Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles Private Tour

Depart from your address
Take advantage of our Great Ocean Road private tour. A private minibus with a professional driver will meet you at any hotel or address in Melbourne Metropolitan area.

Bells Beach lookout
Starting with the famous West Gate Bridge which offers a stunning view of the port and centre of the city, this tour will then take you down the highway making a stop at Bells Beach. This famous beach for surfers will allow you to marvel at the fantastic panoramic view of the shoreline. Watch the beautiful Australian waves being tackled by talented surf lovers. After a stop at this iconic beach, we will then take you towards the amazing Great Ocean Road.

Morning tea at the chocolate factory
Before we continue our journey, your private driver will invite you to take a morning tea/coffee break. For morning break we invite you to visit the Great Ocean Road chocolate factory, where you can try some outstanding coffee or tea with brilliant desserts and an endless selection of chocolate, made from cocoa beans from all over the world. Don’t forget to sample the local ice cream, which is made on site.

Split Point Lighthouse

Split Point Lighthouse offers a breathtaking experience for sightseers. Nestled in the charming town of Aireys Inlet, this striking white lighthouse stands as a beacon of maritime history. Built in 1891, it towers majestically at 34 meters, offering panoramic views of the rugged coastline and the sparkling blue waters of the Bass Strait. Visitors can embark on guided tours to learn about the lighthouse's history and its role in guiding ships through the treacherous waters. The journey up the spiral staircase to the lantern room is a memorable experience, culminating in stunning vistas that stretch for miles. The surrounding landscape is a tapestry of lush greenery and dramatic cliffs, making it a photographer's paradise.

Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
Another landmark that should not be missed is the geographic border between the great Pacific and Indian oceans. This point is located at the Split Point Lighthouse which you will pass before the stop to take some memorable pictures in front of the memorial arch.

Teddy’s Lookout
Your journey will then take you through the little town of Lorne, where we can stop to have a look from Teddy’s Lookout observation platform. The view of the Great Ocean Road, winding along the coastline at the foot of the hills, cloaked in thick eucalyptus forest will leave you speechless.

Kennett River: koalas in the wild
Apart from the scenic views, we here at Bilbytravel know the excitement that comes with a hands-on experience. Our tours include the chance to see Australia’s favourite animal, the Koala, only this time, in the open wilderness.

Stop for Fish and Seafood lunch in Apollo Bay
Next stop will be in the quaint and small town of Apollo Bay for lunch. In the town, known for its fisheries and vast array of seafood, you will dine on delicious fresh fish meals. Vegetarian or gluten-free meals are available for those who aren’t seafood fans.

Otway National Park and Rainforest Walk
After lunch, we will take you through the Otway national park where we can make a short half-an-hour stop for a relaxing walk along the Australian cool-climate rainforest. On this short stroll, you will witness the striking centuries-old, colossal eucalyptus and fern trees, truly worth admiring. This part of the private tour to the Great Ocean Road will expose you to the exotic beauty that Australian nature has to offer.
After the walk we will resume our drive through the dense Australian forest of the Otway National park, alternating with grassy meadows populated by herds of cows and sheep, or if you wish – you can have a snooze.

Kangaroos in the wild
We will return to the Great Ocean Road in about one and a half hours for the next step in our journey which will be devoted entirely to the most iconic Australian animal – the kangaroo. At this stop, you will always find a large mob of grey kangaroos grazing. You can watch and photograph these unique Australian animals from a short distance. As long as we don’t scare them off, there will be some great photos!

12 Apostles
The 12 Apostles or the ‘limestone stacks’ rise from the ocean near the shore. The shoreline cliffs have several observation platforms with a clear view of the Apostles, from multiple perspectives. Witness the stunning natural beauty of these cliffs, towering over the raging ocean waves below – a true spectacle to behold. We’ll leave the vehicle at the information centre’s parking lot and head straight over to these magnificent giants, who have been resisting the force of the ocean’s waves for thousands of years.
We will share with you the curious story of the origin of the name “The 12 Apostles” and answer the question, how many are there really? – 12, 9 or 8…?
A Scenic helicopter flight over the 12 apostles is also available here.

A walk down the Gibson Steps
Should you want to, and if time permits, we can take a walk down the Gibson Steps, that are cut into the rock. They will take us down the cliffs to the beach, to the feet of the giant rocks where a unique view of the Apostles will present itself and the opportunity for some more great photos.
After returning to the information centre you will have the opportunity to have a short (15 minute) helicopter trip along the coastline during which you will fly over the 12 Apostles, the Lochard Gorge and see in the distance London Bridge. The helicopter flight is paid for separately.

Lochard Gorge and London Bridge
Our trip along the Great Ocean Road is coming to an end, if time permits and you still have the strength, we’ll make a couple more stops. The first will be at the famous Lochard Gorge, where during the 19th century a ship of the same name sank. Here you can learn the history of the shipwreck and about the two survivors of this sad voyage. In summer, you can swim in this bay. The next stop will be at the giant cliffs of London Bridge where you will learn the interesting origin of its name. This is an excellent place for breathtaking photos.

The way back to Melbourne will take about three hours and will pass along the internal highway.