Guided Tours

Great Ocean Road & 12 Apostles Reverse Tour

Name: Great Ocean Road & 12 Apostles Reverse Tour
Start: 2025-11-09T06:30:00
End: 2025-11-09T18:30:00
Location: Melbourne

People walking on a beach near the 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road.

Gibson Steps leading to beach along Great Ocean Road, Australia.

Couple sitting inside a large hollow tree along the Great Ocean Road forest walk.

Sleeping koala in a tree along the Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour.

Duration

12 hr

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Transfers included

Hotel pickup

Skip the crowds and enjoy a more personalized reverse tour of the Great Ocean Road, complete with hassle-free round-trip transfers and an experienced guide.

4.5/5

(242)

Nina

Jul 2025

Verified Partner Review

5/5

Went with my partner and honestly, the drive was LONG but never boring. Our guide (think his name was Chris?) had stories for daaays—like, you end up remembering random facts about shipwrecks and why the trees lean so weird here. Saw koalas sleeping in the crook of branches and a kangaroo that totally ignored us (mood). Weather was chilly but clear and we lucked out with the light at the Twelve Apostles—looked EPIC for photos! Only complaint: lunch options were a bit basic, but can’t really complain when ur eating with that view.

Silvia

Jul 2025

Verified Partner Review

5/5

Just did the Great Ocean Road tour with my two sisters and still buzzing tbh. The guide, Jimmy, kept us laughing all day and didn’t rush us at any of the stops. I got about 100 pics of the Apostles (you can’t not). Loved the rainforest walk—smells like eucalyptus and felt suuuper peaceful. We even got lucky and saw an echidna waddling across the path. Only bummer was the bus seats aren’t built for tall folks (my knees were jammed). Otherwise, def worth it!

Jose

Jul 2025

Verified Partner Review

4/5

Super early start but worth dragging myself outta bed for. The group was pretty chill, like 12 ppl. The guide, Barb, was kinda hilarious and knew her stuff. We spotted 3 koalas (one had a baby!) and a heap of parrots. Only thing—wish we’d stopped for coffee sooner, was half asleep for the first hour lol. Rain hit for a bit but the cliffs looked wiiiild with the clouds anyway. Would go again, maybe pack snacks next time.

Witness the breathtaking beauty of the rugged cliffs and the turquoise waters of the Southern Ocean on this tour with a select few for company.

Enjoy the thrill of watching the waves crash against the stacked 12 Apostles as you climb down the jagged Gibson Steps.

Walk through cool fern gullies on your guided walk of Great Otway National Park Soak and catch koalas sleeping in their trees at Kennett River.

Upgrade your experience to enjoy seamless round-trip hotel transfers from Melbourne CBD or savour a picnic-style lunch during your trip.

Did you know? The 12 Apostles were formerly known as the Sow and Piglets but was officially renamed in the 1920s to attract customers.

Full-day tour of Great Ocean Road

Small group of up to 12 people

Round-trip transfers from Melbourne CBD

Round-trip hotel transfer from Melbourne CBD (as per option selected)

Expert guide

Guided forest walk

TOTAL DURATION12 hours
MODE OF TRANSFERA/C Minibus
Timeline
Map
Start point
Melbourne
Get direction
1. Winchelsea
15 min
2. Twelve Apostles
40 min
3. Gibson Steps
20 min
4. The Razorback
25 min
5. Loch Ard Gorge
30 min
6. Maits Rest
25 min
7. Kennett River
20 min
8. Teddy's Lookout
10 min
End point
Melbourne
Get direction
Your ending point would be same as your start point

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.5
242 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Nina
Jul 2025
Verified Partner Review
5/5
Went with my partner and honestly, the drive was LONG but never boring. Our guide (think his name was Chris?) had stories for daaays—like, you end up remembering random facts about shipwrecks and why the trees lean so weird here. Saw koalas sleeping in the crook of branches and a kangaroo that totally ignored us (mood). Weather was chilly but clear and we lucked out with the light at the Twelve Apostles—looked EPIC for photos! Only complaint: lunch options were a bit basic, but can’t really complain when ur eating with that view.
Silvia
Jul 2025
Verified Partner Review
5/5
Just did the Great Ocean Road tour with my two sisters and still buzzing tbh. The guide, Jimmy, kept us laughing all day and didn’t rush us at any of the stops. I got about 100 pics of the Apostles (you can’t not). Loved the rainforest walk—smells like eucalyptus and felt suuuper peaceful. We even got lucky and saw an echidna waddling across the path. Only bummer was the bus seats aren’t built for tall folks (my knees were jammed). Otherwise, def worth it!
Jose
Jul 2025
Verified Partner Review
4/5
Super early start but worth dragging myself outta bed for. The group was pretty chill, like 12 ppl. The guide, Barb, was kinda hilarious and knew her stuff. We spotted 3 koalas (one had a baby!) and a heap of parrots. Only thing—wish we’d stopped for coffee sooner, was half asleep for the first hour lol. Rain hit for a bit but the cliffs looked wiiiild with the clouds anyway. Would go again, maybe pack snacks next time.
Marek
Jul 2025
Verified Partner Review
5/5
Took the reverse route and wow, barely any crowds at the big spots! Our guide (Mark?) pointed out all these tiny details along the way—like the old post office and the weird rock formations people usually miss. Food at Apollo Bay was simple but tasty. Weather changed every hour (classic), so pack a jacket. Would recommend this for families—my kids were obsessed with the parrots and kangaroos.
Olga
Jul 2025
Verified Partner Review
3/5
Hmmm, mixed feelings. The day was packed, maybe TOO packed? Felt like we were always on the move. Some sights—like the Loch Ard Gorge—are honestly magical, but I coulda used an extra 30 mins to just sit and stare. Guide was polite but not as chatty as I hoped. Saw wildlife tho, and my teens loved the rainforest bit. Not bad, just not mind-blowing.

World-famous iconic sights

Your adventure begins in a quaint rural town, perfect for stretching your legs and enjoying a morning coffee (at your own expense). From there, you'll head straight to the world-famous Twelve Apostles, arriving early to savor the majestic limestone formations without the usual crowds.

Breathtaking ocean views and cool rock formations

The adventure continues to the narrow and jagged Razorback, a rock formation created by the wind-blown spray of the surf over the centuries and the secluded Loch Ard Gorge beach where you can listen to your guide tell you the shipwreck history story that gave its name. Head on to the 86-staircase Gibson Steps to see the two jutting rocks, Gog and Magog rising from the ocean.

Australia’s natural wonders at its best

The adventure takes you into the heart of Great Otway National Park for a short rainforest walk, where you walk through the mossy ferns and giant birch trees before heading on to Kenneth River. Look up to see some koalas hugging the trees and colorful rosellas flying by. End your journey at Lorne, a charming seaside town where you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Southern Ocean from Teddy’s Lookout.

What to bring

Bring water, headphones, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, a small backpack of 5 to 7 kg, and a jacket for the tour.

Pack for a weather-ready kit; who knows when the skies might decide to be moody?

Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

What’s not allowed

Safety is a priority. So, this experience is restricted for guests under the age of 7 years.

Additional information

The tour starts at 6.50am from State Theatre in Arts Centre Melbourne.

The tour stops for lunch at Port Campbell or Apollo Bay (at your own expense).

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.