Coast, koalas and forest walk from Melbourne
Group day tour, classic route · 13.5 hours
✓ Free cancellation
from NZ$ 125
Book on GetYourGuide
The Great Ocean Road
Day tours from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles, reverse and sunset routes, multi-day trips and surf lessons at Torquay. Compare the tours and plan the drive along the coast.
Open all year · Twelve Apostles visitor centre daily 8 am to 8 pm, booking required
Three tours to start with
The classic day from Melbourne with morning tea, koala spotting and a forest walk, a reverse minibus day for 12 that reaches the Apostles first, and three days that carry on from the coast to the Grampians.
Boutique reverse tour for 12 guests
Reverse route, max 12 · 12 hours
✓ Free cancellation
from NZ$ 138
Book on GetYourGuide
Three days from the coast to the Grampians
3 days, 24-seat bus, shared rooms · 3 days
✓ Free cancellation up to 14 days before departure.
from NZ$ 703
Book on GetYourGuideA coast road built as a memorial
The Great Ocean Road runs for about 240 km along the coast of Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool. About 3,000 returned servicemen built it between 1919 and 1932, mostly with hand tools, in memory of those who served in the First World War. It begins on the Surf Coast at Torquay, about an hour and a half from Melbourne, and passes Lorne and Apollo Bay before it reaches the limestone cliffs of Port Campbell National Park. Visit Great Ocean Road acknowledges the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the region.
Between Apollo Bay and the cliffs lies the Great Otway National Park, with tall forest, fern gullies and waterfalls, and koalas in the gum trees at Kennett River. Some of its walks, Erskine Falls among them, are temporarily closed, so check before you go.
The Twelve Apostles rise from the Southern Ocean below the cliffs of Port Campbell. Since the new Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October 2026, visitors book their arrival and car park in advance; the booking is free until April 2027. Loch Ard Gorge, named after a sailing ship wrecked nearby in 1878, is only minutes away. The tour or self-drive guide helps you choose between a day on a coach and a trip in your own car.
Plan your trip
Questions travellers ask
Can you see the Great Ocean Road in a day from Melbourne?
Yes, on a long day. Day tours take 11 to 13.5 hours, and driving yourself to the Twelve Apostles along the coast and back inland is roughly 500 km, close to eight hours at the wheel without stops. Two days with a night in Apollo Bay is the more relaxed option.
Do I need to book the Twelve Apostles?
Yes. Since the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre opened on 16 October 2026, every visitor books before arriving, and the booking secures a car park for a set time. It is free until April 2027. Tour groups have their own coach bays.
What is the difference between a classic and a reverse tour?
A classic tour follows the coast from Torquay first and reaches the Twelve Apostles in the afternoon, then returns inland. A reverse tour drives inland first to arrive at the Apostles before the midday crowds and follows the coast on the way back.
When is the best time to visit the Great Ocean Road?
The coast is open all year. The park authority names spring and summer as the seasons with the best weather, with highs of about 21.5 °C at Cape Otway in January and February. Winter has short days and more rain, but also southern right whales at Warrnambool from June to September.
Is this the official tourist office?
No. Great Ocean Road Guide is an independent travel guide. The coast and its parks, including Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles, are managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au), and the official regional tourism site is Visit Great Ocean Road (visitgreatoceanroad.org.au), run by Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism.
Tours from NZ$ 39
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