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• January 20, 2023

Exploring the beaches of the Great Ocean Road

Join us on tour for a full day of exploring the beaches of the Great Ocean Road – an unforgettable experience on a day trip from Melbourne!

One of Australia’s most famous destinations, the Great Ocean Road is a must-visit. If you are planning a trip to Melbourne, it is easy to take a day trip of the Great Ocean Road. On our day tour from the city we explore the beaches and incredible coastline. 

There are beaches for surfing, other beaches for swimming, and some where the water is too wild for anyone to enter. Some of the beaches have incredible rock formations, while others have stories of shipwreck survivors washing ashore. 

One thing is certain – a day tour of the Great Ocean Road is sure to be a memorable experience for all the right reasons. Check out our guide to the beaches along the Great Ocean Road, and we hope to see you on tour soon!

Beaches of the Great Ocean Road

Starting in the east, Torquay is the beginning of the Great Ocean Road. It is a popular holiday destination with a relaxed culture, plenty of cafes and eateries and multiple beaches to enjoy. Head to Fisherman’s Beach to throw a line in, Main Beach to swim in the calm waters, or the back beaches for waves and surfing action. 

Jan Juc Beach

Jan Juc is a popular surf and swimming beach that is patrolled in summer. The conditions can be rough so be sure to swim between the flags. If you are a confident surfer there are many different breaks along Jan Juc beach, with the best swells in winter. 

Bells Beach

Bells Beach is a renowned surf beach and home of the annual Rip Curl Pro surf event. Take to the waves if you are an experienced surfer. Otherwise, stay up on the cliffs which are the perfect viewpoint to watch all the action in the waves below. 

Anglesea Beach

The small town of Anglesea is wonderful for families. The main beach is patrolled during summer and is perfect for swimming, with small waves only. If you want to learn to surf, this is a great location and there are a couple of surf schools in town. 

Fairhaven Beach

Fairhaven is the longest stretch of sand along the Great Ocean Road. It is part of the Surf Coast Walk and is a great place to take a stroll along the sand. You can also explore the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at nearby Eastern View. 

Lorne is one of the safest swimming spots along the Great Ocean Road. The main beach has rock pools to explore and you can walk out to the pier for some great views along the coast. On the foreshore the Sea Baths provide fun for the whole family, and just across the road are many cafés and restaurants.

Apollo Bay is similar to Lorne in that the beach is calm, protected and great for swimming. You can also find plenty of bars, cafes and eateries across the road, maing it a great location for a day out. 

Johanna Beach

Johanna Beach is a popular surf beach for professional and experienced surfers. There is a nearby campsite and plenty of places to explore around the beach if you are not planning to catch the waves.  

Gibson Steps

This fantastic beach is right near the 12 Apostles and is a great way to experience the wild southern coastline. Steps that were originally carved into the cliffs, take you down to the beach. From there you can get up close views of Gog and Magog, two large limestone stacks just off the coast.

Loch Ard Gorge

One of the most popular beaches in the Port Campbell National Park is Loch Ard Gorge. The beach is surrounded by limestone cliffs and is the location where two shipwreck survivors washed ashore in 1878. 

Port Campbell

Not far past the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell is a small seaside town with a great swimming beach. While the Apostles coastline is dangerous for swimming, you’ll find a protected beach in Port Campbell which is perfect for a dip in summertime. 

How to visit the beaches of the Great Ocean Road

Go West Tours operates two separate tours to the Great Ocean Road – the day tour or the sunset tour . Here’s a rundown of what is included in each:

Great Ocean Road Day Tour 

• Spend the day touring the famous Great Ocean Road, with incredible views around  every turn
• Enjoy coffee, tea and cake at our first stop on the picturesque beaches of Victoria’s Surf Coast
• Visit the Memorial Arch and learn about the history and construction of the Great Ocean Road
• See koalas in their natural habitat in the eucalyptus forests of the Kennett River township
• Visit the charming coastal township of Apollo Bay for a lunch break, with your choice of many cuisines on offer
• Take a walk through towering eucalyptus trees and lush ferns in the Otway Rainforest at Maits Rest Walk 
• Visit the coastal look out for the most famous view – the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park
• Time permitting, walk down the staircase carved into the cliffs at Gibson Steps
• Visit the incredible beach at Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the Loch Ard shipwreck

Great Ocean Road Sunset Tour

• Depart Melbourne later in the day to tour the famous Great Ocean Road, with incredible views around every bend
• Visit the Memorial Arch to learn about the construction of the Great Ocean Road
• See wild koalas in the eucalyptus forests of the Kennett River township
• Enjoy a lunch break in one of the Great Ocean Road’s scenic coastal towns 
• Drive through the Great Otway National Park
• Marvel at the natural beauty of Loch Ard Gorge and hear the famous tale of shipwreck survival
• Visit the famous 12 Apostles at dusk to watch the sunset and stay to see the colours lighting up the sky 

All our tours depart from Melbourne and are family friendly. Plus, a knowledgeable tour guide will be your host and driver for the day. Hotel pickups and drop offs are included and you can nominate your preferred pick up location when making your booking. 

So what are you waiting for? Come and join us to explore the beaches of the Great Ocean Road!

Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au

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Great Ocean Road Tour (Go West) review

September 17, 2019

The Great Ocean Road is pretty much THE place to go to when you’re in Melbourne. The first time I went to Melbourne, I only had two days to explore the city so I didn’t manage to include this in my itinerary. So this time around, I knew I had to go! Unfortunately, because it was only me and my sister, my initial plan of renting a car and doing the Great Ocean Road tour on our own was out – since we’re both super lazy to drive LOL. Instead, we decided to join the Go West tour because it came highly recommended. Even better, it was selling at a discounted price on Klook while we were booking!

