 28 pax

Great Ocean Road Reverse Rainforest & 12 Apostles from Melbourne

4.5(284)Melbourne1 hour
VIATOR4.5(214)TRIPADVISOR4.6(70)

Description

Explore the 12 Apostles and Great Ocean Road without the crowds on our Reverse Great Ocean Road Day Tour! This full-day adventure hits all the highlights of the standard tour but flips the timing, visiting the 12 Apostles and Shipwreck Coast in the morning. By going against the flow of traffic, you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views and amazing photo opportunities, all while soaking in the natural beauty without the crowds. Scenic views of Loch Ard Gorge, marvel at Razorback Lookout and Mutton Bird Island, and wander through the ancient rainforest of the Great Otway National Park. Along the way, keep an eye out for wild koalas, and other native wildlife. Travel comfortably in a mid-sized group with Wi-Fi, USB ports, and extra legroom, stopping in charming coastal towns like Apollo Bay, and don’t miss a photo at the iconic Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. Perfect trip for, nature lovers, and anyone craving a more relaxed, immersive experience on one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives.

Tour Options

Reverse Great Ocean Road Tour
  • Escape the crowds with an award-winning tour operator for a full day exploring the wonders of the Great Ocean Road coastline. Best customer experience!!! Duration: 13 hours Light lunch provided Reverse touring route Comfortable group size: Travel in comfort aboard our modern 28-seater Yutong coaches, designed for smooth rides, great visibility, and relaxed group

Itinerary

10 min

Get ready—our adventure begins soon! The bus is on its way, so grab your gear, feel the excitement, and let's hit the road!

15 min

We stop to stretch our legs and enjoy morning tea

Pass by

Take a full day journey along the Great Ocean Road stopping at the iconic destinations along the way.

Admission included45 min

We take time to admire the amazing Limestone stack formations with minimal other tourists around, also if you are keen to take to the skies and add a helicopter ride over the Apostles on to your experience then this is the tour for you! Taking your time to walk along the boardwalks and capture perfect photos of the Twelve Apostles in the morning sun is just breathtaking.

Admission included45 min

Also in the National Park we head down to Loch Ard Gorge, site of one of Australia’s most well know shipwrecks, hear the dramatic tale of Tom and Eva. Take time to walk down on to the beach and get the sand in-between your toes, or walk out over the top of the Gorge and find the Island Archway and Razorback rock formations.

45 min

Wander through the magic of Great Otway National Park, where giant ferns brush your shoulders, waterfalls tumble through mossy gullies, and ancient trees tower above like nature’s own cathedral. Every step feels like a stroll through a rainforest fairytale—just don’t be surprised if a koala watches from the treetops.

20 min

Along the journey we will be making stops to look for Koalas hanging out in the wild, as they are exactly that, wild, we cannot guarantee where they will show up, but our knowledgeable guides know all the best spots to search for them.

Admission included30 min

A monument to mark the original starting point of the Great Ocean Road. After some photos at the iconic Memorial Arch and a lesson on the history of the soldiers who built this road and dedicated it to their fallen comrades, we will wind through more stunning views (of course stopping for pictures!)

10 min

As we roll back to your pick-up point, sit back, relax, and relive the magic of the day—full of epic sights, laughs, and unforgettable moments. What an adventure!

Highlights

Picnic sandwich with piece or fruit or sweet item
All National Park entry fees — nature’s best, covered!
Expert local guide bringing stories, fun facts, and insider tips
Travel in style aboard a comfy, air-conditioned medium sized coach with onboard wifi
Morning tea & tasty treats to start your day right
Multilingual translation app available in 10 languages

What's included

Included
Picnic sandwich with piece or fruit or sweet item
All National Park entry fees — nature’s best, covered!
Expert local guide bringing stories, fun facts, and insider tips
Travel in style aboard a comfy, air-conditioned medium sized coach with onboard wifi
Morning tea & tasty treats to start your day right
Multilingual translation app available in 10 languages
Not included
Meals not listed in the itinerary — we’ll stop along the way to support small businesses
Extra spending money for souvenirs, snacks, or that must-have fridge magnet
12 Apostles scenic helicopter flights - payable onboard direct to the operator on arrival

Traveller Ratings

4.5
284 reviews
5
201
4
52
3
12
2
11
1
8

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please reconfirm within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Children under 18yrs old, must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (on request only)
  • Not wheelchair, prams or stroller accessible please do not bring on tour.
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Reviews(284)

A
aldenbb17
May 31, 2026
Amazing tour with great views and a lovely driver/guide Daniel ⭐️🌊⛰️

Daniel was a wonderful guide! He made sure all of us felt comfortable throughout the journey. My mum & I were extremely well taken care of throughout our Great Ocean Road trip! Highly recommend! 😊P.S. Daniel’s driving is very comparable to that of Max Verstappen 🏎️

Operator response

Wonderful to hear you and your mum had a comfortable, memorable day with Daniel. Thank you for the kind words!

