The best Great Ocean Road tours to add to your list

Jo Stewart 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.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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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.

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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 top 12 hottest places to stay in regional Victoria right now

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    We round up the luxe, the lovely and the latest places to stay in regional Victoria.

    1. Hotel Ernest, Bendigo

    Hotel Ernest, Bendigo
    The elegantly styled Hotel Ernest oozes heritage charm.

    Settle into this artful lodging in the city centre for a boutique stay with heritage roots dating back to 1864. Each of the 10 suites in this former bank is elegantly styled and furnished with covetable works by Australian artists. Ernest is also home to the much-lauded Euro-style Restaurant Terrae, so be sure to book into the two-level diner during your visit.

    2. Norsu Cabin, Macedon

    a look inside Norsu Cabin, Macedon
    Settle into this Scandi-inspired abode. (Image: Nick Skinner)

    Country cabin dreams come to life under the sweet timber A-frame of Norsu . Sleeping eight guests, this Scandi-inspired abode is so meticulously styled it’s received knowing nods from The Design Files and is everything a modern log cabin should be, including cosy fireplace, fire pit, modern appliances and French linens. Perfect for logging out of daily life for a moment.

    3. Islay House, Woodend

    the bedroom at Islay House, Woodend 
    Bed down at the gorgeously restored heritage Islay House. (Image: Tiffany Warner)

    Lean all the way into a country luxe state-of-mind with a stay at the gorgeously restored heritage Islay House . This bed and breakfast sleeps up to nine guests and is just a short walk from town, but you’ll want to spend most of your time curled up fireside in the elegantly styled rooms as you admire the collection of antiques.

    4. Nerissa Rye, Mornington Peninsula

    Nerissa Rye, Mornington Peninsula
    Indulge in barefoot luxe at Nerissa Rye. (Image: Eve Wilson)

    This Rye beach pad is just a 10-minute walk from 16th Beach, and while a morning walk is lovely, returning to the barefoot luxe vibes of this four-bedroom escape is just as enlivening. Bright, open and welcoming, this is the place to settle in for endless cups of tea and a good book between beach jaunts.

    5. Hotel Vera, Ballarat

    a close-up of the bed at Hotel Vera, Ballarat
    Modern meets bygone elegance.

    This Ballarat beauty set in a 1900s mansion is all bygone elegance edged with modern style. Just seven boutique suites, each with its own distinct personality, makes it a singularly luxe stay. Sister to Bendigo’s Hotel Ernest, Vera is similarly bequeathed with a stand-out fine diner, Babae, which plates up the best of the region’s produce.

    6. Hotel Sorrento, Port Philip Bay

    Hotel Sorrento at Port Philip Bay
    The Amalfi-style beachside Hotel Sorrento at Port Philip Bay.

    The historic and iconic clifftop Hotel Sorrento at Port Philip Bay is mid-refurb and will reopen 1 December 2025, just in time for Amalfi-style beachside stays.

    7. The Idle Lake House, Lakes Entrance

    the Idle Lake House, Lakes Entrance
    Soak up lakeside serenity. (Image: Kate Enno Photography)

    Enjoy a ripple of serenity when you step aboard this water-top abode on the Gippsland Lakes. Once a Chinese restaurant, this spacious and stylish two-bedroom stay offers unbroken gazing of the shimmering surface in a beautifully private bay. Lounge on the deck and enjoy the onboard bathhouse; come evening, sit by the sleek suspended fireplace.

    8. The Monty, Anglesea

    the bedroom at The Monty, Anglesea
    Bed down at the vintage motel, The Monty.

    Palm Springs makes an entrance on the Great Ocean Road with the opening of The Monty in October 2025. Its vintage motel meets modern muse at this playful boutique stay complete with pool and a vibrant Mexican cantina. You’re just a stroll from the beach here, which tells us it’s ripe for summer vacays this season.

    9. Trentham Waters Resort, Mildura

    vibrant bedroom wall and pillows at Trentham Waters Resort, Mildura
    The bright and retro-style bedroom at Trentham Waters Resort.

    Another new property lands in regional Victoria in time for an endless summer with Trentham Waters Resort expected to open by February 2026. Breezy, subtly retro and brightened by the big Mallee sky, this river’s-edge escape is perfect for settling in for a spell with one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. There’s a lagoon-style pool, riverside hot tubs and onsite dining for all your relaxation requirements.

    10. Crowne Plaza, Geelong

    the Trattoria Bar in Crowne Plaza, Geelong
    Sink a cold one at the Trattoria Bar.

    Geelong is getting its own Crowne Plaza in 2026. Its arrival on the waterfront will make it the city’s largest (and newest) hotel with 200 contemporary rooms and suites, a Skybar, all-day dining, indoor pool and gym, and event spaces. Keep it on your radar.

    11. Re’em, Yarra Valley

    a private tub with lush views at Re’em, Yarra Valley
    Sip and soak in tranquillity.

    With verdant Yarra Valley views that take in the linear beauty of tended grapevines, the 16 suites and rooms at Re’em are set amid the Helen & Joey Estate and invite sipping and sitting in tranquillity. The onsite restaurant deftly balances Chinese and Australian flavours and if you’re staying over the weekend, be tempted out of your stylish room for yum cha that features delicate handmade dumplings and vineyard vistas.

    12. Arapiles Clubhouse and Crash Pad, Grampians

    the yard front door of Arapiles Clubhouse and Crash Pad, Grampians
    Spend an overnight stay in the Natimuk stone house. (Image: Bianca Jackson)

    These 1880-era mountain-adjacent digs have been tenderly restored to provide rock climbers and Grampians country wanderers a chic place to rest. You’ll find four bedrooms in the Natimuk stone house, as well as a heated pool out the back and plenty of luxe embellishments. There’s also a two-person ‘Crash Pad’ in the confines of the Clubhouse with its own separate entrance.

    the lounge at Arapiles Clubhouse and Crash Pad, Grampians
    The Crash Pad offers a resting place for rock climbers and Grampians country wanderers. (Image: Bianca Jackson)