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The best sights from around the Bay.
Geelong Waterfront The day can’t start off any better than with a walk along Geelong’s spectacular waterfront. A daily tradition for local residents, we’ll take the opportunity to breathe in the fresh sea air as we walk along the esplanade before getting the day underway.
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre Gaze upon some of Australia’s most authentic and oldest living culture at Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Greet the local Emus and Wallabies in their habitat nestled amongst native flora and fauna.
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Our next stop along the Bellarine Peninsula will be a stroll around the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse for a divine photo opportunity that is truly Instagram-worthy. No filter needed!
Queenscliff to Sorrento Ferry Sail across the bay on Searoad Ferry, traveling between Queenscliff and Sorrento. Enjoy lunch on board while taking in the tranquil coastal scenery. This scenic journey offers a relaxing way to experience the bay’s breathtaking views.
London Bridge Portsea Set upon the pristine Portsea Beach, you’ll find ‘The’ London Bridge. This impressive wonder of nature has no chance of falling down anytime soon and is definitely a unique rock formation.
Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm (Nov-Apr) Experience the joy of picking your own fresh strawberries (available November to April). Stroll through the fields, hand-pick sweet, ripe berries, and savour the farm-fresh taste of this seasonal treat. A fun and delicious stop for all ages!
Murrays Lookout at Arthurs Seat Following this, you’ll stop at Murrays Lookout at Arthurs Seat. Admire stunning views stretching from across the bay to the city from the highest point of the Mornington Peninsula.
Peninsula Beach Boxes This world-renowned destination is a must-see glimpse into local heritage-protected history. Situated along the coast of the Mornington’s Peninsula’s Port Phillip Bay, these iconic bathing boxes are the area’s symbol of summer and are a tourist attraction to themselves.
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Neat casual attire is appropriate but please dress for the weather. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and sunscreen, sunglasses and water bottle are advisable.
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Our guide Jose was cheerful and energetic, keeping us in good spirits throughout the trip. He made sure everything ran smoothly, even coming to check that we were all safely on board the historic Puffing Billy steam train. My parents also felt very well cared for, which gave us peace of mind and allowed us to simply enjoy the experience together. The train ride itself was charming and rolling with beautiful forest views was truly unforgettable.
On the road, Jose also slowed down to help us spot kangaroos in the wild, which was such a thoughtful touch and an exciting surprise for my parents. In the evening, we headed to Phillip Island to see the famous little penguins returning to shore. Jose explained clearly how to spot them and gave us practical tips on where to stand and how to watch them without missing any detail. Thanks to his advice, we were able to enjoy the penguin parade up close, which felt magical and unforgettable.
I really appreciated how the day was well-balanced, with a mix of history, nature, and wildlife. Jose’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and genuine care for everyone (including my parents) made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Overall, this was an amazing tour that combined the charm of Puffing Billy, the thrill of seeing wildlife like kangaroos, and the wonder of watching penguins in the wild. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Melbourne who wants a fun, well-organized, and family-friendly day out.
Not only did he share insights about Puffing Billy Train and the Penguin Parade, but he also gave us interesting information about the places we passed along the way. Stuart was very friendly, approachable, and even gave us great tips on where to visit in Melbourne for the rest of our stay.
Thumbs up to Explore Australia for having such an excellent guide—good job, Stuart!
We joined the tour on July 14th and had the pleasure of being guided by Michael, who was absolutely fantastic from start to finish.
Pick-up was perfectly on time, and the ride was smooth and comfortable throughout the day. Michael took great care of every group on board and shared his deep knowledge about the local wildlife and surroundings, making the journey both educational and engaging.
The itinerary was incredibly well-organized. From the charming Puffing Billy Steam Train ride to the magical Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, everything ran like clockwork. We had front-row views of the penguins returning to shore — a truly breathtaking moment!
What made this tour stand out was how worry-free it was. We didn’t have to plan a thing — just sat back, relaxed, and soaked in the amazing sights.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a smooth, fun, and well-managed day out in Victoria. Thanks again, Michael and the team!
I joined the Great Ocean Road trip with Explore Australia Tours. While I would have loved to spend more time at each spot and truly soak it all in, doing so would require multiple days and overnight stays, which wasn’t feasible for me.
In that case, day tours like this are perfect when you want to experience the highlights within a limited timeframe.
Our tour guide and driver, Andy, was an amazing host — sharing history, fun facts, and important details about each location before dropping us off to explore.
We were a small group of 11 and traveled in a comfortable minivan. I was lucky to get the front seat, and it made the trip even more enjoyable with the stunning views along the water!
Highly recommend if you’re looking to experience the Great Ocean Road efficiently and with a knowledgeable guide.
The historic steam train departs from Lakeside and weaves through the vast Dandenong Ranges. With a unique experience and lots to see, there is no going wrong with a Puffing Billy train ride.
However it’s a very packed agenda and long ride, the lunch place wasn’t really good, so you may prepare some snacks and go to toilet as much you needed. Also the tour was not very guided, so you could do some homework before you go.
Gina also very kindly lent me her powerbank when I needed to charge my phone! I was surprised to learn she was new to tour guiding because she’s done a fantastic job, again thank you so much for everything Gina!!
Second, I feel like the timing of everything was not allocated well. We had two hours at Moonlit Sanctuary, which was way too much time. We finished walking around in about 45 minutes, even with two school groups there. There was not enough time at the Noobies or Cowes. I would've specifically liked to have more time in Cowes to have time to check out more shops and cafes.
I reckon the day was just overall poorly planned. Which lunch not included, the price isn't worth it. I wouldn't do it again.
He made the trip so much better and fun, he got us into the train even though they cancelled our ticket the same day. He also knew everything about all the places and gave us directions on how to enjoy it to the max. Nice type of music too, all the best my brother Safaripete.
Our guide Margaret was simply outstanding - her passion for the region, deep knowledge, and caring nature made this tour an absolute delight. Margaret expertly guided us through wineries, where the wine was consistently excellent. She also took us to hidden gem foodie hotspots, including Jack Rabbit where the cuisine was exceptional. Throughout the day, the stunning natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula was on full display. Margaret's thoughtful recommendations and personal touches made the experience truly special. If you want an exceptional wine and food tour, be sure to request Margaret as your guide!
P.S. love every songs Margaret playing in car!
Very hospitable and welcoming. A local from Victoria so she helped us squeeze in some lesser known knowledge about eucalyptus trees with a national park stroll.
I had a 4 year old and explore Australia was totally responsive through out.
The only thing that can be improved on this tour is to squeeze in 15 mins for lakeside walk and picture during puffing Billy trip.
Great playlist of songs too ;)
Jai made every minute of the tour worth it.
Thanks heaps explorer Australia and JAI Jai
What made our trip exceptional and stand apart from other tours was Margaret with her infectious passion for the country, her knowledge and absolute willingness to make our day exceptional Thank You Margaret you are a breath of fresh air as your incredible commentary
Margaret was our guide for the day and her warmth, passion and love for nature truly impressed us. She was also knowledgeable and gave us a lot of useful tips and information - guiding us through the forest walk and what to look out for the zoo. She even managed to catch our Puffing train at the intersection and shot amazing photos for us!
Overall, a brilliant day, beautiful countryside and warm human touch. Truly Aussie experience.
This was not the customer service we expected from tripadvisor and we still hope someone from the team call us and help us with this matter and solve the problem
The tour program leaves a lot to be desired. The "Moonlit sanctuary" is a glorified petting zoo with a few cages of unhappy-looking eagles, owls and dingoes, a few wallabies and kangaroos sauntering among dead branches surrounding a muddy lake. Access to most facilities was forbidden without a special pass. The stop is useless to anyone who has ever visited an Australian zoo or a real sanctuary a la Currumbin yet takes 1-2 hours. This means that you run out of time for gems like the Woolamai Beach (15 min stay, ridiculous).
The penguins were great.
And what a better way to end the day than to watch the adorable small penguins coming from the water. Amazing day!
Balanced scheduled throughout the day and didn’t feel rushed at any point. Big thank you to Brooke who made us feel very welcomed and in good hands.
Keep up the good work team, we will be recommending you to our friends and family when they come to visit. 5 stars!
Very grateful for the experience and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to our friends or grandkids.
Our tour guide Matthew was nice and funny. We enjoyed the tour very much.























































