Lowest opening price
The full day
A shared vehicle
- Length13 hours 30 minutes
- Morning teaIncluded
- Starts from$95
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A private Great Ocean Road tour or a small group, compared
Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles day trip from Melbourne
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Compare all 4 options
Full, small-group and private days, priced
Pick the party size and see the from price of each day.
- Full day13 h 30 min · for each guest from $95
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View - Small group, reverseAbout 12 h · for each guest from $97
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View - Private dayAbout 12 h · from just $567
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View - Private, car or van12 h · from just $617
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Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
The same limestone coast comes in three sizes of day: a full coach-style group, a small group of about a dozen, and a private vehicle for your own party. Here is what each one changes.
Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~6 min read
In brief
- Full dayThe day we list starts from $95 and runs 13 hours 30 minutes.
- Small groupA boutique reverse day is limited to 11 participants and starts from $97.
- PrivatePrivate day listings start from $567, $617 and $772, with more luxury ones above.
- FlexibilityOne private listing lets you start or finish early by request.
- CancellingEvery listing here is free to cancel up to 24 hours before.
Three sizes of day on the same coast
Every tour on this road visits much the same places: the surf coast, a forest walk, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. What changes is who is in the vehicle with you. A private Great Ocean Road tour keeps the vehicle to your own party, a small-group day carries about a dozen guests, and a full day on a larger vehicle carries more. Each choice trades price against privacy and flexibility.
The full-day listing we use as our reference runs 13 hours 30 minutes from selected hotels in the Melbourne CBD, with morning tea included and a live English guide. A deluxe minibus day sits just above it, with a maximum of 24 guests and recorded commentary in 16 languages. Small-group days then cap the number far lower, at 11 for the boutique reverse day and for a second small-group day from Melbourne.
Private days work differently again. A private group day with a 12-hour length and English, Chinese and Traditional Chinese guides lists a car sized to your party, from a 5-seater for 3 travelers or fewer to a 7-seater or larger vehicle for 4 or more. A luxury private minibus day takes up to 14 passengers over 10 hours. Read the size of the vehicle before the size of the price.
Side by side
The listings compared on size, length and price
| Day | Group | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full day, our reference | Not stated | 13 hours 30 minutes | $95 |
| Deluxe minibus | Up to 24 | About 13 hours | $112 |
| Boutique reverse | Limited to 11 | About 12 hours | $97 |
| Small group day | Up to 11 | 11 hours | $180 |
| Private day | Private group | 12 hours | $617 |
| Luxury private | Up to 14 | 10 hours | $945 |
Prices are from prices, not exact quotes, and the record does not say whether a private price is for one guest or a group.
What a private tour buys, and what it costs
The main thing a Great Ocean Road private tour buys is the clock. One private or small-group listing says the itinerary can be customized, with a start or finish earlier than usual on request, and it lists the Split Point Lighthouse, Kennett River, the Gibson Steps, the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge as its stops. That is the opposite of a fixed coach day, and it suits families, couples and anyone who wants to linger.
The opening prices show the jump clearly. The private listings in our records start from $567, $617 and $772, and a luxury private minibus listing starts from $945. The day we list starts from $95. Those are the opening prices the listings show, and what you pay on a given date can move, so check the live price when you pick a day.
Languages are another reason to go private. One private listing offers live guides in English, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, Italian and French, and another offers English, Hindi and Bengali. If your group shares a language that coach days do not cover, a private day lets you ask for it. Always confirm the guide language on the booking page before you pay.
Group size
The largest group each listing allows
- Boutique reverse11
- Small group day11
- Luxury minibus14
- Deluxe minibus24
Group caps as the listings state them: limited to 11, up to 11, up to 14 and a maximum of 24 guests.
Small groups: fewer seats, more time at each stop
A small-group Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne sits between the two. The boutique reverse day is limited to 11 participants, has a live English guide and an audio guide in 14 languages, and starts from $97. A premium reverse day for 10 to 14 guests adds reclining seats and complimentary bottled water, from $92. A small-group day for up to 11 passengers starts from $180 and says lunch is not included.
The figures show that small group does not always mean expensive. The boutique reverse day starts only a little above the full-day listing we use as a reference, while the small-group day for up to 11 starts from $180. The records do not explain the gap, so compare group size, direction and what is included together rather than by the price alone.
Quiet hours are the other thing small groups can chase. The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority says the Twelve Apostles are popular all year, especially in the middle of the day, and suggests early morning or later in the afternoon for a quieter experience.1 A reverse small-group day aims at exactly that, and our reverse-direction page explains how the order of the day changes.
A short chooser
Which size of day suits your party
Match your party to the answer and the fact behind it.
If We are a couple on a budget
Join a full-day tour
The day we list starts from $95, the lowest opening price of this set.
If We want a quieter group
Choose a small group
The boutique reverse day is limited to 11 participants.
If We want to set our own timings
Book a private day
One private listing allows an early start or finish by request.
If We are a group of ten or more
Look at the luxury minibus
A private luxury minibus takes up to 14 passengers.
If We speak Spanish or Italian
Ask a private operator
One private listing offers guides in Spanish, Italian, French and more.
Three kinds of day
Full group, small group or private
Limited to 11
The small group
Fewer seats, inland first
- GroupLimited to 11
- Audio guide14 languages
- Starts from$97
Your own pace
The private day
Your own vehicle
- LengthAbout 12 hours
- ItineraryCustomizable by request
- Starts from$567
Who a private or small-group day suits
Families with young children benefit most from the flexibility of a private vehicle. The listing for one private day gives an age range of 3 to 100 for guests, which is wide enough for a family with a toddler or a grandparent. A private vehicle also means you can stop when a child needs a break, and nobody else in the vehicle is waiting.
Older travelers and anyone with limited mobility should check the access at the stops. Tourism Australia says you can wander a level pathway to admire the 12 Apostles, and the Parks Victoria visitor guide describes an all abilities footpath under the Great Ocean Road to the viewing platforms.4,5 Ask the operator about the vehicle, the walking involved and the pace before you book, because the listing records do not say.
Couples and small groups of friends are the natural audience for the luxury end. A private luxury minibus takes up to 14 passengers and lets the group choose stops from a menu of surf, forest and coast options. Splitting a private vehicle between several people is often how a private day becomes sensible on cost, but we leave the arithmetic to the booking page, which shows the live price.
Choosing in order
From party size to a confirmed day
Count your party
Decide how many are coming
A private listing sizes the vehicle to the party, from a 5-seater to a 7-seater or larger.
Pick the size of day
Full day, small group or private
Group caps run from 11 on small-group days to 24 on a deluxe minibus day.
Check the stops
Read the listed stops
Private and small-group listings differ on stops such as Split Point and Maits Rest.
Confirm pickup
Ask about the time and place
A premium reverse day confirms pickup the night before for postcodes 3000, 3006 and 3008.
Keep it flexible
Use the free cancellation
Cancel free up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Small groups, wildlife and the Otways
Several small-group and private days build in forest time. The boutique reverse day takes a guided rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park, and a private listing names a walk in Maits Rest rainforest. The small-group day for up to 11 says walking shoes are needed for the rainforest walk, so pack accordingly.
The wildlife on these days is wild. Tourism Australia says wild koalas can be spotted at Kennett River, and lists koalas, kangaroos and emus in the Otways.6,7 A smaller group makes it easier to approach quietly, and easier for the guide to stop at the right place. Tourism Australia also asks visitors to resist the urge to touch wildlife and not to feed it.2,3
That is also where a small group can earn its price. A guide with a handful of guests can pause for a koala sighting or a view without the delay of a larger vehicle, and everyone can hear the guide at the roadside. You still depend on luck, the weather and the animals, so treat every sighting as a gift and never as a promise.
Video
A day trip to the Great Ocean Road
Ricky and Bee on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
The Twelve Apostles are popular year round, especially during the middle of the day. For a quieter experience, visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Before you book
A checklist for a private or small-group day
Before you pay3
- Tell the operator the size of your party
- Check the live price for your date, not just the opening price
- Note the free cancellation window of 24 hours
On the day3
- Confirm the pickup time and place the night before
- Wear walking shoes for the rainforest walk
- Carry money for lunch where it is not included
How to choose, and what to check before you book
Start with the party. A pair or a small family is a very different booking from a large group of friends, and the vehicle changes with the number: one private listing gives a 5-seater car for 3 travelers or fewer and a larger vehicle for 4 or more. Tell the operator your numbers early, and ask whether the price changes with the vehicle.
Then check the plan. A listing may say the itinerary can vary with weather, traffic and daylight hours, as the ten-stop coach day does. Pickup also differs: the boutique reverse day has three pickup points, at 6:30 AM, 6:40 AM and 6:50 AM, while the premium reverse day confirms the time the night before for postcodes 3000, 3006 and 3008.
Last, check the rules for cancelling. Every listing in this comparison offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before for a full refund. That gives you room to book early and adjust if the weather turns, but not to decide at the last hour. Before you confirm, read the listing once more for the group size, the stops and the pickup, and keep a copy of the voucher on your phone for the morning of the trip.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How much does a private Great Ocean Road tour cost?
From $567 in our records.
Private day listings start from $567, $617 and $772, and a luxury private minibus starts from $945.
How big is a small-group Great Ocean Road tour?
About 11 guests on two days.
The boutique reverse day is limited to 11 participants, and another small-group day is for up to 11 passengers.
Can a private tour start earlier or finish earlier?
One listing says yes, by request.
A private or small-group listing says you can start or end early with a personalized itinerary on request.
What vehicle does a private tour use?
It depends on your party.
One listing gives a 5-seater car for 3 travelers or fewer and a 7-seater or larger vehicle for 4 or more.
Is the day free to cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before.
The listings compared here offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Do small-group days include lunch?
Check each listing.
The small-group day for up to 11 says lunch in Apollo Bay is not included.
Sources
- Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Twelve Apostles ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Guide to the Great Ocean Road ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Guide to the Great Ocean Road ↩