Great Ocean Road to 12 Apostles plus Rainforest Melbourne DayTour
4.8
53 Ratings
Melbourne
Experience the ultimate fun-filled day trip from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. Spot wildlife, explore stunning beaches, and stroll through an ancient rainforest. Don't miss the iconic 12 Apostles and indulge in delicious food along the way. Let us make your once-in-a-lifetime day here the best it can be!
Duration: 12 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery - Rise ‘n shine with morning juice & traditional Anzac biscuits on us to learn the heartfelt history of this iconic road that has just begun.

Plus enjoy free tastings at the huge gourmet Chocolaterie. Pickup snacks for the day if you wish or enjoy real barista coffee/tea/indulgent hot chocolate from the cafe with fresh baked croissants, scones or decadent slices.

  • Anglesea - Drive past where the kangaroo’s hang-out to see who wants their photo taken today.
  • Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway - We’ll help you snap an album-cover-worthy photo next to the Memorial Arch statue & road sign, before the jaw-dropping coast-hugging scenery of this magnificent journey opens up
  • Great Ocean Road - Drive along this spectacular coast-hugging road with elevated seating above the roadside shrubs to view all its glory - from the ocean to the forest, making visits along the way to not miss highlights & a brilliant photo high above at the Cape Patton lookout
  • Lorne - Take a rest under gum trees enveloping this stunning bay view where the forest meets the sea, perhaps with cockatoos or Kookaburra’s ‘laughing’.
  • Apollo Bay - Delicious lunch options in this seaside town - we’ll point out the treasures! You can grab take-aways for a beach picnic, maybe a swim too if you brought your bathers…
    or just kick off the shoes for a stroll along Australia’s recently voted top 3 beaches :)
  • Mait’s Rest - Step inside an ancient rainforest for a moment to feel like you’re in another world, yet it’s only minutes inside the Great Otway’s National Park as the famous road now veers into the countryside for a change of scenery. Keep your eye’s up to maybe spot cute Koala at the carpark as a bonus.
  • Great Otway National Park - Journey under the canopy of giant Mountain Ash gum trees & ferns, changing into Beech & Blackwood forests to continue along the Great Ocean Road to reach the 12 Apostles grand finale coastline.
  • Gibsons Steps - View from the top, or be rewarded for conquering the grand sea cliff steps with an unforgettable feeling at the shoreline. (Note if access is closed due to conditions we will visit the Thunder Cave later instead)
  • Loch Ard Gorge - A true jewel in this National Park’s crown, wander to majestic lookouts of your choice including the Island Archway & the Razorback - a beast of a view when raging seas swell.

Maybe spot echidna scurrying near the paths for ants, or wallabies peeking their heads up in the bush.

  • Twelve Apostles - Be mesmerized by the alluring ‘12 Apostles’ rock formations - the drawcard of this National Park wonderland.

If a helicopter ride here is of interest to you let us know to pre-arrange a booking for you.

Lastly, enjoy snack refreshments if you wish (card only) including local made Timboon Ice Cream, or a souvenir before the return journey to the city begins through the farming countryside with plenty of time to relax after a big day of exploring & share your photos of lifelong memories made

What's Included
  • Entrance to renowned National Parks
  • Guidance from fun and knowledgeable experts
  • Multilingual translated web tour
  • Complimentary snacks provided
  • Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
  • Convenient selected hotel pick-up and return service
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Helicopter ride (optional)
Additional Information

The ‘all-in-one’ magnificent sightseeing expedition -

Feel at ease as our tour guide accompanies you on the MOST enthralling day-long excursion from Melbourne, providing a spectacular view from raised seats as we traverse the globally-celebrated Great Ocean Road.

Our vehicle is designed to navigate areas that larger coaches cannot, offering you the opportunity to observe wildlife, incredible beaches and a walk through a primeval rainforest en route to visiting the seaside marvels of 12 Apostles, Gibson Steps, Razorback, Island Archway & Loch Ard Gorge.

Begin the day with a choice of refined coffee or baked goods at an extensive Chocolaterie, paired with our Anzac biscuits to learn some Australian history prior to visiting the Memorial Arch.

Indulge in a meal tailored to your preference at the coastal Apollo Bay, well-known for its culinary delights.

Complete an exceptional day of exploration with a sunset toast or a quick bite on the seaside.

We guarantee an EXTRAORDINARY experience of the Great Ocean Road!

The small yet significant touches we incorporate throughout distinguish us from other companies. Our sole focus is this remarkable region which enables us to create the optimal day for your once-in-a-lifetime experience.

(note: helicopter rides can be organized)

  • Children aged 7 years or older can be a passenger
  • Total tour duration already includes travel time
Location
Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
Flinders Street
7:35am the bus collects in front of Rendezvous Hotel on Flinders St (this central hotel is near Flinders St train station)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(53 Ratings)
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John
Apr 18, 2024
Wonderful day out despite the weather - highly recommended - Despite unforecasted rainy weather in the afternoon, this was an amazing day and was very much as described and advertised. Our guide, Kel, was fabulous, providing great knowledge, keeping us upbeat when the rain came in, and providing a super playlist between the commentaries and stops. Other reviews mention legroom on the minibus, but as a 6'2" bloke with long legs, I didn't find it a problem. This is a must do trip if visiting Melbourne. The rainforest was perhaps our favourite part of the day given the rain putting a damper on the 12 Apostles stops. But the views of the coastline are breathtaking enough to make this long day worth it. Finally, for anyone with a shellfish allergy, Waves in Apollo Bay (lunch stop) is a contemporary cafe/restaurant with excellent sandwich and coffee choices and no shellfish at all!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onair663614
Apr 8, 2024
Exceeded expectations by a mile thanks to our phenomenal tour guide Kel! - Kel, our tour guide was absolutely phenomenal! From the get go from our hotel pick up all the way through to end of the day drop off, she was an absolute superstar and made the whole trip so enjoyable, comfortable and completely exceeded our expectations. Usually I steer away from group guided tours and like to enjoy things at my own pace, but I’m so glad I went with this tour because we got to see so many things in one day and Kelsey sure we had time to do our own thing during some stops too. Can confidently recommend, must do if you’re after the best tour with the best guide possible! Thank you a million, Kel, you’re a star!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_m
Mar 31, 2024
Recommend this trip! - Kel is a champion of the Great Ocean Road trip. She was very knowledgeable about the entire area, able to spot koala bears and navigate traffic/parking on an Easter weekend. Thanks for a great trip.
Review provided by Viator
Nikita_b
Mar 27, 2024
Awesome - Kel is the best! She explained everything, every small details! We saw kangaroos and koalas, enjoyed coffee breaks and beach views.
Review provided by Viator
Angie_n
Mar 25, 2024
Wonderful experience - We saw edchina at the entrance to the Loch Ard Gorge. Kelly is a fantastic guide. She is very cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable. She drive us to see the kangaroos before stopping at the chocolatier and ice Creamery. We also spotted koala just at the car park of the entrance. Every stops for photo opportunities are beautiful! Love the tour! Would highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Sarah
Mar 23, 2024
Amazing - It is a long time on a coach but a great day, we had great views, a walk through the rain forest, koalas up trees, kangaroos, a stop for chocolate and a stop for lunch the 12 apostles look beautiful. And I can't not mention our brilliant driver/tour guide Kel, she was amazing. Thank you 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Duanep_l
Mar 17, 2024
Fun adventure - Beautiful views of ocean and rainforest. Excellent guide, Kel. Fun visits to chocolatier and restaurants.
Review provided by Viator
David_s
Mar 16, 2024
Memorable breathtaking educational tour - The tour was really nice and Kel the tour leader was exceptional.! She was very composed, humorous, knowledgeable and was able to gauge her audience’s well and adapted accordingly which is a skill in itself. Overall a tour thats definitely well worth its value!
Review provided by Viator
Line_n
Feb 28, 2024
Beautiful sites and exceptionnal guide - Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Kel was a super guide. Very knowledgeable and professional. Excellent driver as well... Managed time very well and handled latecomers tactfully but firmly early on so this would not become a pain throughout the day. Her music selection between explanations worked so well with the scenery and time of day. And of course, all sites visited were exceptionnal. The 12 hours just flew by. Thank you Kel. Keep up the good spirits.
Review provided by Viator
Raleighdc
Mar 5, 2024
Certainly worth going - The only issue I have is the time at the Gorge and 12 Apostles are too short. I had to walk very fast to be able to see the views and take pictures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor