Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour London Bridge Wildlife

The clever part of this Great Ocean Road trip is the reverse route. You reach London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge, and the Twelve Apostles at a different time from many standard tours, which can mean fewer crowds and better light for photos. I like the extra stop at London Bridge, a dramatic coastal formation that many day trips skip, and I like that the day includes real chances to spot koalas, kangaroos, and parrots in the wild.

I also like the choice of three vehicle types, from a full-size coach to a 15-seat Mercedes van. The tradeoff is the length: this is a 13-hour day, with roughly three hours on the road before the main sights. Lunch comes late, around 3 PM, so bring snacks for the journey.

Key points

• Reverse route: Visit the major coastal sights at a time designed to reduce crowding and harsh backlight.
• London Bridge included: Add a 15-minute photo stop at a coastal formation often left off standard day tours.
• Wildlife opportunities: Look for koalas, kangaroos, parrots, and possibly other native animals around Kennett River and nearby bush.
• Three travel styles: Pick a classic coach, a mid-size group capped at 35 people, or a Mercedes van limited to 15.
• Apollo Bay lunch stop: Take a break in a relaxed seaside town, with waterfront restaurants and local seafood.
• Strong guide reports: William, Philip or Phillip, and Allan are praised for humor, clear explanations, careful driving, and helping people make the most of the day.

Why the reverse route matters on the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of those places where timing changes the whole experience. A standard day trip often heads straight toward the Twelve Apostles, arriving when several buses are already unloading. This tour works in the opposite direction, placing London Bridge and the western coastal sights early in the day before moving back toward Apollo Bay and Melbourne.

That plan has two practical benefits. First, the famous rock stacks may feel less crowded. Second, the sun can be kinder for photographs than it is during the middle of the day, when bright glare can flatten the cliffs and sea.

You should still expect a full day of driving. Melbourne is far from the main western viewpoints, and the first stretch can last about three hours. After that, stops arrive more often, usually every 45 minutes to an hour. I would bring a neck pillow if you find coach seats uncomfortable, especially since one detailed account noted limited head support on the initial run.

The route is not a slow, leisurely coastal holiday. It is a smart way to see a very large area in one day.

London Bridge gives the day an extra coastal stop

London Bridge is an excellent addition because it gives you another piece of the coast beyond the standard headline sights. The name refers to a natural rock formation shaped by erosion, and the stop is short, about 15 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a quick look, but not enough for a long walk.

This is a scenic pause rather than a major visit. You will be standing outdoors, taking in the cliffs and open sea before getting back on the road. Bring a jacket even on a warm Melbourne morning, since the coast can feel cool and windy.

The stop also helps the day feel less repetitive. The Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge are the stars, but the Great Ocean Road is best understood as a chain of changing headlands, beaches, rock shelves, and forested stretches.

Loch Ard Gorge brings stories to the cliffs

Loch Ard Gorge combines strong scenery with a human story. The gorge is linked with the wreck of the Loch Ard, one of the best-known shipwrecks along this coast. Here, your guide can connect the cliffs and water to the dangers faced by ships approaching Victoria.

You get time for a visit, photographs, and a break rather than a quick roadside glance. The gorge is especially rewarding because it has more shape and shelter than the exposed viewpoints. You can look down into the narrow inlet, study the tall cliffs, and see how the sea has carved through the rock.

Pay attention to your guide here. William and Philip are repeatedly praised for explaining both Australian culture and the story behind the places you see. That context turns a series of photo stops into a more meaningful day.

The Twelve Apostles are worth the long ride

The Twelve Apostles are the main reason many people book this trip, and the first sight of the limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean is memorable. The name is traditional rather than literal, and the number of stacks has changed over time as erosion reshapes the coast.

You get free time to visit the viewing area, take photographs, and see the cliffs from different angles. The stop is not a private or quiet experience, but the reverse schedule may give you more breathing room than a conventional route.

I would keep your expectations realistic. The Twelve Apostles are spectacular, but this is a popular public viewpoint, not an empty wilderness. Your time is shared with other visitors, and weather can change the color and mood of the coast quickly. Wind, cloud, and sea spray are part of the setting, so pack layers rather than relying on a warm forecast in Melbourne.

A helicopter flight is offered as an optional extra at an additional cost. It is not included in the tour price, so treat it as a separate choice rather than part of the basic experience.

Kennett River is your best wildlife chance

Kennett River is where the day shifts from huge coastal views to small, lively encounters. You stop for a walk, photographs, and wildlife viewing. Koalas may be resting in the branches, while kangaroos can appear in the surrounding bush. Native parrots are another possibility.

No responsible tour can promise a particular animal, but this stop gives you a genuine chance to see Australian wildlife in its natural setting. Several people on the trip have had memorable koala and kangaroo sightings, including a mother and baby koala. Others have also seen stingrays during the day.

Keep your eyes up in the trees and move quietly. The point is not a staged animal display. It is the pleasure of noticing wildlife where it happens to be living. Your guide can help by checking likely areas and pointing out what you might otherwise miss. Allan, William, and Philip are all praised for making an effort to help people see more than the main viewpoints.

Apollo Bay is a useful lunch break

Apollo Bay arrives around midday on the route, but the actual lunch timing can be closer to 3 PM depending on traffic and the day’s progress. This is the main practical warning for the tour. Eat breakfast, pack snacks for the coach, and do not assume you will have an early lunch.

The town has a laid-back seaside feel, waterfront restaurants, and choices including fresh seafood. You have free time to eat and look around, although the schedule may not allow a long beach walk. One detailed account found enough time to eat but not enough time to stroll along the shore.

