Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour
The tour departs Melbourne at around 8:00 am. Crossing the Westgate Bridge – Australia’s longest bridge at just under 2.6 kilometres – your clients get panoramic views of the city skyline and Port Phillip Bay before heading south past Geelong and down to the Surf Coast.
First stop is Torquay for a complimentary morning tea at a beachside location. Then it’s onto the Great Ocean Road itself. The scenic drive is a highlight in its own right, with new coastal vistas appearing around every bend. Photo stops include the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View and Cape Patton. The driver-guide provides informative commentary throughout on the road’s history and its place in Australian folklore.
A detour into the eucalyptus forests near Kennett River gives travellers the chance to spot koalas in their native habitat, along with colourful birdlife including crimson rosellas and king parrots. Then it’s on to the charming coastal township of Apollo Bay for lunch (own expense).
After lunch, the road heads away from the ocean and into the impressive Otway Ranges. A guided walk through the cool temperate rainforest introduces travellers to some of the world’s tallest flowering trees and ancient rainforest species. Then onwards to the world-famous Port Campbell National Park. The Twelve Apostles are the centrepiece – those majestic limestone monoliths rising from the Southern Ocean. An optional helicopter flight is available here for travellers wanting an aerial perspective.
Gibsons Steps offers the chance to descend to beach level for views of two of the Apostles from below. Then Loch Ard Gorge, the heart of the Shipwreck Coast, where the guide recounts the tragic wreck of 1878. Further formations to explore include the Razorback, the Dumpling Pots, and the Island Archway. A dinner stop is made on the return journey before arriving back in Melbourne between 20:30 and 21:30.
Trade tip: This is a 12-13 hour day, so set expectations with clients accordingly. The morning tea inclusion is a nice touch. Lunch in Apollo Bay is at own expense – suggest clients bring snacks for the afternoon stretch. The optional helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles is a strong upsell for premium travellers. Small group format (max 24) with upgraded seating makes the long day considerably more comfortable than budget coach alternatives.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade Small Group Eco Tour
Day two runs the day after the Great Ocean Road tour. It begins with a visit to Melbourne’s iconic Brighton Beach Boxes – those instantly recognisable colourful bathing boxes that line the foreshore. It’s a quick stop but a guaranteed highlight for photography.
From there, the tour heads to a multi-award-winning Wildlife Conservation Park where travellers can meet and view native Australian animals up close. Moonlit Sanctuary is included in the tour – over 70 Australian species in an intimate bushland setting. Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, encounter koalas, and see endangered species that most visitors would never come across otherwise.
The tour continues to Phillip Island for the main event. As sunset approaches, travellers take their seats at the Penguin Parade to watch the world’s smallest penguins emerge from the ocean and waddle up the beach to their burrows. It’s genuinely magical. The little penguins arrive in groups, navigating the sand with that distinctive shuffle, and the experience runs for as long as the penguins keep coming ashore.
Return to Melbourne is between 21:00 and midnight, depending on the season (sunset timing dictates the Penguin Parade schedule).
Trade tip: The late return is the main consideration for agents building itineraries around this tour. In summer, sunset is later, meaning returns can push toward midnight. In winter, the penguins come ashore earlier and the return is more reasonable. Moonlit Sanctuary entry and Penguin Parade admission are both included. This is one of Australia’s most popular wildlife experiences and books out regularly – secure spots early, especially for peak season departures. The Brighton Beach Boxes stop at the start of the day is a crowd-pleaser that costs nothing but adds real perceived value.
Melbourne City Discovery Tour – Included Free
The third component of this package is a half-day Melbourne City Discovery Tour, included at no additional cost. Travellers can choose any available date for this tour, giving flexibility in how the three days are scheduled.
The tour explores Melbourne’s enchanting gardens, lively eateries, captivating arcades, and thriving arts scene. Travellers immerse themselves in the city’s famous cafe culture and explore the hidden laneways that Melbourne is known for worldwide. The route takes in the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) forecourt, the Shrine of Remembrance, and other iconic landmarks.
Pick-up and drop-off for the city tour is at the corner of Flinders and Market Street, next to the Immigration Museum (400 Flinders Street) – there’s no hotel pick-up for this component.
Morning tours return around 12:30 to 13:30 (seasonal), while afternoon tours wrap up at approximately 17:45.
