1 Day Great Ocean Road Tour and Rainforest Walk

Imagine driving along winding roads with the bluest coastline on one side and the lushest green forest on the other side while wildlife surrounds you. That is the Great Ocean Road in Australia! I didn’t have the time or the transportation to explore this road on my own so I took a tour with Wildlife Tours and it was one of the best decisions I made. Yes it is a looonngggg day, BUT I saw so much and learned a ton from our awesome guide. I was staying in Melbourne so I chose the 1 Day Great Ocean Road Tour and Rainforest Walk that departed and returned to Melbourne. Wildlife Tours also offers a variety of tours that depart from different cities in Australia.

What’s Included:

One of the many things I love about this tour is that so much is included in the price you pay. It is definitely worth every penny!

• Inner city hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Morning tea and coffee
• Lunch
• Park entry fees
• Transportation
• A fun and knowledgeable guide

What to Bring:

• Warm and cool clothing – you never know what weather you are going to get in Australia!
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Raincoat or umbrella
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Camera with extra batteries/memory cards…I took so many pictures!

Stop 1:

After being picked up from Melbourne, you hop on the Wildlife Tours bus and meet your new friends for the day! You then make your way to the surf coast for some morning tea and coffee. I suggest drinking some caffeine as you have a long, fun filled day ahead! The coast you stop at is beautiful! You can enjoy your tea or coffee while watching surfers ride the rolling waves. After you finish your coffee/tea you hop back on the bus!

Stop 2: 

Your second stop is at the iconic Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. This arch was built as a tribute to the World War One servicemen who built the Great Ocean Road. After taking pictures of the arch, walk down the path to the beach. This is another beautiful beach that makes for some great pictures!

Stop 3: 

Now it is time for some lunch in Apollo Bay! You choose your meal before even getting to the cafe so your food is ready right when you arrive! This cafe was delicious and has options for all dietary requirements. Just tell them your dietary needs and they will prepare your food to meet your needs! After lunch, you have some time to explore the coast, buy some souvenirs, or get some ice cream at the award winning shop in town. You can even try Vegemite flavored ice cream! It actually wasn’t too bad in my opinion.

Stop 4: 

After lunch, you make your way along the winding road along the coast and start to make your way inland. Along the way you get to stop and look for wild koalas! Your guide will tell you the best place to locate them, but koalas are wild animals, so there is no guarantee. We were fortunate enough to spot one koala. The koala was rolled up in a ball, but still awesome to see one in the wild! There are also TONS of birds in this area that aren’t afraid to come close to you, especially if you have food!

Stop 5: 

Once you spot your koala, you make your way to the dense and green temperate rainforest! Here you get to take the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk through the towering trees and lush ferns. The walk only takes ~30 minutes. Walking through the rainforest always gives me a deep appreciation for our planet and its wildlife. It truly is incredible.

Stop 6: 

After your amazing walk through the rainforest, you head back to the coast and arrive in Port Campbell National Park. This park is home to the well-known and famous 12 Apostles. You get to spend ~40 minutes here to walk along the boardwalks and take tons of pictures. Did you know that there sadly isn’t 12 of the apostles left anymore? There are only 8 as the others have collapsed. Still magnificent and worth a visit. The dramatic cliffs, the apostles, and the crashing waves make for one fantastic view.

Stop 7: 

After visiting the 12 Apostles, you take a short drive to Loch Ard George which is also within the National Park. This is the site of one of Australia’s most well-known shipwrecks. There are multiple trails you can take to see caves, coves, and different rock formations such as the Razorback and the Island Archway.

After an exhausting but awesome day, you take the country roads back to Melbourne. This is the perfect time to look at all the amazing pictures you took or to take a nap. This tour allows you to see so much all in one day and is perfect for the travelers who don’t have transportation, are on a budget, and have limited time.