Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours)
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) worth booking?
Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) is a 13-hour experience in Melbourne, Australia, from $403 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (3)
- Duration
- 13 hours
- From
- $403 per person
This Private Tour of the Great Ocean Road departs early (6:30am) with a Direct pick-up from you Melbourne CBD hotel and returns in the evening (7:30pm) to the city. The early departure helps avoid the crowds & the late a
What you get
About this experience
This Private Tour of the Great Ocean Road departs early (6:30am) with a Direct pick-up from you Melbourne CBD hotel and returns in the evening (7:30pm) to the city. The early departure helps avoid the crowds & the late arrival back will allow you to discover even more of the region. We are real locals and true specialists of The Great Ocean Road. Our tours offer premium service for the early morning pick-up. Spend a full day of sightseeing including the Shipwreck Coast, with more stops than usual plus extra time to linger at all the main Rock Formation attractions. - Early Departure (6:30am) Early Return( By 7:30pm) - Direct hotel pick up in the morning - We are Ahead of the Crowds and have lookouts to ourselves - This is a Private Tour - Only your group will travel - We specialise in ONLY The Great Ocean Road - More Photo Stops - See Kangaroos Koalas and Native Birds in the Bush ( Over 12 years old only )
What's included
Included
- Your own dedicated Local Expert Guide for the duration of the tour
- Direct Hotel Drop Off in the Evening (7:30pm)
- Direct Hotel Pickup in the Morning (6:30am)
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water
- Snacks
Not included
- Children under 12 cannot travel with us. We apologise for this inconvenience.
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Torquay
Near Bells Beach we search for Wild Kangaroos in the bush. As we leave the city of Melbourne early before other tour groups, we normally arrive at the start of The Great Ocean Road around dawn, where the chances of kangaroo sightings in the wild are increasingly higher.
10 minutes here
Views of Anglesea Beach from Various Locations. You can also enjoy a stop at the nearby Split Point lighthouse for some magnificent views
10 minutes here
Your first chance to step onto the Golden Sands of The Great Ocean Road at this magnificent beach.
10 minutes here
Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway
This is seen, by many, as the official start of the Great Ocean Road. here you will learn the incredible story of how and why the road was built more than 100 years ago.
10 minutes here
Lorne Beach
Toilet Stop, Beach Views and another chance to stretch your legs.
10 minutes here
Great Ocean Road
Here we travel from Lorne to Apollo Bay with various photo stops along the way. This is one of the most visually appealing parts of the road as we travel along cliff top roads. the Extended Tour gives you a total of 6 hours of sightseeing outside the car (compared with only 3 hours on the Standard Tour).
360 minutes here
Kennett River
A great place to spot koala's in the wild. We will also spend some time looking for koala's as well.
10 minutes here
Cape Patton Lookout Point
Often seen as the best lookout on the Great Ocean Road. As we leave early, we normally have this lookout all to ourselves!
10 minutes here
Apollo Bay
Stunning scenery and one of the best beaches in Australia. A chance to use the nearby toilet facilities.
10 minutes here
Mait's Rest
Join your guide for a short 25 minute guided walk of this magnificent rainforest.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Gibsons Steps
Just before we reach the 12 Apostles, you have time to venture down onto the golden sands, to some of the Apostles from a beach perspective.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Loch Ard Gorge
More exploring at this stunning multi viewing area. Razorback, Loch Ard Gorge Beach and Shipwreck Walk
45 minutes here · Admission included
The Twelve Apostles
Time to see these Magnificent Limestone pillars, Created from 16 thousand years of erosion.
45 minutes here · Admission included
London Bridge
This is a very popular rock formation with an incredible recent history, which involves the collapse of the formation leaving 2 tourists stranded on the other side. Hear more about their helicopter rescue attempt from your guide.
15 minutes here · Admission included
The Razorback
Marvel at this unique rock formation and the surrounding rock stacks.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Stopping for our Aussie Themed Lunch. Try a Beef Pie or an Authentic Aussie Burger, Chicken Schnitzel Burger and Have a beer.
30 minutes here
Victoria
We drive home through Farmland including Dairy, Cattle and Sheep and crops.
180 minutes here
Split Point Lighthouse
You will arrive nice and early here, before the big crowds form, and when the light is at its best for photographs.
