The best Great Ocean Road tours to add to your list

Jo StewartBy Jo Stewart
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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.

Intrepid Travel’s Great Ocean Road & Grampians Adventure

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Otway Eco Tours

a waterfall along the Great Ocean Road, Otway Eco Tours
See one of Victoria’s most spectacular cascading waterfalls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

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 .

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

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.

Life’s An Adventure’s Great Ocean Walk

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

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.

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.

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.

Wildlife Tours Australia Great Ocean Road tour

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

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 the locations in central Melbourne, you’ll hit the road for the Surf Coast to enjoy the scenic drive of a lifetime.

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.

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

Walk 91

hikers on a coastal hike, Great Ocean Road
Tackle the wild side of the coastal hike with a guide. (Image: Visit Victoria)

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.

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.

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.

Ride Tours Great Ocean Road tours

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

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.

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 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.

Discover the best camping sites along the Great Ocean Road.

Jo Stewart
Jo Stewart is a freelance features writer who pens stories about nature, pop culture, music, art, design and more from her home in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. When not writing, you can find her trawling through vinyl records and vintage fashion at op shops, antique stores and garage sales.
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The Gold Rush town that’s become Victoria’s best country escape for foodies

    Jocelyn PrideBy Jocelyn Pride
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    The well-preserved Gold Rush town where an idyllic country vibe meets the best of city living.

    Cafe culture

    ‘Slow down’ is the mantra of Tortoise Espresso , and it’s apt for anyone visiting town. This local coffee hangout was the brainchild of Lloyd Meadows, who at 16 started it as a hole in the wall of an old pub. Five years on, it graces a fine shopfront with a menu of around 60 different coffees. Other one-off centrally located daytime cafes, such as Saffs, Togs, Saint Florian and Lazy Bones, are tucked into historic buildings and serve creative menus featuring local produce. A personal favourite is Origini, where chef Luca Sartori brings a taste of northern Italy to his rustic restaurant. For the best banh mi outside Vietnam head to Super Hero, and the pastries at Johnny Baker are legendary.

    the Saint Florian Cafe, Castlemaine
    Saint Florian is one of many businesses tucked away in a historic building. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    On the town’s fringe you’ll find some treasured cafes: Blackbird. Grist, Doveton Corner Store, and the cosy Aitken’s Corner. The Mill precinct also brings another dimension to Castlemaine. Located directly opposite the beautiful Botanical Gardens, this once-derelict woollen mill is a hive of creativity and collaboration. Retaining an industrial feel, it is home to a myriad of 44 unique businesses, galleries and studios that stretch over the three-hectare site.

    Brilliant brews, bars and food

    diners at The Mill, Castlemaine
    The Mill is home to many local businesses. (Image: Visit Victoria/Michelle Jarni)

    The Mill is also home to one of Castlemaine’s bespoke breweries, Shedshaker Brewing Company and Taproom. Within the sensitively restored walls of the oldest part of the building (circa 1875), small-batch, handcrafted beer features alongside fine wholesome food and live music.

    A more recent newcomer to the brewing scene is Love Shack . Starting small as a laneway pop-up in 2021, visionaries Conna Mallett and Harry Cox were armed with a Melbourne beer culture pedigree, which helped them create a great new ‘pub’ that feels as though it’s been there since the 1850s. Other atmospheric bars and restaurants are dotted around town – Grafting Cellars for local wines by the pour; buzzy Mostyn Street Cellars; Table Records plays vinyl on weekends; and the quirky Maurocco bar is not to be missed.

    food and drinks at Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro, Castlemaine
    The nostalgic Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro serves comfort food. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    For food you’ll write home about, the hatted Bar Midland serves exquisite dishes from Victorian-only produce. The freshly renovated Wild is located in the original firestation, Voor Ouker specialises in Indonesian/Dutch fusion, and the Railway Hotel oozes English pub charm.

    the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
    Theatre Royal is the longest continually operating theatre on the mainland. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

    Much-loved Teatro Regio, found in the magnificent Theatre Royal , is the go-to for pizzas with a twist. As mainland Australia’s longest continually running theatre, this grand dame is also one of more than a dozen performance spaces that add to a rich and diverse entertainment and festival scene.

    pizza at Theatre Royal
    Dine before a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

    Quirky country stays

    Quirky, authentic and perfectly located, the Midland Hotel is a private hotel that dates back to 1879. Each of the nine rooms at the Northern Arts Hotel is different and named in honour of an Australian artist. Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation also has a range of properties to suit all types of travellers.