Great Ocean Road Tour: Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge

Twelve Apostles, limestone cliffs and native wildlife in one coastal drive

A private small group tour from Melbourne along Great Ocean Road reaches the Twelve Apostles rock formations, Loch Ard Gorge and Great Otway National Park in a single day. Your guide helps frame shots and tailors the route to what your group wants to see most, stopping in seaside towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay along the way. The tour runs 9 to 12 hours with hotel pickup included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Twelve Apostles45m
2. Great Otway National Park30m
3. Loch Ard Gorge

Great Ocean Road coastal drive

• Depart Melbourne city
• Drive to Torquay via seaside towns
• Pass through Anglesea town
• Photo stop at Memorial Archway
• Pass through Lorne and Wye River
• Stop for lunch in Apollo Bay
• Drive to Port Campbell National Park
• Visit and photograph the Twelve Apostles
• Spot koalas and native birds in Otway Park
• Explore Loch Ard Gorge and local attractions

The experience

The drive from Melbourne to Torquay takes roughly 90 minutes, passing through the seaside towns of Anglesea and Lorne before you reach the eastern end of Great Ocean Road. You'll pause at the Memorial Archway that marks the official start of the route, then continue west through Wye River toward Apollo Bay, where there's time to eat. The road itself is the main event here: a coastal drive that opens up the Southern Ocean as you move deeper into the route.

Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles sit about 100 minutes past Apollo Bay. Once you arrive, you get free time to walk the boardwalks, photograph the rock formations from different angles and take in the rugged coastline. Before heading to Loch Ard Gorge, the tour passes through Great Otway National Park, where you can spot koalas and watch for native parrots, lorikeets and kookaburras. Loch Ard Gorge itself is framed by limestone cliffs. You'll walk to the Archway, the Razorback and Dumpling Pots, and learn about the shipwreck that made the gorge famous in Australian maritime history.

Your guide speaks English or Tamil and travels with the group to help you frame photos and adjust the day's stops based on what interests you most. The itinerary is built around your preferences, so a family of four, a honeymoon couple or a group of friends can shape the route to match what you want to see. Pickup from your Melbourne hotel is included. Entrance fees to the Twelve Apostles are not.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Melbourne hotel.
• a live guide speaking English or Tamil.
• free time at the Twelve Apostles to photograph and explore the boardwalks.
• a walk through Loch Ard Gorge to see the Archway, Razorback and Dumpling Pots.
• wildlife spotting in Great Otway National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Tamil

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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.

Paid on siteAU$ 30

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Southern Caribou

Is this one for you?A private tour suits groups of 2 to 8 who want to set the pace and choose which stops matter most, rather than follow a fixed itinerary with strangers. Your guide travels with you the whole day to help with photos and adjust the route on the fly, so families, friends and couples can shape the experience around what they came to see.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Tamil.

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.

How far is it from Melbourne to the start of Great Ocean Road?

The drive to Torquay, where Great Ocean Road begins, takes approximately 90 minutes from Melbourne. You'll pass through Anglesea and Lorne along the way.

What wildlife can I see on this tour?

Great Otway National Park is where you'll spot koalas, native parrots, lorikeets and kookaburras. The tour includes time to watch for them as you pass through.

What is Loch Ard Gorge and why is it worth visiting?

Loch Ard Gorge is a dramatic coastal inlet surrounded by limestone cliffs on the western end of Great Ocean Road. It's the site of Australia's most famous shipwreck, and you can walk to named features like the Archway and the Razorback while learning the history.

Can I customize which stops we visit?

Yes. The tour is built around your group's preferences, so you can focus on the spots that interest you most. Your guide will help shape the itinerary to match what you want to see.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation and hotel pickup from Melbourne are included. Entrance fees to the Twelve Apostles and meals are not included, though there's time to eat in Apollo Bay.