Great Ocean Road: Day Trips and Tours from Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, littered with lofty limestone formations, eucalyptus trees that serve as a home to cuddly koalas and sweeping bays backed by azure seas.

Great Ocean Road day trips from Melbourne enable you to step away from the bustling metropolis and discover another side of Australia. With so many excursions to choose from, you can be sure to find one to suit your travel needs.

Here's all you need to know about Great Ocean Road, one of the most exciting day trips from Melbourne.

How to get to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne?

The Great Ocean Road spans over 240 kilometers of Australia’s southwest coastline, stretching from Torquay to Allansford. It is approximately 210 kilometers south of Melbourne.

From Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road by car

The journey to the Great Ocean Road by car takes approximately 2.5 hours and begins by traveling southwest of Melbourne along the M1. You’ll follow the road for over 140 kilometers before turning off onto the C155, which leads you to your destination.

From Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road by public transport

Those without access to a car can instead make the jaunt to the Great Ocean Road via public transport. You’ll begin by taking a V/Line train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Geelong, which takes around an hour.

From there, you can choose between several local buses to transport you to your final destination, depending on which attractions you wish to see along the stretch.

Guided tour to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

Another option is to book a guided excursion to the Great Ocean Road and let someone else take care of the transportation details for you. These organized day trips typically last between 12 and 14 hours, starting as early as 7 AM.

In some cases, you’ll be required to meet your guide at a central location in Melbourne. The meeting point will typically be a renowned landmark, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, which you’ll travel to independently.

In other cases, you may be offered a complimentary accommodation pickup. To benefit from this service, you’ll simply select your hotel from a dropdown menu upon booking and, on the day of your excursion, await collection from your guide in the lobby at a predetermined time.

Either way, once your day trip ends, you’ll be transported back to the same spot to continue on with your vacation.

You can find out the exact details on each tour’s booking page, enabling you to plan your route and arrange any necessary transportation ahead of time.

What is the typical itinerary?

While the itinerary of each Great Ocean Road day trip differs, all excursions share some similarities.

After meeting your guide, you’ll board your vehicle and get acquainted with your group. After all guests are on board, you’ll travel south of Melbourne along toward your destination.

You’ll spend the day traveling between different natural attractions along the Great Ocean Road, such as Torquay Surf Beach and Fairhaven Beach.

In most cases, you’ll step off your vehicle at some point to enjoy a nature walk, enabling you to get close to some of the native creatures of Australia.

You’ll usually visit Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles toward the end of the day before grabbing a bite to eat in Colac and returning back to Melbourne where your Great Ocean Road day tour ends.

Alternatively, if you find this type of excursion a little rushed, you can instead opt for a multi-day trip from Melbourne, which allows you to slow the pace and enjoy the country’s Great Outdoors.

What kinds of tours are available to go to the Great Ocean Road?

There are several different types of Great Ocean Road day trips available to choose from depending on your own personal preferences and travel style.

Guided tours to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

This Great Ocean Road day trip transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into a tranquil wonderland littered with native flora and fauna.

You’ll meander along part of the 243-kilometer road, admiring dazzling turquoise oceans on one side of your vehicle and lush, undisturbed greenery on the other, hoping to catch a peek of the wildlife that calls this corner of Australia home, including koalas and wallabies.

Visit Torquay Surf Beach where you can see beginners and experts catching waves before admiring the architectural gem of Pole House — suspended 40 meters above Fairhaven Beach — followed by the iconic Great Ocean Road sign. Another stop on this day trip is the quaint seaside town of Apollo Bay where you’ll dine on local fare.

Continuing along the Great Ocean Road, you’ll stop to stretch your legs with an invigorating forest walk, during which you’ll be introduced to some of the country’s most spectacular natural scenes.

See the limestone formations that jut out of the water to form the Twelve Apostles, as well as the location of one of Australia’s worst shipwrecks — Loch Ard Gorge — before returning to Melbourne where your excursion ends.

Sunset tour to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

If you want to experience this corner of Australia’s coast at its most spectacular, choose a sunset day tour of the Great Ocean Road. You’ll head out in the morning, visiting several attractions throughout the day, such as the Anglesea River, Loch Ard Gorge and Kennett River.

Then, as the golden hour sets in, you’ll travel to the Twelve Apostles where you’ll watch the sky become illuminated in candy colors beyond the limestone formations. Once the skies have turned dark, you’ll continue on to the lakeside town of Colac where you can dine before heading back to your hotel.

Private day tour to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

If you’re looking for greater personalization than a group excursion can provide, consider booking a private day trip to the Great Ocean Road.

You’ll start early, giving you a headstart on the hordes of tourists on group trips and allowing you to experience the peacefulness of Australia’s most breathtaking landmarks alone.

While you’ll visit the same sites as on other excursions, you’ll enjoy the one-on-one attention of your local guide who is dedicated to your enjoyment of the tour. You’ll be able to discuss each attraction in greater detail and ask any burning questions you may have throughout the day.

Two-day tour to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne

Extend your experience by selecting a 2-day trip from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road that revolves around Australia’s favorite sport — surfing. You’ll begin by traveling to Bells Beach where you can watch as experienced locals catch waves up to 3 meters high.

You’ll then participate in the Kennett River Koala Walk where you’ll wander through lofty eucalyptus trees watching out for the furry beings, hiding high up. You may also see kookaburras, king parrots and wallabies as you trek through the wilderness.  

Continuing on, you’ll make your way to Lorne where you’ll enjoy a 2-hour surf session before relaxing with a beer at the Cape Patton Lookout Point. Head to your campsite where you’ll spend the evening looking up at the twinkling night sky from your seat around a roaring fire.

After a restful night, you’ll discover Great Otway National Park, which is home to attractions such as the Twelve Apostles. Before returning to Melbourne, you’ll try a local delicacy — shark and chips — in the town of Colac.

How much does a day trip to the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne cost?

A standard day trip to the Great Ocean Road costs between US$80 and US$90 per adult, while children under 14 cost a little less than US$60 each.

Sunset excursions cost US$90 per adult. Children under 15 benefit from a small discount, reducing their rate to between US$70 and US$80 each. Alongside roundtrip transportation and the services of a professional guide, all park entrance fees are included in the price.

You’ll pay approximately US$190 per person for a 2-day adventure that includes accommodation, as well as all meals.

If you opt for a private Great Ocean Road day tour, you can expect to pay just under US$600 as a solo traveler. However, the price per head reduces with each member added to your party, and, with the maximum group size of five, you’ll each pay just over US$170. Children under 12 are not permitted on this type of excursion.

What will you see and do?

The Great Ocean Road was planned in the latter half of WWI and construction began in 1919. It took 13 years to build the road, all of which was done by approximately 3,000 returned soldiers. The road was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of WWI and is, to this day, the largest war memorial in the world.

From the Great Ocean Road, visitors can look out upon “Shipwreck Coast” — the tragic resting place of more than 630 vessels. You can also admire countless natural attractions, one of the most popular of which is the Twelve Apostles.

The limestone stacks that make up this landmark were formed between 5 and 15 million years ago, and are the result of extreme erosion. Despite its name, the Twelve Apostles were originally formed of just nine stacks. However, today, just seven remain, which travelers on a Great Ocean Road day trip can admire from afar and learn about the site’s earliest name — the Sow and Piglets.

Loch Ard Gord is another of the destinations popular on a Great Ocean Road day tour. This gorge is named after a beached vessel that stumbled off course onto land, with just two of its 54 passengers surviving in 1878. The gorge has been featured in several movies, including the 1982 Pirate Movie, and is located within Port Campbell National Park.

When is the best time to visit the Great Ocean Road?

The best time to visit the Great Ocean Road is in the spring (September to November) and autumn (March to April). These periods offer milder weather and fewer crowds than the peak summer season. If you're hoping to see some whales, visit in the winter months between June and August.

What other day trips can you do from Melbourne?

• Phillip Island day tours from Melbourne
• Yarra Valley day tours from Melbourne
• Puffing Billy Railway day tours from Melbourne
• Grampians National Park day tours from Melbourne
• Sovereign Hill day tours from Melbourne

Travel tips

• Carry rain gear regardless of the season due to the diverse climates, and always apply sunscreen to protect against the strong Australian sun.
• Bring binoculars for spotting wildlife like kangaroos, wallabies, and whales along the coastline during their migration season.
• Given the road's length and the abundance of sights, take regular breaks to rest and avoid rushing through the experience. This also allows for impromptu exploration of unplanned stops.