Having said that, if there are four or more of you in your group and you’re willing to drive, I highly recommend you simply rent a car via GoGet . It’s ridiculously easy to rent, a lot cheaper vs paying the per person fee for a tour, and you have more control over your time. Win-win-win for all scenarios in my opinion

Anyway, this blog is meant to share some of my thoughts on:

• Tips on what to bring with you
• What’s my suggested itinerary for the Great Ocean Road tour?

Sharing of my Great Ocean Road experience

• Would I recommend Go West’s Great Ocean Road tour?

Tips on what to bring

• Fully charged phone, camera and powerbank: You’ll pass through truly beautiful sights throughout the day. It would be such a shame if you weren’t able to capture them!
• Raincoat, cap, and umbrella: It rains nonstop at the rainforest (Great Otway National Park), plus weather in Melbourne is ridiculously unpredictable. Better safe than sorry!
• Wear rubbershoes with good grip as certain areas are slippery, especially during the rainy season
• Picnic or packed lunch: While you can grab lunch at Apollo Bay, they also have picnic tables laid out where you can enjoy your delicious packed (and cheap) lunch for free! There are also water fountain stations where you can refill your water
• Download the Go West Tours app before you go! Even if you don’t join the tour, the Go West app provides super helpful commentary and history on the key sites you’ll pass along the Great Ocean Road. It’s like you have a guide in your pocket – for free!

Suggested itinerary (for a DIY tour)

6:00 AM Depart from Melbourne

10:00 AM Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility: suggest you head here first so that you can get ahead of the tourist crowd

11:00 AM Loch Ard Gorge

12:00 PM Great Otway National Park: this is optional – it’s essentially a rainforest

1:00 PM Lunch at Apollo Bay

3:00 PM Kennet River: get the chance to see cute koalas

4:30 PM Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View : learn the history of how the Great Ocean Road came to be

5:30 PM Visit the beach at Torquay

8:00 PM Back at Melbourne

Note: This is based on the Go West tour and follows the set itinerary provided. As such, it will vary from my suggested itinerary (above) – which is based off how I would’ve laid out the itinerary if I were on a DIY tour

Pick up from Rendezvous hotel

Pick up time was 7:45 AM, which is such a ridiculously early time, especially when you’re on vacation – but we managed! Here’s a photo of the coaster van that picked us up. The best part? There’s free WiFi AND the next stop (Torquay) is roughly ~1.5 hours away – plenty of time to get some additional shut eye. Interestingly, on the way out of Melbourne, you’ll cross a bridge and see all the industrial factories that’s outside the city AND the hell-ish traffic jam of folks who live in the suburbs coming into the city for work

Torquay: Beach visit + complimentary morning tea

Torquay is a surfing town, renowned for its waves that come straight from Antarctica. While its waves aren’t the biggest, they are known to be very consistent – hence why surfers come here throughout the year. Fun fact: This is also the town where Rip Curl and Quiksilver, two of the biggest surfer brands, started!

While here, we took advantage of the bathroom (very clean), and had a quick breakfast courtesy of Go West. The breakfast consisted of free tea, milk, chocolate, coffee, and cakes! If you’re done eating, you can stroll along the beach (check out the waves!) as well as the marshland

Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View: History lesson + photo stop

While here, you can read up on an informative commentary about the Great Ocean Road’s history and its place in Australian folklore. Who knew that the Great Ocean Road was built to give ex-servicemen jobs after the World War, and to link up all the seaside settlements for better access? Well, now you know!

Kennet River: Koala sighting

Kennet River is a sweetly-scented eucalyptus forest where you can enjoy chance sightings of local koalas in their native habitat!

While here, our guide shared a couple of fun facts about koalas, such as:

–           Koalas are marsupials, which essentially means they have a pouch

–           Koalas are only pregnant for 30 days and they give birth to really small koalas, who then remain in the pouch for 9 months to a year. Once they become too big to carry in the pouch, they’ll then leave and hang onto their mom’s back until the mom kicks them out to have another baby

–           Koalas always live in eucalyptus forests, since eucalyptus leaves = their main food. However, eucalyptus leaves have very little nutrional value. Implication: they need to eat vast amounts of leaves, plus their digestive system needs to work really hard just to get the needed nutrients. Likewise, they have to conserve energy which is why they sleep for close to 20 hrs each day

Lucky us! While we were there, we had a couple of koalas cross our path and had the distinct pleasure of seeing one koala waddle past us, and another koala happily cling to a eucalyptus tree while munching away

Apollo Bay: Lunch

The food at Apollo Bay ranges from 10 AUD to 35 AUD, so it’s actually pretty decently priced. Likewise, there’s a famous scallop pie that’s sold here. I was keen to try but given the long queue and the price (12 AUD), I decided not to bother.

Aside from restaurants, there are also souvenir shops, supermarkets and retail stores (where they sell discounted jackets and souvenirs). The stop usually lasts for 45mins, so you have to order food quickly. Otherwise, you can bring your own food and there are picnic tables where you can camp out. There are also bathroom facilities and water refill station available by the camp area

Because I hate eating in a rush, which is what inevitably happens in these types of tours, my sister and I decided to pack our own lunch and eat them at our own pace. Given all the extra time we had, we managed to roam around the town and window shop! There’s not much worth buying though…

Great Otway National Park: Rainforest and rain galore

Interestingly, this was my first time to experience a cool temperate rainforest vs the typical tropical rainforest found near the equator. Pfft, to be honest, this part was pretty meh – all I know is there were lots of trees, it kept on raining, and everything was ridiculously muddy! While here, we checked out this track (~20 mins to go around), where you start at the waterfall area, take the slippery stairs up and keep walking. After awhile, it’ll loop back to your original starting point

Couple of fun facts: If the rest of Melbourne is raining, for sure, it’ll also be raining here as rain clouds pass by this rainforest to get to the city. However when it’s hot, the humidity in the rainforest also rises and coalesce into small rainy clouds over the forest

I highly recommend you bring an umbrella, cap or rain proof gear + wear rubbershoes with good grip if you want to trek around the rainforest. Otherwise, you’ll get rained on and potentially slip on the slippery and muddy ground

Port Campbell National Park: 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge

To be honest, I thought the 12 Apostles was kinda anticlimactic. They’re essentially rocks jutting out of the sea… There’s loads of that in the Philippines too! Not only that, but there aren’t even 12 rocks – apparently, there’s only ~8 or so… Just goes to show what good marketing can do! Anyway, here’s a photo of the 12 Apostles in all its rocky glory

Keep in mind that it’s SUPER windy here, so don’t wear any loose items. I almost lost my cap here! It can also get pretty cold – good thing you can buy coffee at the info center

After the 12 Apostles, we passed by Loch Ard Gorge, which is just a ~3 mins drive from the 12 Apostles Visitor Facility. This gorge was named after the clipper ship Loch Ard, which ran aground after a 3-month long journey from England to Melbourne. Out of all its passengers, only two people survived: Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael. Tom was such a strong swimmer – he was actually the one who swam out and saved Eva! This captured the public imagination and there was huge clamor for them to get married. Eva refused though, and she sailed back to Ireland soon afterwards. Tom would go on to be part of other ship crews, 2 of which also ended up aground. So, either Tom is a really good swimmer or he has really really bad luck – probably a mix of both!

Anyway, there are three trails for you to choose from while here. I highly suggest doing the rightmost one first (if you’re short on time). This trail goes down to Loch Ard Gorge and you’ll see the most beautiful rock formations!

Afterwards, you should check out the leftmost trail (think it’s called the Island Archway) as it provides a nice top-level view of the gorge.

Finally, you can do the middle trail (Razorback) if you have time.

Gibson’s steps

Ordinarily, there was supposed to be one more stop before dinner at Gibson’s Steps. Unfortunately, due to the strong windy and surf weather, these steps were closed so we weren’t able to check it out. Totally fine with me, our guide shared some horror stories where people were swept away by wind and surf while here!

Afterwards, we were brought to this nice Chinese place for dinner. It’s essentially rice/noodle in a box. My sister and I were SO happy to see Southeast Asian staples such as Char Kway Teow and Nasi Goreng. Unfortunately, they put way too much soy sauce in their dishes. Given the price though, it was pretty good value for money (HUGE servings!)

From here, it was another ~2 hours to get back to Melbourne

Would I recommend Go West’s Great Ocean Road tour ?

Obviously this was the only Great Ocean Road tour I’ve ever tried, but I was really pleased with it for a couple of reasons:

• Tour started and ended on time. I love it when tours are punctual as it also allows me to plan my day better
• Amazing tour guide! James was super friendly and very enthusiastic. Even though we spent most of the time on the coaster asleep, he kept his energy and enthusiasm all throughout the tour. I also thought his music choices were super funny and in tune with the scenery we were passing through at the moment
• The tour group size was just right: ~20 people in one coaster. I also really liked our tour group because everyone was conscientious and would show up on time – so we didn’t waste time waiting around for people
• Itinerary was planned out well. I felt like we went to all the key areas I would’ve wanted to see, without feeling rushed despite being part of a tour group
• Available WiFi on the coaster – admittedly, I didn’t need this since we purchased a data plan for Australia, but this is always a plus in my books

Overall, the tour price isn’t cheap (around ~USD 90), but given how smoothly everything went, I thought it was money well-spent. Will definitely recommend this to my other friends and family!

MELBOURNE BLOGS

• What to see and do when in Melbourne
• Eating my way through Melbourne – top picks!
• Day trips from Melbourne (Great Ocean Road, Brighton Houses, St Kilda)
• Great Ocean Road tour experience

DETAILED SYDNEY 6-DAY ITINERARY

• Tips and tricks to enjoy a family trip to Sydney
• Day 1: Airport + Hotel and supermarket + The Rocks Tour
• Day 2: Taronga Zoo + Manly Beach + Golden Century dinner
• Day 3: City Tour + Fish Market + Paddy’s Market + Darling Harbor
• Day 4: Blue Mountain + Leura Village
• Day 5: Opera House + Rocks Market + Australian Heritage Hotel
• Day 6: Bronte to Bondi Coastal Walk + Watson’s Bay + Harbor Bridge + Luna Park

OTHER SYDNEY BLOGS

• Eating my way through Sydney – top picks!
• Best nature trails and areas in Sydney – my top picks!
• Events to catch in Sydney – my top picks!
• My experience skydiving with Sydney Skydivers

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Driving the Great Ocean Road with Go West Tours

Last updated on September 11, 2018 By Heather Hall 3 Comments

No trip to Australia would be complete without cruising the Great Ocean Road. This 250-kilometer highway stretches along the southern tip of the continent and provides jaw-dropping views of the coast. Surf towns dot the shores, koalas slumber in eucalyptus forests, and centuries of erosion are evident on steep sandstone cliffs which culminate in the Twelve Apostles rock formations.  So what’s the best way to experience the Great Ocean Road: self drive or tour ? I opted for the latter for two reasons. First, I was nervous to drive on the opposite side of the road from what I’m used to. Second, I was pressed for time on my two-week Australian holiday yet wanted to see as much as possible. The Great Ocean Road Day Tour offered by Go West Tours sounded like the perfect fit.

The journey began bright and early in Melbourne. I met Go West’s small air-conditioned bus near my hotel at 7am and was soon joined by about 20 other passengers (most of whom were German retirees). The mood was subdued as we groggily left the city, but our outgoing tour guide, Alex, soon had us wide awake with his interesting trivia and cheesy jokes. Alex also had a penchant for playing songs that corresponded to our route , and at times the bus felt like a big karaoke party! We made our first stop around 8:30am to enjoy instant coffee and store-bought cake at a peaceful spot along Australia’s Surf Coast. The autumn weather was overcast and chilly, but that didn’t stop surfers from plying the waves. We had enough time to stroll along the beach and visit the toilets before continuing on our journey.

After pausing for photos by the sign marking the entrance to the Great Ocean Road, we drove to the town of Torquay for another toilet break. Torquay is where surfing began in Australia and is home to popular brands Rip Curl and Quicksilver. The town itself looked very charming and I wish we’d had more time to explore. Had I been driving, I would have lingered here awhile. But then I would likely have missed the eucalyptus grove our bus pulled into next. We spotted two wild koalas snoozing high up in the trees! Colorful birds also swooped in looking for food and attention.

Back on the bus, Alex circulated a menu and order form for our lunch, which was waiting at a Thai cafe in Apollo Bay when we rolled up at 1pm. We had just 45 minutes for lunch, so I appreciate that it was taken care of in advance, but would have preferred to sample fresh seafood at one of the town’s many other restaurants. As it was, most of us slurped down our serviceable noodles to spend the bulk of the allotted time exploring Apollo Bay. Nearly everyone arrived back at the bus with cups full of Dooley’s ice cream , an award-winning local brand .

As we pulled away from the coast, Alex cranked up the song from the Lion King (“In the jungle, the mighty jungle,”) signaling our next destination: Great Otway National Park . We strolled through Maits Rest, a lush primordial rain forest which Alex said was home to the world’s tallest trees after California Redwoods. Indeed, some were so large we could stand inside their trunks! I was most impressed, though, with the giant ferns that looked like they’d been growing since the Ice Age. We were warned (jokingly?) about flesh-eating snails, but everyone survived unscathed. The packed-earth walkways were slick with moisture, so sturdy shoes are recommended.

Then, with the Rocky theme song playing, we finally reached what we’d all been waiting for – the Twelve Apostles ! The famous landmark is a grouping of limestone towers that have been shaped by eons of erosion. There use to be nine towers but one gave way to the crashing waves, so only eight remain standing. (They were dubbed “Twelve Apostles” as a marketing gimmick; Originally the rocks were called “Sow and Piglets.” I find that moniker much more charming.) Viewing platforms line the wind-swept cliffs so the formation can be admired from many different angles.

A short drive away, Gibson Steps lead down to the beach for a close-up view of two of the apostles. Take care, though. Several members of our tour group got a little too close and were drenched when they arrived back at the bus! It was an easy climb down the 86 steps, though they were a bit slippery. Alex said the staircase is often closed due to inclement weather and I certainly wouldn’t want to get caught there in a storm.

Our final stop of the day was Loch Ard Gorge . We were told that many shipwrecks have taken place in the rough water here. According to one story, two teenagers survived a wreck and miraculously washed ashore on the beach. Alex played “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic so we were expecting a great love story, but, alas, it was not to be. The rescued girl wasn’t interested in the boy and married someone else.

There are three well-marked walks on the cliffs around Loch Ard Gorge and we had enough time to complete them all. The landscape is constantly changing as the pounding waves take a toll on the crumbling rocks. Two of the current towers, nicknamed Tom and Eva in honor of the shipwreck survivors, use to be connected by an arch that recently collapsed. The power of the water is tremendous .

It was pitch dark on the ride back to Melbourne and the lack of street lights made me glad I wasn’t behind the wheel. At one point a kangaroo hopped across the road and our bus driver, Sue, barely managed to avoid hitting it! We stopped for dinner in a nondescript town with lots of fast food options and made it back to Melbourne around 9:30pm. It was a long, full day and we were exhausted by the end. If I’d had more time, self driving would have allowed for a much for relaxed pace. But we saw a ton in one day,  Alex made the adventure fun and memorable, and I enjoyed the camaraderie of my bus mates. Would I recommend Go West Tours? Absolutely!

Would you prefer to take a tour or drive the Great Ocean Road yourself? Tell me in the comments!

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Reader Interactions

September 13, 2018 at 11:56 am

What great pictures. You did see a lot in one day. Would be nice to go at a slower pace to do more exploring.

[…] The Great Ocean Road stretches for nearly 250 kilometers along the southwestern coast of Victoria, Australia. Instead of attempting to drive it myself – on the opposite side of the road! – I joined about 20 strangers on a Great Ocean Road day tour with Go West Tours. The small bus picked me up from my Melbourne hotel early in the morning and returned me there that same night. (Tip: Sit on the left side of the bus for the best views.) Our tour guide, Alex, was a hoot, playing music that corresponded with our journey and sharing interesting tidbits along the way. We made more stops than I was expecting, giving us plenty of opportunities to stretch our legs and take photographs. The biggest treats came near the end, when we finally made it to Port Campbell National Park, home to the Twelve Apostles rock formations, Loch Ard Gorge, and Gibson Steps. Incredible doesn’t begin to describe the experience! (You can read my full review here.) […]

[…] you have an extra day in Melbourne, I highly recommend taking a drive along the Great Ocean Road. For an idea of how to plan a two-week Australian holiday, click here to see my […]

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1 day great ocean road day tour - go west.

Experience the spectacular Great Ocean Road on a full-day tour from Melbourne. Your small, personalized eco tour takes you in a comfortable 24-seater touring vehicle along the winding Great Ocean Road. Go West is a premium service offering you the very best of the Great Ocean Road region.

From AU$155

Make a booking with your preferred option.

• Scenic coastal drive with iconic landmarks
• Highlights include Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge
• Expert guide providing insightful commentary
• All transfers in air-conditioned comfort
• Expert Guide & Commentary
• Morning tea
• All National Park entry fees and taxes
• Access to language translation via our free App downloadable from the app store

Pickups / Departures

Depart : Daily except for December 25th

Pickups: Available from selected inner Melbourne hotels - pickup commences from 7.00 am

Return : Approx. 9:30 pm

  What to bring

• A sense of fun and adventure
• Camera and film
• Warm clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes

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Review Of Great Ocean Road Day Tour From Melbourne By Go West Tours

Published December 11, 2019

As part of my recent five-day trip to Melbourne, I booked a tour of the nearby Great Ocean Road . I decided to write up this quick review so that anyone considering visiting on a group tour will know what to expect. I booked mine with a company called  Go West Tours , and I was pretty happy with what they offered.

Whether you decide to book with Go West Tours or another company (or even explore on your own with a rental car), I highly recommend dedicating at least one day of a vacation in Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road. It’s an absolutely breathtaking drive that could easily be the highlight of your trip!

Summary of What We Did

I’ll start with a summary of the sites we stopped at on our tour. If you’d like to skip ahead to the section on things I liked and areas for improvement for Go West Tours, click here .

1. Hotel Pick-up

The tour started around 7:30 a.m. with a hotel pickup. I just had to walk across the street from where I was staying in Melbourne’s Chinatown and I found the van waiting for me.

2. Breakfast in Torquay

Our first stop was for a quick breakfast after everyone had been picked up. We ended up having coffee and pastries at the public beach park in the small town of  Torquay .

3. Great Ocean Road Arch

After actually turning onto the Great Ocean Road, we stopped for a few minutes to take some pictures of  the arch . Don’t forget to check out the statue on the left dedicated to the people who built the road in the 1800s.

4. Quick Stop in Lorne

This  surfer’s haven  is home to a number of high-end resorts and vacation homes, and we got out of the van for a few minutes here to stretch our legs and admire the town’s main beach.

5. Koala Spotting

Up next on the list: seeing koalas! We pulled off into a eucalyptus forest and walked for about ten minutes, eyes scanning the trees for any koalas. I think we stopped somewhere near  Point Hawdon  or Kennett River, but don’t quote me on that.

We did see maybe four or five, but three of them were clustered together on a single tree at the bottom of the hill. If you have a fancy camera lens or binoculars, bring it for this stop! The shadows in the trees make it a hard to see anything (like eyes or noses) in great detail. This was the best shot I got of them.

6. Lunch in Apollo Bay

By the time we pulled into the town of  Apollo Bay , I was starving. Luckily, it turned out to be the perfect place for lunch: the main road had tons of options. I went for fish and chips at  George’s Food Court , which had a huge dining room and served other standards like pizza and burgers.

Apollo Bay looked like an especially beautiful little town that I would’ve liked to explore just a bit more if I had the time. Unfortunately, we had to get right back on the bus to head to our next destination.

7. Rainforest Hike near Great Otway National Park

After lunch, the landscape changed dramatically from rolling seaside hills to a dense rainforest. The road at this point turns inland, and our guide explained all the ways in which this particular forest was a fascinating and unique ecosystem. We drove through Otway National Park before getting out at the smaller  Melba Gully State Park  for a walk.

This short hike ended with a waterfall, but I found the unusual ferns in the forest much more interesting than the little gurgling stream at the end.

8. The Twelve Apostles

Perhaps the most famous and photographed portion of the Great Ocean Road is known as the Shipwreck Coast , which is home to some really stunning cliffs as well as the  Twelve Apostles , which are the limestone formations jutting out of the ocean as seen below.

It’s awesome to watch the huge waves come crashing onto shore here, and luckily there are great views on both sides of the narrow walkway overlooking the ocean. Be warned, though: there are a ton of tourists here!

9. Loch Ard Gorge, Island Arch, and the Razorback

This was probably the most impressive stop on our tour, partly because it wasn’t nearly as crowded as the Twelve Apostles, but also because it’s just incredibly beautiful . There were three different things to check out here: the Loch Ard Gorge, the Island Arch, and the Razorback.

The Loch Ard Gorge

This  lagoon  is almost completely surrounded by huge limestone cliffs and boasts crystal clear blue waters. A narrow staircase leads down to the sandy beach, where you can dip your toes in the water or swim if you have time.

The Island Arch

The  Island Arch  is shown in the picture below. It’s worth a quick glance, but I’d recommend spending most of your time admiring either the gorge or the Razorback, discussed next.

The Razorback

You could definitely argue that the  Razorback  is as impressive as the Twelve Apostles, but I for one am glad that the tourist crowd here was significantly smaller. This narrow stretch of rock that’s technically an island has amazing formations on its top, including a small arch. Don’t miss seeing this one!

10. Dinner in Colac

For dinner, we stopped in the small town of  Colac , which is further inland. There were a couple of options along the main road, and I decided to try the town’s phở restaurant.

Since we ended up driving back on a faster route to return to Melbourne, I really enjoyed seeing all of the fields of the countryside. Victoria has a lot of sheep and cattle farms, and it was very interesting to see the animals grazing in the fields.

11. Hotel Drop-off

Finally, we made it back to Melbourne at around 8:30 p.m. It was a long day, but well worth the effort!

Logistics of Booking

I booked my trip through a third-part website called  GetYourGuide  (specific listing can be found  here ), and booking went smoothly. The tour cost about $100 USD for one person, and I received a confirmation email after booking. I wasn’t asked to present any form of voucher or QR code at pickup, only a name confirmation. I had one small issue related to GetYourGuide, which I discuss in detail below .

Review of Go West Tours

Let me start off by saying that overall, Go West Tours did a good job. It was pretty clear that they cared about making the experience as interactive as engaging as possible, which was probably the most important thing for a long van tour like this. Below you can read the things I liked specifically and possible areas of improvement.

Things They Did Well

1. our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly..

The thing I appreciated most was how much knowledge our tour guide had about everything we saw. He told us about the history of the towns we passed through, some of the animal species we encountered, and the geology behind the stunning Shipwreck Coast. Longer stretches of driving were broken up perfectly by facts, stories, and anecdotes.

2. Our tour group size was optimal.

Another thing I liked about this tour was the group size. Each vehicle had a maximum number of 24 passengers, and this ended up being an ideal number for this kind of tour. You’ll see other tour buses along the various stops you make, and some are massive. I can only imagine that listening to a guide speak on a bus like that would feel more like a series of lectures than a conversation.

3. They made an attempt to have guests get to know each other.

The last thing I liked about this tour was that they made an effort to have people actually talk to each other. Not all tours do this, and I’ve been on at least one in recent memory in India where no one really talked to each other because the guide didn’t really facilitate any conversation between visitors. Go West Tours was basically the opposite, which was quite refreshing.

Possible Areas for Improvement

1. i felt just a little bit carsick..

As I’m sure you can imagine, a thirteen-hour tour is quite long. Portions of the Great Ocean Road are filled with twists and turns, and this made me a bit carsick at times. I’m personally sort of sensitive to motion sickness, but it felt like our driver was maybe accelerating through some of these curves, and going slightly slower through them could’ve helped just a bit.

2. The pacing of the tour was fast, especially for meals.

We obviously covered a lot of ground on our trip, and I’m glad we did. However, the time spent at each stop felt limited. There wasn’t really an opportunity to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Nonetheless, it wasn’t unmanageable at most of the stops. However, for lunch and dinner, I felt like I really had to scarf my food down in order to be back to the van on time. I personally would’ve preferred fifteen more minutes for both meals even if it meant getting back to Melbourne half an hour later in the evening.

3. A mention of a helicopter ride on GetYourGuide that never happened.

So at the time of writing, an “optional helicopter ride” is mentioned on the GetYourGuide listing for this activity. The full text reads:

“For those guests who do not want to take the optional helicopter ride over the Shipwreck Coast, an alternative stop is possible at Gibsons Steps. Here guests can descend the steps to Gibsons Beach below for beach level views of two of the Twelve Apostles.”

Our tour group did neither the helicopter ride nor Gibsons Steps (which I believe are currently closed at the time of writing, December 2019). In any case, the mention of the helicopter ride should be removed from GetYourGuide if it’s not a standard offering (which I imagine it’s not. We saw helicopter tours at the Twelve Apostles, but there was no way there would be time for it with the tight schedule, and I also suspect that they might cost hundreds of dollars).

4. Natural Lighting at the Twelve Apostles

This isn’t so much an issue pertaining to Go West Tours, but just a general warning: the lighting at the Twelve Apostles during the afternoon wasn’t ideal for photos, especially portraits with the scenery in the background. Maybe the position of the sun might be better during other months of the year, but I sort of doubt it. And as good photographers will tell you, natural lighting for photos tends to be best early in the morning or during sunset, but obviously the tour schedule isn’t planned around that.

Is the group tour worth it?

In wrapping up, I’ll address one last question: was the tour worth the money? It’s fair to say that 100 USD for a day trip isn’t the most budget-friendly activity you could do, but I’d say it was still worth it. Go West Tours clearly knew how much time we had to spend at each stop. I’m sure if I rented a car and went on my own, I would just spend all morning in the first town we passed through, and constantly want to pull off on the side of the road to take a million pictures.

The tight schedule is a bit of a blessing and a curse. You get to see so much beauty in one day, but there’s not a ton of time to take it all in. In a perfect world, I’d love to spend three days in a rental vehicle exploring each small town in depth. But the Great Ocean Road can be done in a day, especially with a company like Go West.

In case the pictures haven’t convinced you, I’ll say it explicitly: I highly recommend seeing the Great Ocean Road on your next trip to Melbourne! If you’re spending more than two or three days in the city, there’s no excuse not to dedicate a day to getting out of the city and seeing the stunning landscapes and coastline that Victoria has to offer!

Have you been on a day trip to the Great Ocean Road? Did you travel with Go West Tours? Leave a comment below and let me know what you thought!

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This post was published on Dec 11, 2019

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Hi, I’m Kevin ! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and I love to travel. Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips. Since I started blogging in January 2018, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, and Brazil. I moved to Chicago in 2021 and love exploring this amazing city. Thanks for checking out my blog!

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This post has 18 comments.

Wow, I can’t get over this breathtaking views! I am dreaming about going to Australia and I would surely include the Great Ocean Road in My itinerary. You covered exactly what I really love seeing – stunning nature with amazing views and of course dellicious food on the road 🙂

I’m planning my trip to Melbourne in March and this post comes just in time. Thank you for detailing very clearly all activities in the tour, as well as the things I should note before booking. Despite some possible areas for improvement, this company still seems like a reliable tour organiser, especially with a knowledgeable tour guide and an optional tour group. I’m so glad I’ve found your post!

Being European, I never really got the appeal of a road trip, but since visiting the US and Canada I totally do! It’s such a lovely way to enjoy the scenery and spend a couple of days exploring. This drive sounds incredible and the pictures look amazing. I would probably rather drive myself so that I can have more control over the itinerary, but this sounds like a good tour. I definitely get car sick in minivans too, so that would also be a problem for me.

Beautiful photos! The experience and views for sure were worth these 100$ 🙂 It’s great to know that there are such a good offers of trip to the Great Ocean Road – as a person without driving licence I sometimes feel pity that many highly recommended roadtrip destinations are hardly accessible for non-drivers. After reading your review I would definitely consider booking the tour!

This looks wonderful! I’m sure I would love koala spotting and I would get a little car sick too, but I do love a tour sometimes. They are good fun! Thank you for the review!

Looks like you had a wonderful day trip – nice and sunny too. I’ve seen the Apostles three times and each time it’s been grey and drizzling. $100 may seem like a lot but it takes the stress out of driving yourself and you’d probably never have known where to find the koalas on your own. Lovely photos.

We will be visiting Australia in 2020. So it is good to get an idea of day trips we can do. It certainly looks like the Great Ocean Road would be worth a day trip. We might want to drive ourselves so we could enjoy more time at the beach. We don’t surf but do love to watch surfers. A view of the Twelve Apostles certainly seals the need to travel along the Great Ocean Road! Although I have to agree with you that the Razorback might be more impressive a sight. Good to know that the tour with Go West Tours was worth it if we decide not to drive.

