Great Ocean Road Tour: Twelve Apostles & Koalas

Fourteen hours on Australia's most famous coastal drive, with a guide who knows where the koalas are hiding.

A full-day guided tour of the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne visits the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and Kennett River for koala spotting, with hotel pickup, national park fees and an expert guide included. Groups stay under 24 people. Morning tea is provided. Lunch is your own choice in Apollo Bay. A multilingual audio guide app is available in 16 languages if you want to follow along on your phone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Twelve Apostles1h · entry included
2. Loch Ard Gorge45m · entry included

Great Ocean Road full-day tour

• Enjoy morning tea near Torquay
• Stop at Memorial Arch for photos
• Spot koalas in Kennett River area
• Relax and explore Apollo Bay
• Walk in Otway Ranges rainforest
• Visit Twelve Apostles limestone formations
• Explore Loch Ard Gorge coastline
• Dinner stop in Colac town

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Melbourne hotel and a drive to Torquay, where you'll have complimentary morning tea before heading onto the Great Ocean Road itself. Your guide navigates the coastal route and stops at the Memorial Arch, a recognizable landmark where most visitors pause for photos. The real draw comes next: Kennett River, where the guide's local knowledge helps you spot wild koalas in the eucalyptus trees and native birds overhead. This is not a zoo or a sanctuary, but their actual habitat, and sightings depend on the animals being there. (Note: Kennett River closes seasonally from July to September, and the operator substitutes an alternative koala-spotting location during that window.)

By mid-morning you'll reach Apollo Bay, a seaside town tucked between the ocean and the Otway Ranges, where you have free time to walk around and buy lunch from local cafés. After that comes a guided walk into the cool-temperate rainforest of the Otway Ranges, towering trees, ferns and native vegetation, with your guide explaining the ecosystem as you move through it. This is not a strenuous hike, but a walk through an ancient forest canopy that most visitors to the coast never see.

The Twelve Apostles arrive in the late afternoon: limestone formations rising from the Southern Ocean, and the viewpoints let you take in the scale of them. Your guide may also lead you down Gibson Steps to see the formations from closer to sea level if conditions and access allow. Next is Loch Ard Gorge, where towering cliffs frame a sheltered beach and your guide tells the story of the Loch Ard shipwreck that happened there. The day ends with a short stop in Colac for dinner (at your own expense) before the drive back to Melbourne, arriving in the evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Melbourne.
• national park entry fees.
• an air-conditioned vehicle and expert guide.
• morning tea.
• WiFi on board.
• a multilingual audio guide app available in 16 languages.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small-group eco tour of the Great Ocean Road, departing from MelbourneGuide in English · 07:00Includes pickup

Book two tours and get a City Tour for freeGuide in English · 07:00Discover the best of Melbourne with day tours to the Great Ocean Road and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, plus a complimentary Melbourne City Sights tour (regular price $85 per person). Duration: 3 days. Day 1 is the Great Ocean Road day tour. Day 2 is the Phillip Island Penguin Parade day tour, and you can choose any day for your City Sights tour. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 29 Apr 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Go West Tours

Is this one for you?Book the standard single tour if you want one full day on the coast without committing to multiple days in Melbourne. Choose the 2 Tours + FREE City Tour package if you're spending longer in the city and want to add Phillip Island's penguin parade and a guided tour of Melbourne itself on separate dates.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the Great Ocean Road tour leave Melbourne and when do I get back?

The tour is a full-day experience lasting 14 hours from pickup at your hotel. You'll return to Melbourne in the evening after the dinner stop in Colac.

Will I definitely see koalas on this tour?

The tour includes a stop at Kennett River, where your guide helps you spot wild koalas in the eucalyptus trees and native birds. Sightings depend on the animals being present, but the guide's local knowledge makes wildlife spotting part of the adventure. From July to September, the operator visits an alternative koala-spotting location due to Kennett River's seasonal closure.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

Hotel pickup, national park fees, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, WiFi on board and morning tea are all included. You choose and pay for your own lunch in Apollo Bay and dinner in Colac.

How many people are on these tours?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 24 people, so it stays small enough for the guide to share local knowledge without feeling like a bus tour.

Is there a multilingual guide, or do I need to speak English?

The live guide speaks English. A multilingual audio guide app is available in 16 languages (German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish and others) if you want to follow along on your phone.

Can I book the Great Ocean Road tour with other tours in Melbourne?

Yes, there's a package option that includes the Great Ocean Road tour, the Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour and a free Melbourne City Discovery half-day tour. You book them on separate dates and can choose when to take the city tour by contacting the operator.