10 minutes here · Admission included
One of the best way to see the 12 Apostles and the nearby rock formations is by Air. The 12 Apostles Helicopter Company is a local institution with a perfect safety record to boot. They offer a number of different joy flight durations with professional qualified pilots. If you have chosen our 'Extended 14 hour Tour', this will give you additional to choose from a 15, 25 or 60 minute joy flight. This is at your own additional expense and can be paid for on the day. When your tour guide picks you up in the morning, they can talk you through the different options available and answer any questions that you may have. You have until midday to decide, so your guide can call through and reserve your seat for an afternoon flight departure.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Wed, Fri
- Group size
- Up to 5 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ocean Road Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pickup times and locations will be advised the evening before the tour. Your guide will send a text message and an email to re-confirm the Pick up location and time.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- No children under 12 years of age
- Email your accommodation at the time of your booking (or prior to travel date). Accommodation must be within the CBD grid, Southbank or Docklands areas. If outside this area, you will be required to meet us at an alternative pick up point which will be confirmed prior to the tour start date
- PLEASE NOTE - this tour will cover over 500+ kilometres. Equal to 8 hours of driving. If you suffer from car sickness, we do NOT suggest you choose this tour. You might wish instead to choose our two day tour instead
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
1 mentionTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
1 mentionTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Small groups
1 mentionThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
3 verified traveler reviews for Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Marvelous Private Touring Experience
We recently took this private tour on a blustery winters day. Thankfully we dodged the rain. Partly down to luck and partly down to James (our guide) and his timing as he switched things around and used satellite on his phone to check the incoming weather storm patterns - very smart! The extra hour was certainly worth it as it is quite a long way down to the start of the road, and an even longer way back to Melbourne. I would absolutely recommend this company to family and friends. All in all, a great tour. Thanks, Tony & Sue :)
Response from the operator: Thanks Tony (or should I call you 'Dragonslayer'?! Great handle-name by the way!!) Yes, the weather satellite is a very useful bit of kit to try and dodge any potential downpours. Unfortunately they are all too common place in Victoria, particularly during winter time. So glad to hear James was able to utilise it to your advantage and dodge the bad storm. Warm regards, Stuart
via Tripadvisor
The best day out!
This was an amazing day out. Travelled with my 13 year old son who does not love car trips. However the car was comfortable, there were snacks provided and great conversation with James, plus lots of stops along the way to the Great Ocean Road made him and I really enjoy the day.
Response from the operator: Hi Rachel, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you and Locky. I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and was it great to hear that Locky won bronze at the water polo competition a few days later :) Hope you get to make it down to Phillip Island sometime in the future with the rest of the family. If you are going to self-drive it yourself and just need some advice, you have my mobile number. There's plenty of cool stuff down there to keep the boys happy like go-karting and Amaze-n-Things. And of course i'm happy to take you on a private tour myself if you decide to fly-in / fly-out instead. Safe travels back to Canberra. James :)
via Tripadvisor
Perfect tour for couples!
An incredible tour from start to finish. Having done a tour a few days prior with a 8am start, we knew what sitting in peak hour traffic was like, so we were happy to get up early and get on the road at 6am. This also grave us the luxury of great morning lighting for our 1st stop, where we spotted some kangaroos by the road. We opted for the longer tour (14 hour) which we were glad off, as it took the pressure of rushing back to the car at each stop. Plus by wife can be a little slow at times and likes to dilly-dally, so I wasn’t too concerned, given the extra few hours we had up our sleeve. The highlight was the 12 apostles but I was most taken back at loch Ard gorge, to hear the story of the shipwreck and then to walk in their footsteps down on the beach where the 2 survivors were washed ashore. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is a beautiful story from an awful tragedy that occurred along the coast.
Response from the operator: Thanks Julien, Oh yes, we know what sitting in traffic in Melbourne can feel like. Thats why we quickly learnt to scrap the peak hour departures years ago. Many other operators still insist on it, or worse still, try and sell the idea of a 'reverse' itinerary, but is really just the wrong was to see the road. But don't take our word for it, ask about in the forums. You will quickly find out the best way to see the road :) And it is only a small inconvenience to the guests (and the guide) to wake up a bit early, but it brings about many more benefits. If you speak to many of locals, they will speak fondly of when they used to travel the Great Ocean Road when mass tourism didn't exist (pre 1990's). Well, our timings will make you think you have stepped back in time, as we hit a lot of the main sights when nobody is around! Who wants to share such special locations with several other bus loads of tourists?!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 13 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Wed, Fri
- Price range
- $403 to $1000
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Melbourne.
How much does Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) cost?
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Prices start at $403 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Melbourne usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) take?
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Plan for about 13 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Melbourne is not rushed.
Is Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Melbourne, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours)?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 13-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours)?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Melbourne can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Melbourne and add a light layer if any part of the 13-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Great Ocean Road Day Extended Tour With Early Departure (13 Hours) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Melbourne within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Melbourne?
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On Outty we rank every Melbourne experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Melbourne: Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Whisky and Chocolate Tour, Yarra Valley Wine Tour w Exclusive Gin, Cider & Chocolate Tasting, Yarra Valley Wine Tour from Melbourne - Choc, Gin & Good Times. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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