Premium Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour from Melbourne | Pickup
Description
You only do it once, make it Awesome with only 10-14 other passengers. Experience the Great Ocean Road the smart way with Awesome Leisure Group’s reverse-itinerary small group tour. Starting at the Twelve Apostles and travelling back along the coast means fewer crowds, quieter stops, and better photo opportunities. Travel in a vehicle with reclining seats, Wi-Fi, and bottled water, with a maximum of 11 guests for a more relaxed and personal experience. Our friendly, knowledgeable guides share local insights while you converse. See wild koalas and kangaroos in their nature, and upgrade your experience with an optional helicopter flight. Why travellers choose this tour: • Reverse itinerary to avoid crowds • Small group (max 10-14) • Premium vehicle & all-day comfort • Authentic wildlife spotting • Optional helicopter flight Perfect for travellers seeking comfort, quality, and a standout engaging Great Ocean Road experience, and to meet new friends.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pickup available from Melbourne CBD 3000, Southbank 3006 and Docklands 3008 area only. Mercedes Sprinter van
Coffee stop - Learn about this town's rich farming history and enjoy delicious products from a local bakery.
Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline. Created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland beginning 10–20 million years ago, the stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore
Loch Ard Gorge is a treasure trove of natural beauty, coastal wilderness and maritime history. Take some time to wander the trails, exploring the blowholes, offshore limestone stacks and towering cliffs. Visit at dusk to watch the short-tailed shearwaters (muttonbirds) fly home. Hear the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck and learn about the rich maritime history of the area at the nearby Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre.
Carved over thousands of years by the relentless Southern Ocean, the Razorback rises like a jagged spine from the sea — a testament to the raw beauty of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. From the viewing platform, your guide will share insights into the region’s geology, erosion processes, and the stories that shaped this rugged coastline. This stop is perfectly timed within your itinerary, following visits to nearby highlights such as Loch Ard Gorge and the world-famous Twelve Apostles, allowing you to explore beyond the typical viewpoints and avoid the busiest crowds.
Explore the wonders of the Otway rainforest with unique vegetation and some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world
We stop here for lunch, where you will have the choice to buy your own lunch at one of the eateries.
This seaside town is one of the first holiday destinations for Melbournians. This is also where the Great Ocean Road meets the Ocean.
Final toilet stop and an opportunity to buy sweet treats
We stop here to learn more about the history of the Great Ocean road construction and the dedication to the men that built it.
Enjoy scenic views and the history of the Australian National Heritage-listed Great Ocean Road. You will get a change to walk on a volcanic rock beach.
The trip ends here, where you can catch free trams from Southern Cross Station.
Our favourite stop will take your breath away as it is the highest point on our tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
When booking, please indicate which hotel and address in Melbourne CBD, Southbank, or Docklands Only. If the hotel is in a no-stopping zone, you may be requested to wait nearby at a safer pickup location. We only pick up in Melbourne City Centre, Southbank, or Docklands. Pickups start approximately 6:30 AM, ending at Southern Cross at approx 18:30
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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travellers with walking or mobility problems
- Pickup only available in Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands
- Drop off: Southern Cross Station
Reviews(435)
Cloudy and rainy day but Peter, our tour guide helped us make the most of it. Took us to all the stops along the itinerary and was available to take family photos at the scenic spots.
We had a great day touring the coast! We had beautiful ocean and cliffside views, and got to see koalas and kangaroos! Peter was an excellent tour guide!
An awesome trip with incredible sights and the Great Ocean road is a such a wonderful experience. Seeing the 12 apostles was amazing but there were many other beautiful sights. Walking through the rainforest was also truly magical. Van was very comfortable and our guide / driver was very helpful and informative
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted you enjoyed the incredible scenery along the Great Ocean Road. The Twelve Apostles are certainly a highlight, but we're glad you also appreciated the rainforest walk and the many beautiful stops along the way. It's fantastic to hear that you found our Mercedes van comfortable and that your guide made the journey both informative and enjoyable. We truly appreciate you travelling with us and hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in Victoria!