We’ve definitely got the Great Ocean Road on our to do list as we move around Australia in our caravan. There are few things on here that I hadn’t heard about in much detail, so it’s good to have all the info wrapped up in one place. I reckon if you’re on a time limit in Australia, doing a tour like this is a great way to see a lot of the highlights.

One of my favourite coastlines in Australia. We’ve stopped off to spot the Koala’s and saw quite a few. The luck of the draw I guess 😉

I cant believe I missed out on the Great Ocean road whilst in Melbourne, but I hope to be back very soon and this will be done. At least this time I will have my family in tow and cant wait to show them the beauty of Australia.

We chose the Great Ocean Roads Tour in Reverse. That means we hit the Twelve Apostles first! I think it was for better natural lighting.

I’ve done almost this very drive, and my gosh are you right about how exceptional it is. I did this almost five years ago, but I can still see a lot of those images with incredible clarity!

I actually did the same trip but without a company, just by myself and it was amazing. I however decided to stay overnight in Warnambool because else the day would’ve been very long (as it was, in your case!) and I wanted to explore these places at leisure. I absolutely loved the Great Ocean Road drive, it’s a highly recommended activity for anyone visiting Melbourne. Didn’t you absolutely love spotting the koalas hugging the tree branches?

The landscapes of The Loch Ard Gorge, Razorback and The Island Arch are absolutely breathtaking. Looks like from your experience that the Great Ocean Road Tour is totally worth it for anyone looking for a road trip from Melbourne.

I have been to the Great Ocean Road and seen the 12 Apostles. It is a spectacular sight. Your photos really capture the scenery beautifully. Personally, I think it’s best to stay overnight at one of the towns along the way, as it is an exhausting trip to do in just one day. Yes, car sickness is a big factor for many of us. Driving yourself helps with that. Or make sure you take travel sickness medication before you leave.

Wow, you sure did get a lot done in one day! But a 13 hour tour sounds like a LONG day, especially if you’re with people you don’t know. I’ve done some tours that are that long, but they were private. I think I’d want to spend a couple of days enjoying the Great Ocean Road, but good to know this tour is an option!

Greact Ocean Road was my favorite day tour from Melbourne. Each stop in between was worth stopping and I was amazed to see this beautiful part of the world. All the arches, view of ocean with Apostle and forest with exotic animals are adorable. Thanks for sharing great tips.

I as well went go West on Great Ocean road tour Kevin our guide as great. I am pleased you enjoyed the tour as well.

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Great Ocean Road Tour – Go West Tours

About the Great Ocean Road Tour with Go West Tours

I had looked forward to my tour of the Great Ocean Road with Go West Tours since I arrived in Melbourne and woke up excited and anxious for it to begin. Purchased at a cost of A$137, this tour would follow the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles. If everything remained on schedule, I would leave around 8:00 am and arrive back at 9:30 pm. A 6:45 am wakeup provided plenty of time to be ready for a 7:50 am pickup.

The bus arrived five minutes early at 7:45 am, and I learned that I was the last pickup. Being the last pickup meant that there was only one seat available toward the back of the bus. Thankfully, my seatmate was not a large man, and there was plenty of room.

Our tour guide introduced himself as Scott and told us to call him ScoMo, which amused some of the passengers as that is the nickname of the Australian Prime Minister. ScoMo was one of the best guides I’ve ever had and went out of his way to give me a specialized individual helicopter tour of the 12 Apostles. To achieve this, ScoMo dropped me off at a different site, shuttled all the passengers to the next stop, and then came back and waited for me to return from my helicopter ride. Scott definitely went above and beyond what was expected of a tour guide, and I sincerely thank him.

Great Ocean Road Tour - Table of Contents

Updated – May 14, 2023

• About the Tour
• Surfing Coast – Lorne Beach
• Memorial Arch
• Kennet River Koala Walk
• Apollo Bay – Lunch
• Great Otway National Park’s Temperate Rainforest
• Helicopter Tour – Twelve Apostles
• Loch Ard Gorge
• Colac – Dinner
• Conclusions

Great Ocean Road Tour Packages

• “Must Bring Items” I bring on Every International Trip
• Earning Points and Rewards

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The Great Ocean Road Tour - Surfing Coast - Lorne Beach

Our first stop was at the historic beach area known as Lorne Beach. It is here that the surfing brand Billabong began and still has its headquarters today. After getting off the bus, there was a slight uphill walk to see a beautiful panoramic view of the entire beach. While it was not a windy day, the waves were still spectacular, and I took a few pictures looking in each direction.

During this stop, ScoMo set up hot drinks and cakes at a picnic area, providing a chance to have a light breakfast. I grabbed a delicious slice of blueberry cake and used the extra time to walk to another viewing area. Here, there was a small creek that was flowing into the ocean. It was fascinating to watch the creek fight against the surf to join the sea. In total, we spent around 45 minutes at this stop before we boarded the bus and set off to our next destination.

The Great Ocean Road's Memorial Arch

Our next stop was a brief stop at the Memorial Arch to the Great Ocean Road. ScoMo explained that following World War I, many soldiers returned to Australia needing work. The government wanted them to create something they could be proud of and commissioned the soldiers to build the Great Ocean Road. Most of the road was built by hand with no tools other than shovels and picks.

Our time at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch was short, as it took only ten minutes to take a picture in front of the arch. I took a few pictures and then got back on the bus excited to learn about the next destination ScoMo had asked if anyone was afraid of birds as we would soon be heading to someplace where birds would often land on people.

Great Ocean Road Tour - Kennet River Koala Walk

Just outside the town of Apollo Bay, our next stop was at a small forested area full of parrots, cockatoos, and koalas known as the Kennet River Koala Walk. This stop would provide a chance to see koalas and birds in their natural habitat.

The Kennet River Koala Walk was one of my favorites as my 3-year-old niece, not because of the koalas but because she loves birds. I was able to get a video of a bird on my head and multiple pictures of birds crawling all over me. Also, it was here that I was my first wild koala. Throughout the 30 minutes spent at this location, I saw four wild koalas and well over 100 parrots and cockatoos.

