Great Ocean Road Day Trip from Melbourne: A Small-Group Coastal Journey with Nature Encounters
4.8
212 Ratings
Southbank
Embark on a small-group coastal journey along Victoria's Great Ocean Road, exploring breathtaking landscapes and encountering native Australian animals. Capture the magic of the Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge and contribute to koala conservation by planting a tree in their habitat.
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Apollo bay township - Spend some time exploring the quaint coastal town of Apollo Bay. A sleepy little town located at the foothills of the Otways. Enjoy some free time to explore the long sandy beaches or enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many locally sourced food offerings.
- Great Otway National Park - Enjoy exclusive access to the Great Ocean Road Ecolodge. Truly an incredible way to bask in your natural surroundings while spending time with an array of Australian native animals in their natural environment. The wild kangaroos roam free and don’t forget to look up to see the sleepy koalas enjoying their Eucalyptus leaves in the trees.
- Twelve Apostles - Your final destination on this incredible journey will be to capture the magic that awaits you at the awe-inspiring Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
- Loch Ard Gorge - Your final destination on this incredible journey will be to capture the magic that awaits you at the awe-inspiring Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
What's Included
- A Native Tree planted on your behalf
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Live commentary on board
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable exploration of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, where 243 kms of stunning coastal scenery lies ahead, chauffeured by your skilled guide. Pause for a meal at the charming seaside town of Apollo Bay. Mingle with a variety of native Australian wildlife in their natural habitat, letting the natural beauty envelop you. The grand finale will be the enchanting Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge.
To put the cherry on top, we’ll plant a native tree in your name as a thank you for participating in our tour. This tree will contribute to restoring the habitat of the local koalas, aiding in their conservation efforts.
Your knowledgeable guide will provide detailed commentary to your intimate group with a limit of 11 attendees.
- Children 3 and under not catered for. Booster seat available for children 4 to 7 available.
- Tour not normally suitable for cruise ship passengers. Tour starts at 8:00 from city centre, it is your responsibility to check you can make it on time to avoid missing out on tour and cancellation fees.
Location
Mercure Melbourne Southbank
Riverside Quay
Please meet your guide at the entrance of Mercure Melbourne Southbank hotel.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(212 Ratings)
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Laureconklink
Apr 2, 2024
Fabulous Great Ocean Road Day Trip - ask for tour guide Dandy! - This Great Ocean Road Day Trip was even better than we imagined mostly due to our amazing guide: Dandy!! He was engaging, fun and filled with knowledge that he creatively shared at just the right moments. Dandy went out of his way to make our journey special and for us to feel special. Although there is never a guarantee to see animals in the wild, Dandy did his best and we got to see several pandas that he spotted while we were on our lunch break.
We got to revel in the rugged beauty of the GOR, watch surfers and hear stories of shipwrecks. Visiting the Great Otway National Park was a delight due to the presence of pandas. The 12 Apostles (now 8) were gorgeous with a number of lookouts to enjoy them from.
Great trip, but it is a very long day due to the distance from Melbourne. But worth it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_m
Mar 17, 2024
Wonderful Trip with Dandy! - Seeing the apostles was of course the highlight, but our guide kept us so entertained with stories, local music and poems, and local history that he became a highlight as well.
Review provided by Viator
Mo19
Mar 13, 2024
Fine and Dandy - This full day trip couldn’t have been better as the guide, Dandy, was amazing. We drove along the Great Ocean Road stopping for breaks and to take photos. After a lovely lunch stop at Apollo bay we saw some koalas and kangaroos in the wild. We did a bush walk in the Otway National Park and saw the Twelve Apostles. The highlights along with the scenery were Dandy’s stories, music, poems, facts and his lovely friendly personality. A trip to remember.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L2396rplindal
Feb 3, 2024
Fabulous Ocean Coastline - To start - our tour guide, Dandy was fantastic! He picked us up at our hotel promptly and had so much information to share. He took us to all the wonderful sights to see on the road....the beaches, the coastline, a rainforest, as well as finding koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitat for us to see and photograph. (no sanctuaries with fences!!) We saw the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. There were comfort stops and lunch. We would not do the included lunch again, as the menu is limited and there are so many other restaurants to choose from. Dandy's driving was flawless! He is very informed and obviously proud of his country and this area in particular. Remember this is a long day, plan accordingly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathleen_e
Jan 30, 2024
Ocean Road and the Apostles - The day was beautiful, and the stops were perfect. We stopped at (2) chocolate shops, several Look outs, time for a leisurely lunch, and the Apostles. Lovely day.
Review provided by Viator
Theresa_m
Jan 19, 2024
Fantastic day - A long 12 hour day went very quickly with lots of stops.....but mostly because of our wonderful tour guide, Fred. He is an experienced, professional, funny guide who kept us highly entertained. He pointed out wildlife , even stopping for lots of kangaroos in a field. Great trip!
Review provided by Viator
Timothy_l
Jan 14, 2024
Great day! - Sara was phenomenal! Super easy going guide who kept us all on time while conveying great intel on the area, history, and wildlife.
Review provided by Viator
Annaeah2024
May 5, 2024
An unforgettable excursion! - We visited various parts of Australia for two and a half weeks. On one of the visits we met Dandy, the guide who would accompany us during the visit to various places along the "Great Ocean Road". It was a very pleasant experience, accompanied by a very good professional.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifer_b
Jan 7, 2024
Nice day trip to see the rainforest and Great Ocean Road - This trip has some beautiful sights but if you get at all roadsick, take something before you leave. The ride is very, very winding and it goes on for many hours (more time spent in the van than at the sights). Sarah was a good tour guide and shared some interesting history and information with us along the ride. Some of the stops on the way were very short. The small group size was great. The walk through the rainforest was really nice.
Review provided by Viator
John_j
Mar 17, 2024
disappointed - scenery great good driver not so good tour guide very little commentary confusing directions and first viator ever with no water offered. Are you saving the environment from plastic?
Review provided by Viator
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