Duration:
TOUR CODE: WGORR-S
OPERATES: Daily
DEPARTS: 7:35am
RETURNS: 8:30pm
TOUR DURATION: 13 Hours
MAIN PICKUP LOCATION & TIME: Immigration Museum – 400 Flinders St Cnr Market St Melbourne @ 7:35am.
Beat the Crowds on the Ultimate Coastal Adventure
Bored of the same old tours? We flipped the script to bring you the ultimate Great Ocean Road experience. By travelling in reverse, we beat the tourist crowds to the iconic Twelve Apostles, letting you experience Australia’s most spectacular coastline in peace. 🌊
Our journey begins by heading straight to the Shipwreck Coast. Arrive at the majestic Twelve Apostles before the crowds descend, allowing you to capture pristine photos and truly take in the scale of these limestone giants. Next, explore the dramatic cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge, take in the sweeping views from Razorback Lookout, and marvel at Mutton Bird Island. We then venture into the lush, ancient rainforest of the Great Otway National Park for a guided walk amongst giant ferns. 🌿 As we wind back along the legendary Great Ocean Road, we’ll stop to spot wild koalas in their natural habitat and visit the historic Memorial Arch. Travel in absolute comfort aboard our modern, air-conditioned coach equipped with USB ports and extra legroom. 🐨
Tour Highlights
- Travel in reverse to beat the crowds at the iconic 12 Apostles and Shipwreck Coast
- Stroll the pristine sands of Loch Ard Gorge in the glow of the mid-morning sun
- Take in breathtaking views from Razorback Lookout and Mutton Bird Island
- Spot Australian wildlife in their natural habitat
- Enjoy a guided rainforest walk through the ancient Great Otway National Park
- Cruise the world-famous Great Ocean Road, a National Heritage-listed route
- Eco-conscious touring – sustainable, small-group experience with a light footprint
Inclusions
- All National Park entry fees — nature’s best, covered!
- Picnic sandwich with piece of fruit or sweet item
- Morning tea & tasty treats to start your day right
- A chance to encounter iconic Aussie wildlife in their natural habitat
- Expert local guide bringing stories, fun facts, and insider tips
- Travel in style aboard a comfy, air-conditioned medium-sized coach
- Convenient pick-up and drop-off from select Melbourne city spots
- Multilingual translation app available in 10 languages — no Aussie accent required!
Exclusions
- 12 Apostles scenic helicopter flights – payable onboard direct to the operator on arrival
- Meals not listed in the itinerary — but don’t worry, we’ll stop at great local spots where you can grab a bite and support small businesses along the way
- Hotel transfers before or after the tour — please make your way to the designated pick-up point
- Personal travel insurance — strongly recommended for peace of mind
- Extra spending money for souvenirs, snacks, or that must-have fridge magnet
What to Bring
1L refillable water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, all-weather clothing, windbreaker, comfortable walking shoes, small day bag 5-7kg, money for dinner, and camera to capture every moment!
Child Policy
Child fares apply for 0–12 years. All travellers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
Weather Conditions
Please be aware that weather conditions can vary throughout the year in Victoria. While we endeavour to operate our tours as planned, there may be occasions when rain or inclement weather affects our itinerary. Rest assured, your experience will still proceed unless you are directly contacted by the tour provider. To ensure you’re prepared for the weather, please check the average temperatures for your travel dates and pack accordingly.
Mobility and Baggage
- Mobility: Not suitable for travellers using wheelchairs, walkers, prams, or strollers.
- Baggage: Space on the bus is limited — bring one small day bag (5–7kg max). Leave suitcases at your accommodation.
Fitness Level
Easy to moderate — perfect for beach walks and short scenic strolls.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Passenger Details
We need your details when you book — including date of birth, any food allergies, and a contact phone number.
Medical Conditions
Let us know about any medical conditions at booking. While this tour is easier than some hikes, it still involves walking on beaches and short trails, so a basic level of fitness is recommended.
Itinerary Changes
Stops and routes may change due to weather, park conditions, or road closures. Safety comes first — we plan the day to give you the best possible experience.
*Wildlife Tours reserves the right to alter the route or itinerary schedule during seasonal weather fluctuations and/or during park closures.
SUITS
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Saw every sort of wildlife that i wished for and even the trip to the park is beautiful and interesting because of the facts an information that Kiwi gave us.
Had a Fantabulous time!
Watching the little penguins emerge from the ocean at sunset and make their way across the beach to their burrows was something we’ll remember for a long time. The whole experience is very well organised, with excellent viewing areas and knowledgeable staff helping visitors appreciate the importance of protecting this unique wildlife.
One piece of advice for anyone booking tickets: we chose the VIP Underground Viewing experience, but in hindsight we don’t feel it offered enough extra value over the Premier Viewing tickets. The Premier option provides an excellent view, and we think it offers the best balance of experience and value. If we visited again, we’d happily choose Premier Viewing.
Overall, this was a fantastic wildlife experience and a real highlight of our time in Victoria. It’s a must-do if you’re travelling to Melbourne or the surrounding area.
The tour itself was great, from pick-up, to site visits, to easy drop-off at the end of a long day! We really lucked out with the weather and got to see so many more sights than we would have otherwise if we'd gone alone. There was a lot of ground to cover, with the "Twelve" Apostles being the clear highlight of the tour. We did great on time and even managed a few bonus stops which included a Koala sighting and a whole group of Kangaroos!
The star of the show was honestly our guide, Ilkay. I have no idea how he maintained such great energy throughout what must have been an incredibly long day for him (bearing in mind he was driving AND guiding, and we were his first pick-ups at 7am, and last drop-offs around 8pm). His explanations were brilliant, both in content and delivery, and his enthusiasm really kept our group engaged. Couldn't have asked for a better guide!
The natural scenery was beautiful, and seeing koalas and penguins up close was an unforgettable experience. I’d never seen them that close before.
Great day..
Our guide, Kiwi, is very knowledgeable about history, nature and how to assure that his guests are getting the most out of the trip.
The coffee was served as committed. It's a DIY coffee where they keep hot water, coffee, sugar, milk etc and make your own. Alongwith Tim Tams. The sandwich for lunch was tasty and filling. I opted for veg and the veggies inside it were so fresh n crunchy. I didn't feel hungry till evening. I saw the veg sandwich bigger than the non veg ;)
Special credits to our tour guide Joel. He did a fab job telling us about the points, history of the places. Sweet person to spend the day with. He made all the tourists comfortable, co and waited patiently incase we were late.
Joel- Thanks and love from India.
The had been the perfect guide shared interesting stories and information in an entertaining way. Thanks for a wonderful day!
My highlight was definitely Nobbies Lookout and of course the penguins.
My experience on the Reverse Great Ocean Road Tour (Booking: 122799) was a catastrophic failure of service, hygiene, and basic safety. This tour is NOT worth the premium price of AUD $165.
MAJOR FAILURES:
• CORE PROMISE BROKEN: The driver was over an hour late, ensuring we arrived at the 12 Apostles with massive crowds, completely nullifying the 'Reverse Tour' promise.
• ITINERARY OMITTED: We only stopped at 2 out of 5 major promised sites. The driver intentionally skipped 60% of the itinerary, including the guaranteed rainforest walk.
• HYGIENE : The 'picnic lunch' was served standing up next to the bus from a cooler box. Furthermore, the restrooms at the morning tea stop were in a shockingly unsanitary state, forcing me to avoid using them for hours.
• SUBSTANDARD SERVICE: The vehicle was dirty and loud (not 'modern and comfortable'). Onboard Wi-Fi and USB charging were unavailable. The same individual served as both the driver and the guide. He provided commentary while actively driving on long, winding roads. This was extremely stressful for passengers as his focus was repeatedly diverted from the road, creating a serious safety risk throughout the tour. Moreover, the 'guided tour' existed only inside the bus; when we stopped at sites, the driver/guide never joined the group to provide explanations.There were no promised "Guided walks", no rain forest walk, nothing. We stopped for only 15 minutes for restroom in the forest!
This company failed to provide the service they advertised and showed a profound disregard for customer welfare!

















