T
TafadzwaEdith_M
May 25, 2026
Best tour

It's worth doing. Awesome experience. The narrator was good. He was part of the journey through out. From us it was a great experience

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your positive feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you found the experience worth doing and that it was awesome for you. We're glad the narrator was able to be a meaningful part of the journey and enhance your overall experience. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're delighted that you had a great time. We hope to see you again on future adventures!

I
ingehA9897OM
April 16, 2026
A great experience

Craig was a very good driver and guide. Very nice, friendly and helpful, very knowledgeable and competent

Operator response

Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that Craig was a very good driver and guide, and that he made your experience enjoyable with his friendliness, helpfulness, knowledge, and competence. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We look forward to serving you again in the future!

J
James_B
March 5, 2026
Viator is best in class for touring Australia

Our guide for Great Ocean Road, AU was Anthony. He meet and exceeded our expectations! He wanted each of us to see every possible highlight in just a single day and he made it a point to satisfy every person on our tour, like finding Koalas and Kangaroos for many members that had not seen. So guess what, Anthony was able to locate a 20+ Kangaroo heard and 6-7 Koalas. Anthony’s Best for his knowledge and passion. We have travelled all over world and have found two exceptional tour guides and Anthony is one of them! James

Operator response

Thank you so much for your wonderful words! We’re thrilled Anthony exceeded your expectations and helped you spot kangaroos and koalas. His passion and care truly make the Great Ocean Road special. We’ll be sure to share your kind praise with him!

S
Sharon_T
February 24, 2026
Whistle stop visit to the Great Ocean Road in Reverse

This is a great whistle-stop tour to visit the 12 Apostles and towns around and on the Great Ocean Road. Our bus driver Craig has a wealth of information about this area as has lived there all his life. Thanks for the laughs and great day Craig!

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the whistle-stop tour along the Great Ocean Road, visiting the 12 Apostles and the charming towns nearby. Craig is truly a treasure with his extensive knowledge and local insights, and we're glad he made your day enjoyable with his stories and humor. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again for more memorable adventures!

L
Labi_B
January 5, 2026
Just do it.

Well organized tour with very friendly tour guides. The sight with the 12 apostles and the beautiful drive through the Great Ocean Road make it. We were also lucky enough to admire a very active koala.

Operator response

Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the reverse itinerary and the breathtaking views of the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. Spotting an active koala is such a special bonus. We’re thrilled you had that experience. Our team will be delighted to know their friendliness made your day even more memorable!

A
adrian_l
December 30, 2025
We had wonderful time,...

We had wonderful time, Helda was amazing, highly recommended to spend the last days of 2025. Thank you and all the best.

Operator response

We’re so glad you enjoyed spending the last days of 2025 on the Great Ocean Road with Helda.

C
ccmfnellis
December 29, 2025
A packed day of sightseeing with beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife!

A great way to see the Great Ocean Road along with the many places we stopped. Graham was very knowledgeable and informative.

Operator response

Thanks for sharing your experience! We’re happy Graham’s knowledge and commentary made your adventure extra special

W
whitneya833
December 23, 2025
Great experience! Ticked off from my bucket

I booked the tour for my cousins & I. We had such an amazing, wholesome experience! We’ve been wanting to do this trip for so long & we finally crossed it off our bucket list. We also chose to do the scenic helicopter ride once we reached the 12 apostles. Thank you to our great tour guide Bill! Definitely recommend this trip!

Operator response

We’re so glad you finally ticked the Great Ocean Road off your bucket list! Thank you for joining us and for recommending the tour.

M
Michael_S
October 29, 2025
Craig and Barry bus great

Craig and Barry bus was great. Laura did good work as well. It's a long day on the road but the apostles are very cool and lots of neat scenery and walking hiking. If you don't want to drive-this is a great way to go.

Operator response

Thanks for the great feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the stunning scenery and had a smooth ride with Craig, Barry, and Laura. The Apostles never disappoint!

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