Pickup from hotel. Why follow the crowd when you can flip the script? Our award-winning reverse itinerary tour from Melbourne takes you on a wild and wonderful adventure along the Great Ocean Road – backwards! That means more sights, fewer people, and a whole lot more fun. We kick things off by heading inland straight to the Twelve Apostles –jaw-dropping views and fresh morning light perfect for photos. From there, we explore the stunning Shipwreck Coast, hitting up Loch Ard Gorge, The Razorback, Gibson Steps, and of course, the iconic Apostles. Then, we switch gears and head into nature with a peaceful rainforest walk through ancient, towering trees. On the way back, we cruise the coast through charming towns like Apollo Bay and Lorne. And yes – we guarantee wild koala sightings, plus a good chance of spotting kangaroos bouncing through the bush. So if you're after a laid-back, wildlife-packed, photo-worthy adventure that skips the stress and doubles the fun–this is the tour for you.
In demand: 12 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
A morning tea stop, as we travel inland in the morning and go straight from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles, this is just a break to buy some coffee/breakfast (own expenses)
Travel inland in the morning and go straight to the 12 Apostles. Get there early, beat the crowds of the afternoon and enjoy these magnificent limestone formations when it’s still quiet and peaceful.
Go down and walk on this amazing beach. Be dwarfed by the 70-meter high vertical cliffs and marvel at Gog and Magog, the nicknames given to the giant limestone stacks rising up out of the sea.
This is the most impressive limestone formation of the region, the views are breathtaking!
Be amazed by these two breathtaking attractions on this stop: - The Loch Ard Gorge - tragic and incredibly beautiful story of one of the most famous shipwrecks in Australia. Walk on the beach and feel dwarfed by the magnificent limestone and sandstone cliffs - The Razorback - the most impressive formation of this rugged shipwreck coast
Drive through this amazing National Park, home to some of the tallest trees in Australia
Travel along the coastline on this most amazing coastal drive in Australia!
Drive through the national park and watch these ancient threes passing by
A 20 minutes rainforest walk, to witness some of Australia's most amazing rainforest scenery at Great Otway National Park where you will feel really connected to nature.
Stop for lunch at this vibrant and cool coastal town at Victoria's Surf Coast. The tour guide will recommend some restaurant options, enjoy some fresh food before starting the second part of the day.
Try to spot the cute marsupials koalas and also take pictures of the orange-bellied parrots that hang around this place
Finish the day by taking some pictures of this amazing Lookout at the top of the cliff in Lorne
Pickups from Melbourne CBD and Southbank Hotels. Please send us a message specifying your pickup location and we will soon reply with your pickup time.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary PREMIUM Tour - Max 12 Guests lasts about 13 hours. The itinerary has 12 stops.
Prices start at $113 per person for this Great Ocean Road experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:30 AM.
Children aged 7–13 pay from $106, adults from $113.
It can: 12 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickups from Melbourne CBD and Southbank Hotels. Please send us a message specifying your pickup location and we will soon reply with your pickup time. Pickup points include The Great Southern Hotel Melbourne, W Melbourne.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
We are not able to accommodate children under 7 years of age on this tour, as according to VicRoads regulations they must travel on child restraints, which are not available in our minibuses. Passengers who show up with under 7 years old kids will be refused boarding without refund.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Our guide Ann was fantastic! Give this woman a raise. The tour was packed with wonderful sights, we saw so much but didn’t feel rushed through anything or had to wait for crowds very much at all. It was exactly the experience we were hoping for.
We had a Great day on the Great Ocean Road reverse trip. Our guide, Marty, was quite knowledgeable and very entertaining. He had a good sense of humor which helps on a full-day outing. We were also lucky to have gorgeous weather. I highly recommend this reverse itinerary since you start out the day with the amazing rock formations and end the day with amazing beaches. The rainforest is sandwiched in the middle. Overall, it's a wonderful way to spend a day out of Melbourne.
