The best Great Ocean Road tours to add to your list

Whether you’re into an epic 3-day guided hike or an action-packed day trip to remember, there’s a Great Ocean Road tour for you.

Victoria’s aesthetically blessed southern coastline is one of Australia’s most photographed spots. A region best visited with a fully charged phone (and with your best camera lens’ in tow) you won’t be able to stop yourself from snapping the Great Ocean Road’s embarrassing wealth of natural beauty. From multi-day guided hiking trips to fun bus trips with like-minded travellers, these Great Ocean Road tours enable you to see this famous stretch of coastline in a new light.

1. Intrepid Travel’s Great Ocean Road & Grampians Adventure

Best for: Outdoorsy travellers who are curious about First Nations culture

If you want to spend some solid time in the region, go all-in on this 6-day road trip with Intrepid Travel.

You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views at the top of Hanging Rock. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Starting in Melbourne and finishing in Adelaide, you’ll get to spend a couple of days playing on the Great Ocean Road as well as getting some quality mountain time in the Grampians too.

The Grampians National Park is home to abundant flora and fauna. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Forget spending all your days cooped up in a bus, you’ll get to enjoy plenty of time doing things like hiking in nature, eating bush tucker foods at an outdoor cafe, and learning about First Nations culture from a local Indigenous guide.

Hanging Rock rises 718m above sea level. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This tour offers a great balance between seeing the blockbuster sites (like the Twelve Apostles) and experiencing some of the lesser-known places and activities day trippers often miss out on.

The weathered volcanic outcrop has become a prime setting for the classic Australian novel and film, Picnic at Hanging Rock. (Image: Visit Victoria)

2. Otway Eco Tours

Best for: Nature lovers who like to travel at a relaxed pace in small groups

If paddling a canoe across a lake home to platypus in the Great Otway National Park, watching the magical aura of glow worms at dusk or spending a day exploring a section of the Great Ocean Road on foot sounds like your thing, then make a booking with Otway Eco Tours.

Wind your way through the moss-covered forest. (Image: Visit Victoria)

This ecotourism-certified and accredited organisation offers small groups the chance to experience slow journeys in nature in and around the Great Ocean Road.

Otway Eco Tours offers tours that are great for nature lovers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Led by an experienced guide, you’ll come away with plenty of knowledge about the area’s native flora and fauna and a newfound appreciation of the wonderous beauty found in this very special corner of Australia.

See one of Victoria’s most spectacular cascading waterfalls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

3. Life’s An Adventure’s Great Ocean Walk

Best for: Active travellers keen to enjoy a pack-free walk with a soft landing

When it comes to getting a genuine feel for a place, there’s nothing quite like a multi-day hike. A 3-day journey along the Great Ocean Walk with Life’s An Adventure is a top option if you love walking, but also prefer not to camp or carry a heavy pack.

Marvel at the Twelve Apostles on a scenic helicopter ride. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Carrying just a light day pack, each night you’ll be able to refuel with delicious food and wine and bed down in boutique accommodation near the trail.

The site is also popular for stargazers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Perhaps the best part of this tour is the inclusion of a helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles to marvel at the mammoth rock formations from above. If you want to experience a truly remarkable trip to remember, this is it.

The Twelve Apostles are estimated to be around 20 million years old. (Image: Visit Victoria)

4. Wildlife Tours Australia Great Ocean Road tour

Best for: Wildlife lovers and anyone short on time

If you’re visiting Melbourne and have a spare day up your sleeve this day tour is an excellent, affordable way to see all the well-known landmarks along the Great Ocean Road in a short amount of time. After getting picked up from one of 8 locations in central Melbourne, you’ll hit the road for the Surf Coast to enjoy the scenic drive of a lifetime.

Discover the dramatic beauty of Loch Ard Gorge. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Snap a photo at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch, keep watch for koalas while walking through the rainforest in the Great Otway National Park and take in the monumental majesty of the Twelve Apostles that have stood for millennia.

Explore the sandy beach on foot. (Image: Visit Victoria)

After an action-packed day, you’ll be returned to Melbourne with a pocket full of magic memories stored in your phone.

Echidnas commonly dig up dirt along the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

5. Walk 91

Best for: Fit travellers who prefer self-guided walks

Many people take on the Great Ocean Walk with a guide, but if you prefer your freedom you can book Walk 91 to take care of all the finicky logistics for you.

Tackle the wild side of the coastal hike with a guide. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Choose from packages that range from 3-day to 10-day hikes to enjoy spending your days walking the coastline knowing that your transport, bag transfers and accommodation are taken care of.

Walk along Victoria’s rugged coastline. (Image: Visit Victoria)

You’ll even be supplied with a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), informative notes and walking poles if needed. This is an easy, breezy way to enjoy an epic walk, minus the logistical hassles.

Rewarding coastal views await on the Great Ocean Walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

6. Ride Tours Great Ocean Road tours

Best for: 18 to 35-year-olds keen to check out the highlights of the Great Ocean Road

If you’re between 18 and 35 years old, Ride Tours offers one and two-day trips to see the highlights of the Great Ocean Road with other travellers from your generation.

Hit the waves at the Kennett River. (Image: Visit Victoria)

After a minibus picks you up from Melbourne CBD or St Kilda, you’ll be whisked away to see the sites of the Great Ocean Road in just a day or two.

The trip includes a stop at the famed Twelve Apostles. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The one-day itinerary is jam-packed with stops at Fairhaven, Lorne, Kennett River, Apollo Bay and, of course, the star of the show, the Twelve Apostles. Returning you to the city by about 7.30pm, this economical tour is a fun way to see the best of the Great Ocean Road in just one day.

Reconnect with nature and meander along the riverside. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Discover the best camping sites along the Great Ocean Road.