John is a excellent tour guide . The company did cancel the trip despite it was only 4 people after multiple people cancellated
Hi Keith thanks for the review, I think you meant to say we did not cancel despite only 4 people on the tour.
Amazing trip in reverse. Seen everything in record time. Great value for money too. Great car too. John was an absolute lovely guide - he was driving safe, soo friendly and explained everything. So lucky to have him.
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased you enjoyed the reverse Great Ocean Road itinerary—it really is a great way to experience the highlights while staying ahead of the crowds. It's wonderful to hear you found the tour to be great value and enjoyed travelling in comfort. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to John. He takes great pride in providing a safe, friendly, and informative experience, and we're delighted he helped make your day so memorable. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure with us soon!
It was a fantastic tour!! Our guide, John, picked me up in the van right on time at 6:35 AM and dropped me off near the hotel at roughly the same time in the evening; throughout the day, he was incredibly kind and led us with a great sense of humor. Beyond just visiting the Twelve Apostles, he frequently stopped the van so we could see wild koalas and kangaroos. I will never forget the magnificent rainbow over the ocean. Honestly, waking up so early was tough, but I think this tour offers outstanding value for money. I highly recommend it to everyone. The van was comfortable, too. Finally, a huge thank you to our guide, John!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're delighted to hear you had such a fantastic day exploring the Great Ocean Road with John. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to him. He'll be thrilled to know his humour, local knowledge, and passion for creating memorable experiences made your day so special. Seeing wild koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat, along with a beautiful rainbow over the ocean, certainly makes for unforgettable memories! We know the early start can be a challenge, so it's wonderful to hear you felt the experience was well worth it and great value for money. Thank you as well for your comments about the comfort of our van. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on another adventure with us in the future. Thanks again for choosing to travel with us!
We booked a wrong date by keying in the month wrongly. Company refused a refund but gave us a goodwill discount if we rebook the same trip again. We have no choice but to bear this mistake which indeed was our fault. Small crowd experience with a bus for 13 pax but only 8 pax of us for the trip so plenty of seats with seats that can tilt and ample legroom. This road trip involves lots of long bus rides. So be prepared to buckle up for bumpy but speedy rides. John is a skillful and experienced driver so I felt nervous when he drove fast but recognised that he needs to cover many photo spots for us. He took efforts to take our family photos and cater for toilet requests. Overall an excellent experience.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your understanding regarding the booking date issue. As you mentioned, the incorrect travel date was entered at the time of booking, and unfortunately we only became aware of the discrepancy the evening before departure. While our booking terms do not allow refunds for this type of error, we were pleased to offer a goodwill discount so your family could still enjoy the tour. We're delighted to hear that you had an excellent day on the Great Ocean Road and appreciated the comfort of our luxury vehicle, the extra space available, and the many scenic stops along the route. John will be especially pleased to know that his driving, flexibility, and efforts to assist with family photos and comfort breaks helped make the day enjoyable. Thank you again for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you and your family back to Melbourne for another memorable experience in the future. Kind regards, Melvin
Very good tour with humour John, punctual and we always ahead of other group so that we can avoid the crowd. Well explained and story telling regarding the places we visited.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day with John. We're glad you appreciated his humour, punctuality, and storytelling. One of the advantages of our reverse itinerary is getting ahead of the larger tour groups, allowing you to enjoy the iconic sights with fewer crowds, so it's great to hear that made a difference to your experience. Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable tour in the future!
This is the way to visit the 12 Apostles and the Great Ocean Road. John was one of the best guides you can ask for. He’s also got an eagle eye for spotting a Koala. Highly recommend.
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles with us. John will be thrilled to hear your kind words. He certainly has a knack for spotting koalas that most people would drive straight past! We're glad his knowledge and enthusiasm helped make your day even more memorable. Thank you for your recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Victoria soon!
We enjoyed the trip very much. The tour guide John is an excellent guy.