I should note that it is technically illegal to feed the birds. It is disappointing that despite being illegal and unhealthy, the food stand sells bird food. While I had birds land on me, I did not purchase any food, nor did I feed them. My lack of food probably explains the “dirty looks” the birds gave me just before they flew away.

The Great Ocean Road - Apollo Bay - Lunch

Apollo Bay was our next stop, and we were given just over 30 minutes for lunch. Although there were no fast-food restaurants, there were a variety of cafe-style eateries ranging from Chinese Noodles to burgers and fries. I tried my first Australian Meat Pie from the local bakery.

Meat pie is similar to a chicken pot pie but with beef instead of chicken. I feel like it is best described as beef stew inside a flaky crust. A sausage roll accompanied my meat pie, and both were delicious.

By the time I had finished eating, it was time to find the bus. Finding the bus was difficult as four Go West Busses were touring the Great Ocean Road, and all of them had stopped for lunch at the same time. Eventually, everyone found ScoMo, and we continued to our next stop.

Great Ocean Road Tour - Great Otway National Park’s Temperate Rainforest

After lunch, it was time to burn off some calories, and a guided walk of Great Otway National Park’s Temperate Rainforest was a perfect way to do so. Unfortunately, the usual walk known as Mait’s Rest was closed because of storm damage. It was slightly disappointing as Mait’s Rest is home to the Myrtle Beech Tree, which is the Redwood of Australia. Since Mait’s Rest was inaccessible, we went on a different hike slightly further down the road.

During our hike, we saw giant ferns and smaller Myrtle Beech Trees. I was also on the lookout for one of Australia’s deadliest predators, the Otway Black Snail. Before we disembarked from the bus, ScoMo told us a story about this deadly creature that wanted to eat us. It turns out; it was a carnivorous snail, and it would take weeks for it to actually eat the arm of a person. To ease our fears, ScoMo reminded us that if we encountered one of these snails, we could simply outrun it. Following the rainforest walk, we got back on the bus to head to the 12 Apostles.

Great Ocean Road - Twelve Apostles Helicopter Tour

The highlight of the Great Ocean Road is the Twelve Apostles. Despite their name, there are only seven apostles after one recently collapsed. On our way to the first viewing point, ScoMo had asked if anyone wanted to take a helicopter tour. He highly recommended it as the best possible purchase anyone could make. I decided to see the apostles by helicopter at an added cost of A$145.

After ScoMo dropped everyone else off at a viewing point, he shuttled me to the helicopter pad. There was quite a wait, and we were told it would take at least an hour before I could get on a helicopter. ScoMo gave me his cell number and told me to call him when I was done. While I waited, he drove the group to the next viewpoint and then turned around to come back and get me. It was an excellent individualized service, as he really wanted me to see the apostles from the air.

The helicopter ride took fifteen minutes, and there were four passengers in a ‘copter. I rode with a family that included both parents and their son. Since I was solo, I got to sit in the front while the family sat in the back. The pilot gave each of us headphones, so we could hear her narrate the ride.

As the helicopter turned around, a giant rainbow was visible right over the water. I had lucked out and just missed the rain. Fifteen minutes went by so quickly, but the ride provided a stunning view of the Twelve Apostles.

When we landed, and I disembarked, ScoMo was waiting for me. He wanted to make sure that I could as much time as possible at Loch Ard Gorge, the final stop of the tour.

The Great Ocean Road - Loch Ard Gorge

The final stop was Loch Ard Gorge. The gorge is named after the British Clipper Loch Ard, which was wrecked just off the shore in 1878. There were only two survivors of the wreck, two 19-year-olds named Tom and Eva. Today, the remnants of an arch where they swam ashore stand with two pillars named Eva and Tom.

I arrived at Loch Ard Gorge well after the rest of my tour group because of my helicopter ride. My late arrival allowed only about fifteen minutes total, which was just enough time to walk down to the shoreline of the gorge and take a few pictures.

Our final stop was at a viewpoint just passed Loch Ard Gorge.  At this viewpoint, there was a flock of birds that would rise up and down as an entire group using the wind.  I wish I had taken a video as it was extraordinary to watch.

Colac - Dinner

The drive back to Melbourne was three hours. Thankfully, one hour into the three-hour drive, we stopped for dinner in the town of Colac. ScoMo told us that Colac had some of Australia’s finest dining options, which included Subway, McDonald’s, a Noodle Shop, and Red Rooster. I had never had the opportunity to eat at Red Rooster, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a sampler box which consisted of a chicken sandwich, fries, chicken nuggets, and deep-fried pineapple.

Following dinner, it was two hours to get back to Melbourne. Since I was the last one picked up, it meant I was the first one dropped off. I arrived at my hotel just before 9:30, exhausted but appreciative of the fun day.

Conclusions - Great Ocean Road Tour with Go West Tours

The Great Ocean Road Tour with Go West Tours is a fantastic way to see the sights of the Great Ocean Road. The itinerary allowed the perfect amount of time at each of the stops, and ScoMo was easily one of the best guides I’d ever toured with. Not only did he provide individualized service, ensuring I could take the helicopter tour, but also gave excellent commentary along the way. His commentary included, “look, there’s a koala in that tree.” It was amazing that ScoMo was able to remember the precise location of every koala on the Great Ocean Road.  I give this tour my highest recommendation and thank Go West and ScoMo for the wonderful tour of the Great Ocean Road.

There are many great tour packages for touring the Great Ocean Road.  Below are some of the packages that caught my eye.  I am an affiliate partner of Viator.  If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.  I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.

If you prefer to book the Great Ocean Road Tour directly with Go West Tours you can do so by clicking  HERE .  I do not receive any commission for packages booked directly with Go West Tours.

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Phillip Island Tour Featuring the Penguin Parade – Go West Tours

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