Trade tip: This free city tour is a genuine value-add that makes the overall package more attractive. It works well as a first-day orientation before the two regional tours, or as a relaxed final day activity. The fixed pick-up point at Flinders Street is central and easy to reach from most Melbourne hotels. Worth noting that this is a half-day experience, so clients still have time for independent exploration, shopping, or dining on the same day. The audio guide app covers 16 languages, which is particularly useful for non-English-speaking markets.
The Full Great Ocean Road Experience
The Great Ocean Road stretches along Victoria’s south-western coast and is one of the most scenic coastal drives anywhere in the world. This tour covers the key highlights in a single, well-paced day.
After departing Melbourne and crossing the Westgate Bridge, the first stretch takes travellers past Geelong – Victoria’s second-largest city – before reaching the Surf Coast. Torquay is the starting point of the Great Ocean Road itself and home to the famous Bells Beach surfing precinct. The complimentary morning tea here gives travellers a chance to stretch their legs and take in the coastal atmosphere.
The drive from Torquay to Apollo Bay is the most visually dramatic section. Your clients wind along cliff edges with the Southern Ocean crashing below. The Memorial Arch at Eastern View is the signature photo stop. The eucalyptus forests near Kennett River are where the wild koala sightings happen – the guide knows the best spots to look.
The Otway Ranges section after Apollo Bay takes the road inland through ancient cool temperate rainforest. It’s a completely different landscape. The guided rainforest walk here introduces some of the oldest plant species on the continent.
Port Campbell National Park is where everything builds to. The Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Gibsons Steps, the Razorback, the Island Archway. The guide brings each location to life with stories – particularly the Loch Ard shipwreck of 1878, which makes the gorge feel entirely different once you know the history.
Trade tip: The Great Ocean Road is the single most requested day tour from Melbourne. Having it as Day 1 of this three-day package sets the tone. The return journey through inland Victoria is quicker than the coastal route, but it’s still a long day. Advise clients to wear comfortable shoes for the rainforest walk and the steps at Gibsons Beach. The optional helicopter flight over the Apostles is weather-dependent but extraordinary when conditions are right.
Brighton Beach Boxes, Moonlit Sanctuary & the Penguin Parade
The Phillip Island day has a different rhythm to the Great Ocean Road. It starts gently with the Brighton Beach Boxes – those heritage bathing boxes that have become one of Melbourne’s most photographed landmarks. Quick stop, big impact on social media.
Moonlit Sanctuary sits on the Mornington Peninsula, directly en route to Phillip Island. It’s an award-winning wildlife park with over 70 Australian species in a natural bushland setting. The hands-on encounters here are what set it apart from larger, more commercial wildlife parks. Travellers can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, get close to koalas, and see endangered species including the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. It feels intimate rather than crowded.
The tour then crosses to Phillip Island. As the sun sets, the Penguin Parade begins. Little penguins – the world’s smallest penguin species – emerge from the ocean in groups and make their way up the beach to their sand dune burrows. The viewing area is set up so travellers can watch the procession at close range. It’s one of those experiences that genuinely delivers, every single evening, regardless of season.
The Penguin Parade runs 365 days a year. Timing shifts with the seasons – earlier in winter, later in summer – which is why return times to Melbourne vary between 21:00 and midnight.
Trade tip: The Penguin Parade admission is included in the package, which simplifies things. For agents wanting to upsell, the Penguins Plus and Ultimate Tour upgrades at the Parade offer enhanced experiences (underground viewing and private beach access respectively) but would need to be arranged separately. The Moonlit Sanctuary inclusion is a strong wildlife component that means travellers don’t need to add a standalone wildlife park visit elsewhere in their Melbourne itinerary.
Melbourne’s Laneways, Gardens & Sporting Heritage
The complimentary Melbourne City Discovery Tour rounds out the three-day package. It’s a half-day experience that works as either a morning or afternoon departure, and clients can choose their preferred date independently of the other two tours.
Melbourne’s appeal to international travellers lies in its layers. The tour peels back a few of them. The hidden laneways and arcades are where the city’s personality really shows – street art, independent coffee roasters, hole-in-the-wall eateries. The guide navigates through spots that most travellers would walk straight past without local knowledge.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) forecourt visit taps into Australia’s sporting culture. Even for travellers with no cricket background, the scale and atmosphere of the ground make an impression. The Shrine of Remembrance provides a quieter, more reflective moment. The Royal Botanic Gardens offer beautiful green space in the heart of the city.
