Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne: 12 Apostles and wildlife

See koalas and kangaroos wild on the coast, not in a sanctuary

A full-day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne that travels in reverse to skip the bus crowds and catch softer morning light at the 12 Apostles, then works down the coastline through Loch Ard Gorge, a rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges, and wildlife spotting at Kennet River and Anglesea Golf Course. The itinerary includes a chocolate farm stop with alpacas, a guided walk through a wildlife sanctuary with binoculars and conservationist commentary, a fresh seasonal lunch at a seaside cafe, and a visit to a local ice-creamery. Pickup from your Melbourne hotel is included, along with morning tea, coffee or hot chocolate, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Loch Ard Gorge30m
2. Twelve Apostles30m

Great Ocean Road Coastal Exploration

• Visit local chocolate farm and feed alpacas
• Walk around Loch Ard Gorge and hear shipwreck story
• View Twelve Apostles from platform
• Enjoy light lunch and guided wildlife sanctuary walk
• Walk along seaside town foreshore
• Learn about Great Ocean Road construction history
• See kangaroos at Anglesea Golf Course
• Drive back to Melbourne hotel

The experience

The reverse route is the whole point: while the standard tours head to the 12 Apostles late in the day when the light flattens and the crowds pile up, this one goes straight there mid-morning. You get the limestone stacks at their best, rising 50 to 60 metres from the ocean floor, and the platform to yourself. The softer light and smaller crowds make the dramatic cliff edges and the sheer scale of the rock formations the focus instead of the queue behind you.

From there the day works backward down the coast. At Loch Ard Gorge, your guide takes you down to the beach and walks you through the shipwreck story: two passengers survived the wreck of the Loch Ard, and the gorge itself is where they washed ashore. Before lunch you wind through the Otway Ranges on a guided rainforest walk, then settle into a seaside cafe for fresh, locally inspired food with dietary requirements catered for. The wildlife comes after: a 1.25km walk through a not-for-profit sanctuary with binoculars and a conservationist guide who points out where the koalas, kangaroos and local birdlife are hiding. There are no enclosures, so spotting depends on listening to the guide and looking carefully. Later you stop at Anglesea Golf Course, where kangaroos often lounge or hop around the fairways, and at Kennet River to watch for wild koalas in the trees.

The route also takes in a local chocolate farm where you can hand-feed alpacas while you wait for coffee or hot chocolate, a walk through the surfside town of Lorne to watch local surfers, and one of Australia's best ice-creameries. The whole day runs 11.5 hours from pickup at your Melbourne hotel to drop-off, with an air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board and bottled water throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Melbourne hotel.
• morning tea, coffee or hot chocolate at a local chocolate farm.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a fresh, seasonal lunch at a seaside cafe with dietary requirements catered for.
• a guided 1.25km walk through a wildlife sanctuary with binoculars and conservationist commentary.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• return transport to your hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (16 to 85 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Great Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the 12 Apostles in morning light without the afternoon crowds, and if spotting wild koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat matters more than a formal wildlife park. The reverse route and the sanctuary walk with a conservationist guide are built around that trade-off.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

How early do we get to the 12 Apostles on this tour?

The reverse route takes you to the 12 Apostles mid-morning, before the standard tours arrive. You get the limestone stacks with softer light and far fewer crowds, and time to walk out to the viewing platform without queuing.

What happens at Loch Ard Gorge?

Your guide takes you down to the beach and explains the dramatic shipwreck story of the Loch Ard, which sank in 1845. Two passengers survived and washed ashore at the gorge itself, and the guide walks you through what happened and where they were rescued.

Will we actually see wild koalas and kangaroos, or are they in an enclosure?

The wildlife sanctuary has no enclosures, so the animals are in their natural habitat. You walk 1.25km with binoculars and a conservationist guide who listens for clues and points out where koalas, kangaroos and birdlife are hiding. You also stop at Kennet River to spot wild koalas in the trees and at Anglesea Golf Course where kangaroos often lounge around the fairways.

What's included for lunch and drinks?

Morning tea, coffee or hot chocolate comes at the chocolate farm. Lunch is a fresh, seasonal meal at a seaside cafe with dietary requirements catered for. You also visit one of Australia's best ice-creameries later in the day, and bottled water is provided throughout.

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs 11.5 hours from pickup at your Melbourne hotel to drop-off, so plan for a full day on the road.