Amazing Great Ocean Road day tour! The schedule is well arranged so we skipped big tourist crowds. Our guide had very steady driving. Despite the long round trip, the journey never felt exhausting. He introduced plenty of local culture and the history behind Great Ocean Road throughout the drive. A wonderful experience!
So glad you enjoyed the Great Ocean Road and our reverse itinerary! Great to hear the journey was comfortable and informative. Thanks for travelling with us!
Jimmy is professional and kind.
Thank you for your review! We’re glad Jimmy’s professional and friendly service made your Great Ocean Road experience enjoyable. Thanks for travelling with us!
The views on the tour were beautiful. The driver (Chris) was great, with good information along the way.
Great to hear you enjoyed the beautiful Great Ocean Road views! We’re glad Chris’s knowledge added to the experience along the way. Thanks for travelling with us!
Absolutely amazing day. Our guide Marty was superb!! He was incredibly kind and helped not only keep us moving along with our activities for the day, but he made sure we knew what to anticipate with clear instructions. The day is in fact long, but you get many opportunities for beautiful walks in various different climates with many bathroom breaks. The scenery is stunning. Reverse itinerary is really the way to go. I give my highest recommendation for this tour and tour company. Lunch stop was also fantastic. Thank you
What a wonderful review! We’re glad Marty’s care and clear guidance made the day run so smoothly. It’s great to hear you loved the stunning scenery, varied stops and our reverse itinerary. Thank you for your fantastic recommendation!
A most excellent adventure by Marty our tour guide. The reverse tour is definitely the way to go. Marty’s knowledge of the great ocean road a the 12 piglets made for fun on the road conversation. It was a great tour with walk about the 12 apostles, rain forest walks and fruitful wild koala/kangaroo searches on the backroads. Mahalo plenty.
Sounds like a bucket-list day to remember! We’re glad Marty’s knowledge and great conversations made the journey even more enjoyable. Twelve Apostles, rainforest and wild koalas and kangaroos – a fantastic Great Ocean Road adventure. Thank you for choosing Hit The Road Tours!
This was fun. While it is a long day, we did a lot and it was planned in a way that avoided the heaviest crowds. Ann, our guide was experienced which helped in finding koalas and kangaroos in the wild.
We’re glad you appreciated our reverse itinerary and the opportunity to enjoy the Great Ocean Road away from the busiest crowds. Ann’s experience and wildlife spotting skills are always a bonus — especially when wild koalas and kangaroos make an appearance. Thanks for travelling with us!
Guide was great! Went out of way to show us wildlife and great views. Gave ample time to see each of the stops.
Great wildlife, spectacular views and plenty of time to enjoy the stops — sounds like a fantastic Great Ocean Road day! We’re so glad your guide went the extra mile to make the experience special. Thanks for exploring with us!
My parents visited Melbourne for the very first time. And they visited the Great Ocean Road for one day. They really had great fun.
What a wonderful way for your parents to experience Melbourne for the first time! We’re so happy they had such a fun day exploring the Great Ocean Road and its incredible scenery. Thank you for choosing Hit The Road Tours to be part of their first Melbourne adventure!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary PREMIUM Tour - Max 12 Guests | 13 hours | 4.9 (822) | $113 | |
 Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Boutique Tour - Max 12 Guests | 12 hours | 4.9 (4,841) | $98 | View |
 Premium Small Group Great Ocean Road & Wildlife with Lunch | 12 hours | 5.0 (18) | $113 | View |
 Private Premium Great Ocean Road with Lunch & Wildlife spotting | 12h 30min | 4.0 (1) | $851 | View |
 Walk with Wildlife: Guided Tour in Great Ocean Road | 1h 15min | 4.9 (167) | $42 | View |
 2-Hour Group Surfing Lesson in Torquay on the Great Ocean Road | 2 hours | 4.8 (116) | $57 | View |
 Learn to Surf at Torquay on the Great Ocean Road | 2 hours | 5.0 (112) | $67 | View |