That is a fair trade on a day covering so much ground. Apollo Bay is a pleasant pause, but it is not the central attraction. If you want a slow lunch, browsing time, and a relaxed walk by the water, you may find this stop too tight. If your priority is seeing the Great Ocean Road’s major sights in one day, the break does its job.

Great Otway National Park adds forest to the coast

The coach passes through Great Otway National Park, where the scenery changes from open ocean and pale cliffs to forest and fern country. You may not have a dedicated park walk, but the drive adds welcome variety.

The Otways are important because they show that this road is not only about the coast. Dense trees, damp air, and fern-covered ground create a very different feeling from the exposed Twelve Apostles viewpoint. Watch the roadside as you travel, since the forest is also part of the wider habitat that supports native wildlife.

The pass-through nature of this section is worth noting. If your main goal is a longer forest hike, this tour is not designed for that. It gives you a broad sample of the region rather than deep time in one park.

The Memorial Arch closes the road story

The Memorial Arch at Eastern View is a fitting final photo stop. The large wooden arch honors the workers who built the Great Ocean Road after the First World War. It is more than a convenient picture point: it helps explain why this route exists and why it matters in Victorian history.

You get time to visit and take photographs. By this point, you will have seen the road from the ocean side, the forest, the towns, and the major rock formations. The arch ties those pieces together.

This stop also marks the shift back toward Melbourne. After a long day, it is a simple and useful final pause before drop-off.

Choose your coach with the journey in mind

The three options suit different priorities.

The Classic Coach Tour uses a spacious, air-conditioned coach and departs from a central Melbourne meeting point around 7:00 to 7:30 AM. It is the straightforward budget choice, though a larger coach can feel less personal.

The Mid-Size Coach Tour carries no more than 35 people. I see this as the sensible middle ground. You still get the reverse route, London Bridge, wildlife stops, and the main coastal sights, but the group is smaller than on a full-size coach.

The Premium Small-Group Tour uses a late-model Mercedes Benz van for no more than 15 people. It includes complimentary pickup in Melbourne’s CBD and leaves around 8:00 AM, giving you an extra hour in bed. That later start and smaller group are useful, but you should expect to pay more for them than the headline $38 price.

All options include an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. The guide can make a major difference during such a long day. Philip is praised for humor and positive energy, William for clear explanations and careful driving, and Allan for going out of his way to help with wildlife sightings. Guide assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one named person will lead your trip.

Is $38 good value for a 13-hour day?

At $38 per person, the advertised price is very low for a full-day excursion covering the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, Apollo Bay, wildlife areas, and transport from Melbourne. You are getting a lot of ground covered without renting a car or managing the long drive yourself.

The price does not include lunch or the optional helicopter ride. It also does not turn the day into a luxury experience. You are paying for transport, a guide, and access to a well-planned route, not for private touring or extended time at every stop.

The value is strongest if you have only one day for the Great Ocean Road. A self-drive trip could give you more freedom, but it also requires a long return journey, careful timing, and responsibility for the road. This tour removes that work and adds local stories and wildlife spotting.

The 4.4 rating from 77 ratings fits the overall picture: very strong satisfaction, with time pressure and long driving as the main concerns. I would call it excellent value for a budget-minded visitor who accepts that the day will be busy.

What to pack for the long coastal day

Pack for changing conditions rather than one forecast.

• Bring snacks and water for the early drive, since lunch may be late.
• Wear layers. The coast can feel cooler than Melbourne, and one account specifically advised bringing extra clothing.
• Take a neck pillow if you are sensitive to coach comfort.
• Wear shoes suitable for short walks and outdoor viewpoints.
• Keep your phone or camera ready at Kennett River, but do not expect wildlife on demand.
• Do not bring alcohol, drugs, or food and drinks into the vehicle, as these are not allowed.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Pickup depends on the option you choose. Central meeting points serve the coach tours, while the premium option includes CBD pickup, though St Kilda Road is excluded from complimentary pickup despite being within postal code 3000.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather, traffic controls, road closures, or mechanical problems can force changes, so avoid scheduling a flight or other fixed commitment immediately after the tour.

Should you book the Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour?

Book it if you want the best-known Great Ocean Road sights in one long day, especially if London Bridge and wildlife matter to you. The reverse route is a useful advantage, the guide quality appears to be a real strength, and the price is hard to beat.

Choose the mid-size option if you want a sensible balance between cost and group size. Choose the Mercedes van if you value a later start, CBD pickup, and a more personal setting. The classic coach makes sense when keeping the price down is your main concern.

Skip it if you dislike long coach journeys, need a slow lunch, or want extended walks at each stop. For everyone else, this is a practical, high-value introduction to Victoria’s famous coast. Bring snacks, wear layers, and settle in for a very full day.

FAQ

How long does the Great Ocean Road tour last?

The tour lasts 13 hours. Departure times depend on the option selected, with the classic and mid-size tours leaving around 7:00 to 7:30 AM and the premium van leaving around 8:00 AM.

What sights are included?

The route includes London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge, the Twelve Apostles, Kennett River, Apollo Bay, the Memorial Arch at Eastern View, and a pass through Great Otway National Park.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the price. You have free time to eat in Apollo Bay, and the lunch stop may be around 3 PM, so bring snacks.

Can I see koalas and kangaroos?

The tour includes wildlife viewing at Kennett River, where you may see koalas, kangaroos, and parrots. Sightings are possible but cannot be guaranteed.

Which vehicle options are available?

You can choose a classic air-conditioned coach, a mid-size coach limited to 35 people, or a premium Mercedes Benz van limited to 15 people.

Is pickup available from Melbourne?

Pickup depends on the selected option. Coach tours leave from a central Melbourne meeting point, while the premium tour includes complimentary pickup in the Melbourne CBD. St Kilda Road is excluded from that complimentary pickup service.