Duration:
11h
Tour the Great Ocean Road in luxury and style with our Great Ocean Road Private Tour. Explore the spectacular surf coast ,12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Otway Ranges, rainforest walk, koala and kangaroo spotting and more!
Operated By:
Spectacular Coastal Wonders
Embark on an unforgettable journey along the Great Ocean Road, globally celebrated as one of the most breathtaking coastal drives. This spectacular 243-kilometre route promises a day filled with dramatic natural wonders, incredible wildlife encounters, and memories to last a lifetime. 🌊
Feel the ocean breeze as we wind through charming surf towns and deep into the lush eucalyptus forests of the Otway Ranges. Your journey leads to the dramatic Shipwreck Coast, where you will stand atop 60-metre-high cliffs to marvel at the world-renowned 12 Apostles. 🐨
Tour Highlights
- The Iconic 12 Apostles: Witness these majestic limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean.
- Loch Ard Gorge: Step into history and explore this dramatic, wind-carved gorge.
- Wild Wildlife Spotting: Keep your eyes peeled for wild koalas and colourful native birds in their natural habitat. 🦜
- Charming Coastal Towns: Stop and explore the picturesque seaside hubs of Lorne and Apollo Bay.
- Otway National Park: Walk amongst the ancient, towering trees of a temperate rainforest.
- Scenic Photo Stops: Capture incredible vistas at multiple curated viewpoints along the route.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included: Travel in comfort in a luxury vehicle with an experienced local guide.
- Included: Complimentary morning tea or coffee and bottled water onboard.
- Excluded: Lunch (excellent local dining options are available to purchase during our stops).
Share:
Our one day private tour itinerary for Ocean Road was perfectly and practically designed by Great Private Tours. It was complete , on time and not rushed. The 15 minute Heli tour of the "12 Apostles" was also Spectacular.
Our Tour Guide, Errol, was amazing and so knowledgeable. He was thoughtful and made the day so worthwhile.
Thank you!
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Ed
21 Sep 2026
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emilylU9598SX
14 Sep 2026
We are quite the dynamic group—my 17-year-old niece, my 80-year-old grandmother, and me—which meant balancing very different interests, energy levels, and needs. Cory handled it all effortlessly. He was incredibly attentive to my grandmother, made thoughtful adjustments to our itinerary whenever necessary, and somehow managed to make sure that each of us enjoyed the experience.
During our time in Victoria, we experienced so much together—the breathtaking Great Ocean Road, the iconic Twelve Apostles, a wonderful city tour of Melbourne, and the unforgettable Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. Each day was perfectly paced and thoughtfully curated, allowing us to truly take in the beauty of each destination.
We also spent a lovely day in the Yarra Valley wineries with Steven, who was equally wonderful—so professional, kind, and knowledgeable, making that experience just as memorable in its own way.
But what made our time with Cory so special went far beyond the places we visited. As we drove through the beautiful Victorian farmlands, he recited poetry to us. On our final evening together, he gifted us with beautiful songs. We ate together, laughed together, shared stories, and, of course, toured Victoria together.
By the end of our time together, Cory no longer felt like simply our tour guide—he felt like family.
He is warm, easygoing, knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely wonderful at what he does. There are some people you meet while traveling who become part of the memories you take home with you, and Cory is certainly one of those people for us.
We will truly miss him!
Until we meet again, we wish Cory and the entire team all the very best, and we pray that you are able to continue providing this same level of exceptional service—and creating such special memories—for many more travelers to come.
Thank you, Cory, for helping make our time in Victoria so memorable. ❤️
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meida96
09 Aug 2026
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Paul
22 Apr 2026
I would HIGHLY recommend splurging and booking this excursion through ‘ Great Private Tours’
Our day was perfectly planned out and just kept getting better and better.
Our guide, Cory, was fun and quirky and chock full of information.
This was a day we will never forget!!
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Gretchen
24 Mar 2026
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193jmar
30 Jan 2026
The next day we proceeded out to Sovereign Hill to see the mining town an tour a ballard.
I cannot express our appreciation enough for our guide Fiona. She was absolutely outstanding. Since this was a private tour, she was flexible to our needs.For example, we are an older group, and need more frequent restroom stops. She safely got us to all our locations and back to the ship. In a timely manner and also gave us a full city tours. Both days( melbourne and ballard). It's too bad that Fiona couldn't be our guide in Sydney as well. If in Melbourne book through great private tours. Ask for Fiona. Thank you Fiona for everything.
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GreatOwner, Manager at Great Private Tours, responded to this review - 2026-01-21
Thank you so much for the review - it really means a lot knowing that you enjoyed the tours. Fiona is a fabulous asset to our team! We hope you enjoy the rest of your travels. Regards, Sharon
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tampawalt
14 Jan 2026
We booked the one-day tour to the Great Ocean Road. We are lucky enough to have Steve to be our guide of the day :-)
The idea of doing the tour in reverse is superb!
He’s professional and knowledgable. We first enjoyed the helicopter ride and witnessed the 12 Apostles and The Loch Ard Gorge. We had a delicious meal at the Perch.
After lunch, Steve guided us through Maits Rest. During the journey, we had the chance to spot koalas and kangaroos. We ended the tour with a brief stop at Memorial Arch, Lorne
Overall speaking, it definitely spiced up our day. Do not miss it if you are looking for an unforgettable journey.
The idea of doing the tour in reverse is superb!
He’s professional and knowledgable. We first enjoyed the helicopter ride and witnessed the 12 Apostles and The Loch Ard Gorge. We had a delicious meal at the Perch.
After lunch, Steve guided us through Maits Rest. During the journey, we had the chance to spot koalas and kangaroos. We ended the tour with a brief stop at Memorial Arch, Lorne
Overall speaking, it definitely spiced up our day. Do not miss it if you are looking for an unforgettable journey.
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Jason
23 Nov 2025
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GreatOwner, Front Office Manager at Great Private Tours, responded to this review - 2025-11-14
Thank you for taking the time to review our services. We hope to host you again in the future.
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Lawrence
06 Nov 2025
From the start, Marlene set a great tone with a stop for excellent coffee/tea and a bite to eat. She also arranged an outstanding picnic lunch that we enjoyed at a pretty park with picnic tables—simple, fresh, and perfect for the setting. Throughout the day she offered lots of options to customize our time, including a broad range of dinner choices (from high-end to casual—we chose casual to maximize time at the sights).
It’s a full-day tour with plenty of driving, and Marlene checked in on whether we preferred quiet time to relax or conversation. We opted for conversation, and she was a wealth of knowledge on Australian history, local stories, and the places we visited. Even better, she has a remarkable eye for wildlife: we saw a koala awake and feeding (and got great photos), plus kangaroos, wallabies, and numerous birds. She could identify trees, plants, and birds by their calls, which added so much depth to the experience.
To cap it off, the tour included preferred viewing at the Penguin Parade. We had fantastic views of the adorable little penguins as they came ashore and made their way to their burrows—an unforgettable end to the day.
Everything felt smooth, unhurried, and tailored to us. We highly recommend Marlene and Great Private Tours—professional, friendly, and outstanding at crafting a day you’ll remember.
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GreatOwner, Front Office Manager at Great Private Tours, responded to this review - 2025-11-07
Thanks for the glowing review, Andrew!
We are thrilled to hear you had such an enjoyable day out touring Wilson's Prom and Phillip Island with Marlene.
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Adventure585578
04 Nov 2025
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GreatOwner, Front Office Manager at Great Private Tours, responded to this review - 2025-11-07
Thank you so much for touring with us.
It is lovely to hear that you had such an enjoyable day out and hope to host you again in the future.
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Jennifer
02 Nov 2025
Highly recommend using them if you want a smooth, enjoyable, and well-organized way to explore.
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Santams
17 Sep 2025
We had an amazing experience with Great Private Tours! Our guide and driver, Cody, was incredibly friendly, helpful, and full of interesting facts and local history that made the trip even more enjoyable. He really knew how to make everyone feel welcome and engaged throughout the day. The small group size (only 5 people) made the whole experience feel personal and comfortable the bus was clean and cozy. We visited Lake Mountain, Steavenson Falls, and a lovely chocolate factory, each stop was well-paced and absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended!
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Oscar
20 Jul 2025
Did the Lake Mountain snow fun day trip. The same itinerary as the big coach tours but in a comfortable vehicle with a small group. Steve was very accommodating and helpful with pick up and drop off, and a relaxed fun guide. Would recommend.
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Taryn
04 Jul 2025
We booked the one-day tour to the Great Ocean Road. We are lucky enough to have Steve to be our guide of the day :-)
The idea of doing the tour in reverse is superb!
He’s professional and knowledgable. We first enjoyed the helicopter ride and witnessed the 12 Apostles and The Loch Ard Gorge. We had a delicious meal at the Perch.
After lunch, Steve guided us through Maits Rest. During the journey, we had the chance to spot koalas and kangaroos. We ended the tour with a brief stop at Memorial Arch, Lorne
Overall speaking, it definitely spiced up our day. Do not miss it if you are looking for an unforgettable journey.
The idea of doing the tour in reverse is superb!
He’s professional and knowledgable. We first enjoyed the helicopter ride and witnessed the 12 Apostles and The Loch Ard Gorge. We had a delicious meal at the Perch.
After lunch, Steve guided us through Maits Rest. During the journey, we had the chance to spot koalas and kangaroos. We ended the tour with a brief stop at Memorial Arch, Lorne
Overall speaking, it definitely spiced up our day. Do not miss it if you are looking for an unforgettable journey.
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JKEduCentre
22 Mar 2025
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Dimas George, Owner at Great Private Tours, responded to this review - 2025-02-03
thank you
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amyeflint
26 Jan 2025
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759kenyd
28 Dec 2024
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alexa
28 Dec 2024
On Day 1 Steve picked us up at the hotel and we had a lovely day at Torquay, and a forest hike to beautiful waterfalls hearing birds and Koalas. The highlight of the day was a dusk tour at Wildlife Wonders at the Otways enjoying the sight of the animals waking up in their safe natural environment. We spent the night at a beautiful and well-equipped villa overlooking Apollo Beach (vegan-friendly breakfast!).
On day 2 we we visited the Otway Fly, Shipwreck Coast, 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Breathtaking views, fascinating history and most importantly the relaxation we both needed!
We enjoyed the tour so much that we booked a 1 day tour of the Mornington Peninsula on the next day. Our Guide Errol was both knowledgeable and entertaining and the highlights of the day were a lovely vegan tasting menu lunch at Laura,a walk of Pt. Leo sculpture garden, and a nice hike at Cape Schanck.
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Frequentflyer25
14 Oct 2024
I can highly recommend GTP for all in the future
Sincerly Oliver from Germany
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OHoffarth
18 Sep 2024
All in all -- my friends and I had a lovely day.
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Philip
22 Aug 2024
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Amanda
03 Apr 2024
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William
25 Feb 2024
Not only did Steve ensure we saw the best views and hidden gems, but he also shared fascinating insights about each location, enriching our experience. The lunch included in our tour was fabulous, featuring delicious local cuisine that was a highlight on its own. Steve’s attention to detail and his eagerness to accommodate our interests made the entire day feel personalized and special.
I'm giving this experience a solid 10+ out of 10 and would not hesitate to recommend Steve and Great Private Tours to anyone looking to explore the Great Ocean Road or any other tour. Whether you're a first-timer in Melbourne or a local wanting to see the sights through new eyes, Steve's tour is an absolute must. Thank you, Steve, for an unforgettable day! I can't wait to book another tour.
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Glenn
23 Feb 2024
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EpicMD
10 Feb 2024
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Vacation11018904585
27 Jan 2024
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micwithitchyfeet
07 Jan 2024
Best day out with Steve! My husband and I had booked the Mornington Peninsula Food & Wine Private Tour as our interest lies in exploring the wineries of that area and enjoying a Modern Australian meal. Honestly, Steve couldn’t have curated a better “menu” for us. We got to taste at least two dozen wines across Moorooduc Estate, Red Hill Estate, 10 Minutes By Tractor and Montalto Vineyard (this fourth and final stop was also where we indulged in a most fabulous late lunch).
Steve happens to have a wealth of knowledge about Melbourne and beyond, and readily shared plenty of interesting nuggets as he drove us around in the amazing comfort of his Mercedes Viano to visit the wineries. We had been picked up from the doorstep of our AirBnb in the morning and were dropped off there at the end of our grand day out.
If you are like us and much prefer high quality private tours, you should contact this company. They are able to customise itineraries that suit your interests and can include even the more exclusive experiences such as helicopter rides and sea plane flights.
Steve happens to have a wealth of knowledge about Melbourne and beyond, and readily shared plenty of interesting nuggets as he drove us around in the amazing comfort of his Mercedes Viano to visit the wineries. We had been picked up from the doorstep of our AirBnb in the morning and were dropped off there at the end of our grand day out.
If you are like us and much prefer high quality private tours, you should contact this company. They are able to customise itineraries that suit your interests and can include even the more exclusive experiences such as helicopter rides and sea plane flights.
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Veronica
10 Jul 2022
MEMORABLE DAY ON THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD
We (family of 5 with teenagers) had an excellent time with Steve on our private tour of the Great Ocean Road. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited and allowed enough time for us to explore where possible. Seeing koalas in the wild at Kennett River was pretty special as was our visit to Loch Ard Gorge. Scones at the Lighthouse Tea Rooms in Aireys Inlet hit the spot for morning tea. Steve made sure we got family photos at all the right places. The 12 hours passed very quickly and were broken up by interesting stops along the way and by Steve's easy conversation. The van was comfortable, and we appreciated the supply of bottled water. I would highly recommend a private tour with Great Private Tours. We would certainly consider booking with them again.
We (family of 5 with teenagers) had an excellent time with Steve on our private tour of the Great Ocean Road. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited and allowed enough time for us to explore where possible. Seeing koalas in the wild at Kennett River was pretty special as was our visit to Loch Ard Gorge. Scones at the Lighthouse Tea Rooms in Aireys Inlet hit the spot for morning tea. Steve made sure we got family photos at all the right places. The 12 hours passed very quickly and were broken up by interesting stops along the way and by Steve's easy conversation. The van was comfortable, and we appreciated the supply of bottled water. I would highly recommend a private tour with Great Private Tours. We would certainly consider booking with them again.
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Narelle
10 Jul 2022
I can't recommend Steve enough! We chose the Great Ocean Road tour with helicopter ride and I am so glad we did. Not only did we get to cross the 12 Apostles off our bucket list but we got to experience this from above in a helicopter. Unbelievable! What really made the tour was the great and interesting facts that Steve pointed out as we drove along. It really made it more personalised than a large tour group. Definitely recommend for anyone looking at The Great Ocean Rd to do this tour instead of driving yourself.
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The
27 Jun 2022



