The audio guide app supports 16 languages, with Discovery Clips – short explainer videos – available in 17 languages. This is particularly valuable for Chinese, Japanese, and other non-English-speaking markets where guided commentary in the traveller’s own language transforms the experience.
Trade tip: The multilingual audio guide is a genuine differentiator for this product. For agents serving Asian and Middle Eastern markets, the ability to offer a guided Melbourne experience in the client’s native language removes a significant barrier. The half-day format leaves plenty of time for independent shopping, dining, or other activities on the same day. Position this as a Melbourne orientation that helps travellers get their bearings before exploring on their own.
Inclusions Across All Three Tour Days
Understanding exactly what’s covered helps agents set clear expectations and avoid client queries on the ground. Here’s the full breakdown.
Great Ocean Road Tour (Day 1):
- Select hotel pick-up and drop-off within Melbourne city
- Complimentary morning tea at a beachside Surf Coast location
- National Park entry fees included
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach with upgraded seating
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- Audio guide in 16 languages via Go West Tours app
- Passionate and experienced driver-guide
- Guided rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges
Phillip Island Tour (Day 2):
- Select hotel pick-up and drop-off within Melbourne city
- Penguin Parade general admission ticket
- Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park entry
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach with upgraded seating
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- Audio guide in 16 languages
Melbourne City Discovery Tour (Day 3 – FREE):
- Half-day guided city tour
- Pick-up and drop-off at corner of Flinders and Market Street (no hotel pick-up)
- Audio guide and Discovery Clips in multiple languages
Not included: Meals and drinks (designated stops for lunch and dinner are provided on Days 1 and 2). Optional helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles. Penguin Parade upgrades (Penguins Plus or Ultimate Tour).
How the Three Days Work Together
The scheduling for this package follows a set structure. The Great Ocean Road tour is booked on the date chosen at checkout. The Phillip Island Penguin Parade tour is automatically booked for the following day. The Melbourne City Discovery Tour can be scheduled on any available date – before, after, or between the other two tours.
Pick-up times:
- Great Ocean Road: 7:00 am to 8:00 am (select hotel pick-ups)
- Phillip Island: Varies – confirmed after booking
- Melbourne City: Fixed meeting point at 400 Flinders Street
Return times:
- Great Ocean Road: 20:30 to 21:30
- Phillip Island: 21:00 to midnight (seasonal, dependent on sunset)
- Melbourne City: Morning tour returns 12:30-13:30 / Afternoon tour returns 17:45
Hotel pick-ups: Available for Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island tours from select Melbourne city hotels only. When clients enter their hotel name during booking, this doesn’t guarantee pick-up from that location. Confirmed pick-up details are emailed after booking.
Trade tip: The consecutive Day 1/Day 2 structure for the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island tours can’t be swapped. Build client itineraries around this. If your clients are arriving from a long-haul flight, consider scheduling the flexible Melbourne City Tour as Day 1 (a gentler half-day introduction) and starting the regional tours on Day 2 and 3 when they’ve had a night’s rest.
Other Go West Tours to Pair With This Package
For clients spending more than three days in Melbourne, several complementary day tours extend the regional Victorian experience.
Puffing Billy & Redwood Forest Tour: A 10-hour day that includes a ride on the century-old Puffing Billy steam train, free time in Warburton, a walk through the tranquil Redwood Forest, and wine tasting or chocolate in the Yarra Valley. This pairs naturally with the Great Ocean Road and Penguin Parade package, adding the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley without any overlap.
Lake Mountain Winter Wonderland Snow Tour: An 11-hour winter-season experience featuring snow play at Lake Mountain, stunning Steavenson Falls, and a visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Seasonal (winter only) but adds a dimension of Victoria that most international travellers don’t expect.
Puffing Billy & Penguin Parade Tour: A 14-17 hour marathon that combines the iconic steam train with the evening Penguin Parade. For clients who’ve already done the Great Ocean Road separately and want a single-day alternative that includes penguins alongside the Dandenongs.
Trade tip: The Puffing Billy & Redwood Forest Tour is the strongest add-on. It covers the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley – regions that complement rather than duplicate what the three-day package already delivers. For agents building four- or five-night Melbourne itineraries, this combination covers most of regional Victoria’s hero experiences.
PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS
