Ways To See the Great Ocean Road

Day-trippers can see the best bits in one day on a Great Ocean Road day trip from Melbourne. Choose a private or group tour, and stop along the way to visit the famous Apollo Bay, explore the Shipwreck Coast, and admire the Twelve Apostles. Many tours include hotel pickup, entrance fees, and lunch.

If you have a tight budget, opt for a Super Saver or combo tour to pair your Great Ocean Road adventure with other best-selling activities such as a Melbourne city tour, a Yarra River cruise, or a visit to Phillip Island.

If time is no issue, multi-day tours provide an opportunity to visit sites often overlooked by day-trippers. A two- or three-day tour from Melbourne offers ample time to check everything off your list—you can enjoy the seaside towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay, hike through the Great Otway National Park rain forest, and spot unique rock formations such as the Razorback and Dumpling Pots.

You don't have to drive the Great Ocean Road—those looking for a challenge can also hike along the coast. Tackle one of the Great Walks of Australia on a guided multi-day Twelve Apostles walk and hike along the coastal trails, stay overnight in a luxury eco-lodge, and cap it off with an unforgettable helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles.

For a back-to-nature adventure, opt for an eco-tour or choose an itinerary that goes off the beaten track. Prime wildlife-spotting locations include the Kennett River, the Grampians National Park, and Great Otway National Park, where you'll have the chance to see koalas, grey kangaroos, and swamp wallabies in the wild.

Those who want to travel in style can opt for the ultimate adventure—a private tour of the Great Ocean Road by helicopter from Melbourne. You'll enjoy VIP treatment and hotel pickup by limousine, but the real highlight will be the spectacular bird's-eye views as you soar along the coast.