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Great Ocean Road

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5 star rating: Highly Recommended 352 Reviews

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  • Address: Torquay to Warrnambool, Victoria 3228, Australia

Melbourne ATTRACTIONS See all

Great Ocean Road Tours

One of the world’s most famous driving routes, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road offers scenic surprises at every fork in the road. In signature Australian style, endless stretches of white sandy beaches are flanked by dense pockets of rain forest, charming coastal towns, and canopies populated by koalas. Read on to learn how to make the most of your Great Ocean Road tour.

The Basics
The best way to take in this spectacular stretch of highway is by car or coach, with the majority of driving tours departing from Melbourne and including a tour guide, roundtrip transportation, and a visit to the Twelve Apostles. Activities along the way may include wine tastings in Apollo Bay; spotting wild koalas in Kennett River; hiking along the shipwreck coast to witness the natural splendor of the Loch Ard Gorge; or pulling over at sunset to witness the Great Ocean Road at its most majestic. Day trips on the route tend to run upwards of 12 hours due to all of the driving and can be combined with a trip to Phillip Island for the famous penguin parade.

How to Get There
The Great Ocean Road is set 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Melbourne and 100 miles (165 km) from Geelong. It takes about three hours to arrive from Melbourne by road. Buses from these cities service major Great Ocean Road towns such as Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, and Apollo Bay; however, a car is essential to take a road trip on the full 150-mile (243-km) route.

When to Get There
In December and January, the road’s small coastal towns are especially popular among Australians from New South Wales and South Australia cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Crowds can often dampen the tranquil atmosphere of the route; an off-season visit can help you avoid both traffic and the scorching summer sun.

Best Outdoor Experiences Along the Route
The crashing waves of the Southern Ocean are a paradise for surfers, who flock here from Melbourne in the thousands during the summer months. Seaside towns such as Geelong, Lorne, and Torquay (the undisputed capital of Australia’s surfing scene) offer whale watching and maritime history, while the monolithic rock columns of the Twelve Apostles are an iconic site known around the world.

For nature lovers, the rugged coastlines of Port Campbell National Park and the waterfalls and ancient forests of Great Otway National Park offer opportunities to see kangaroos, wallabies, fairy penguins, dolphins, and tiger snakes. Snorkelers and scuba divers can also experience the underwater wonderland of marine life at Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, an excellent place to swim beneath the rocks that rise majestically above corals and kelp forests.

Tours & Tickets

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Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour from Melbourne, Melbourne, null
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour from Melbourne

5 star rating: Highly Recommended 1373 Reviews

Experience the spectacular Great Ocean Road on a full-day tour from Melbourne. Travel by comfortable minicoach on this majestic stretch of Victoria’s ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 14 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

From USD $103.94
Great Ocean Road Trip Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Day Trips
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Great Ocean Road Trip Tour from Melbourne

4.5 star rating: Recommended 517 Reviews

Soak up the sights of Australia's most scenic drive on a Great Ocean Road day trip from Melbourne. Follow the winding coastal road from Torquay to Port ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 12 hours (approx.)

From USD $130.12
Small-Group Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Full-Day Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Day Trips
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Small-Group Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Full-Day Tour from Melbourne

3.5 star rating: Worth doing 4 Reviews

Great Ocean Road tour is one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives! Leaving Melbourne we pass Torquay before enjoying morning tea at Southern ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 1 day (approx.)

From USD $103.94
Melbourne Combo: Great Ocean Road Tour and Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour, Melbourne, Day Trips
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Melbourne Combo: Great Ocean Road Tour and Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour

4.5 star rating: Recommended 5 Reviews

Enjoy excellent value for money by purchasing two of Melbourne's most popular tours in one combo. On a Great Ocean Road day trip, see the Twelve Apostles rock ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 2 days (approx.)

From USD $204.49
Private Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Express Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Super Savers
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Private Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Express Tour from Melbourne

5 star rating: Highly Recommended 4 Reviews

Private Tour  that is Fast-Tracked so you get more time to spend in the lively city of Melbourne . Take this Express Tour Direct to the 12 Apostles ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 7 hours (approx.)

From USD $576.68
Customized Private Great Ocean Road Day Trip from Melbourne, Melbourne, Custom Private Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Customized Private Great Ocean Road Day Trip from Melbourne

5 star rating: Highly Recommended 1 Review

You will be hosted by a renowned tour guide in Australia who is an expert on the Great Ocean Road as you immerse your senses on one of the most  ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: Flexible

From USD $730.66
Small-Group Sunset Great Ocean Road Experience from Melbourne, Melbourne, Private Sightseeing Tours
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Small-Group Sunset Great Ocean Road Experience from Melbourne

4.5 star rating: Recommended 7 Reviews

Maximise your time in Melbourne by traveling on this late departure Great Ocean Road Tour and enjoy the delights of free chocolate samples and beautiful ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 12 hours (approx.)

From USD $96.24
Melbourne Combo: Great Ocean Road plus Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy and Melbourne ... 
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Melbourne Combo: Great Ocean Road plus Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy and Melbourne Attraction Pass

Take the best bits of Melbourne and Victoria with this great-value super saver deal, combining three best selling tours into one money-saving package. First ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: Flexible

From USD $226.36
$281.79 Save $55.43
Full-Day Great Ocean Road Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Super Savers
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Full-Day Great Ocean Road Tour from Melbourne

5 star rating: Highly Recommended 2 Reviews

Spend a full day exploring the wonderful Great Ocean Road. Get to see all the highlights that the road as to offer. Tours departs on Wednesday mornings, ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 12 hours (approx.)

From USD $96.24
Melbourne Super Saver: Great Ocean Road plus Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Attraction Pass, ... 
TVRM_SORTED : true ESSENTIAL : 1 ADMISSION : 3

Melbourne Super Saver: Great Ocean Road plus Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Attraction Pass

4 star rating: Recommended 1 Review

Go road-tripping along the Great Ocean Road, discover colonial history and gorgeous beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, and visit popular Melbourne city ...  Read more

Location: Melbourne, Australia
Duration: Flexible

From USD $223.28
$279.48 Save $56.20

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