Chart to play with
The Great Ocean Road reverse tour, and who it suits
Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles day trip from Melbourne
★ 4.7 · 6,340 guest ratings
Twelve months on the coast
The coast road through the year
Choose a month to compare sunrise, sunset and day length near the Twelve Apostles, with what the sources say about the season.
Sunset
Jan
- Sunset roughly at 20:54
High season by Tourism Australia's reckoning, so expect more people at the stacks.8
Feb
- Sunset roughly at 20:29
The last month of the high season; midday is still the busiest time at the stacks.4
Mar
- Sunset roughly at 19:49
Apr
- Sunset roughly at 18:01
May
- Sunset roughly at 17:26
Jun
- Sunset roughly at 17:12
Low season starts here. Check the sunrise against a 6:30 AM pickup before you book.8
Jul
- Sunset roughly at 17:24
Midwinter: the sun is up late, and wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk.7
Sep
- Sunset roughly at 18:16
Oct
- Sunset roughly at 19:44
Nov
- Sunset roughly at 20:18
Dec
- Sunset roughly at 20:48
High season begins; the stack colors shift from soft gold in the morning to orange and red at sunset.2
Sunrise, sunset and day length are worked out for the 15th of each month at the Twelve Apostles, on Victorian time with daylight saving. Season notes come from Tourism Australia and the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority; no weather station is close enough to the stacks, so the chart shows no temperatures.
Most days start on the surf coast and end at the stacks. A reverse day turns that order around. Here is what changes in the morning, in the light and in the crowd, and which listings do it.
Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~6 min read
In brief
- The ideaA reverse day runs inland first and reaches the stacks before larger groups.
- The routeParks Victoria gives about 3 hours by the inland route and 4.5 hours by the coast.1
- The lightThe stack colours shift from soft gold in the morning to orange and red at sunset.2
- The startThe boutique reverse day offers pickups at 6:30 AM, 6:40 AM and 6:50 AM.
- The priceReverse listings here start from $55 up to $99.
What reverse means on a coast road
The classic Great Ocean Road day starts on the surf coast and ends at the limestone stacks. The day we list follows that order: Torquay Surf Beach, a koala and parrot stop, Cape Patton, Apollo Bay, a forest walk, the Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, with dinner in Colac on the way back. A Great Ocean Road reverse tour turns the plan around, so the stacks come early and the coast comes at the end of the day.
The boutique reverse listing describes exactly that, with the stacks coming early in the day. The day runs inland in the morning, reaches the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge before the larger tour groups, takes a guided rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park and returns along the coast. Another reverse listing says the day goes inland first and reaches the Shipwreck Coast before other tour buses. The operators present the order as the selling point.
The order is possible because there are two ways to reach the stacks. Parks Victoria gives the park as 4.5 hours from Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road and 3 hours via the inland route.1 A reverse day takes the shorter inland way out and the scenic coast way back, which is a design choice that classic days do not make.
Side by side
The reverse listings compared
| Day | Group | Length | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ten-stop reverse | Small groups available | 12 to 13 hours | $55 |
| Small-group sunrise | Small group | Not stated | $70 |
| Premium reverse | 10 to 14 guests | 11 hours 30 minutes | $92 |
| Boutique reverse | Limited to 11 | About 12 hours | $97 |
| 28-seater reverse | 28-seater vehicles | 13 hours | $99 |
Prices are from prices, not exact quotes, and lengths are as each listing gives them.
Why the stacks come first, and what the light does
The reason to reverse is the crowd and the light. 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 visit.4 A reverse day that reaches the stacks in the morning aims at the first of those windows.
The Authority also says the colors of the stacks shift through the day, from soft gold in the morning to rich orange and red at sunset.2 A morning arrival sees the gold, and an afternoon arrival on a classic day sees the warmer tones. Neither is wrong, and the two keep different promises, so decide which light you want in your photographs before you choose a direction.
One reverse listing also says arriving in the morning gives extra color in the stacks that the afternoon does not, and a second says the day avoids the crowds by exploring the road from the other direction. Treat those as the operators' claims. The official statement is the one above: the middle of the day is the busiest, and the ends of the day are quieter.4
Length of the day
How long each day runs, in hours
- Premium reverse11.5
- Boutique reverse12
- 28-seater reverse13
- Our classic day13.5
Lengths are as the listings give them: 11 hours 30 minutes, 12 hours, 13 hours and for our classic day 13 hours 30 minutes.
A reverse day in order, from pickup to the coast road home
The start is early. The boutique reverse day has three pickup points: 6:30 AM at Flinders Street opposite Federation Square, 6:40 AM on La Trobe Street near Melbourne Central Station and 6:50 AM on Spencer Street near Southern Cross Station. A premium reverse day confirms the pickup time the night before for postcodes 3000, 3006 and 3008. Set an alarm, and arrive at the point a few minutes early.
The first stop is breakfast. The boutique day starts with breakfast in a rural town, bought by the guest, and another small-group reverse day names Colac for that stop. Then the vehicle runs inland, and the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge come early in the day. Parks Victoria says Loch Ard Gorge is just minutes from the Twelve Apostles, so the two stops pair naturally.3
After the stacks the day heads for the forest and the coast. The reverse listings include a guided rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park and a return along the Great Ocean Road. A picnic lunch at one of the stops features on another reverse day, which runs 13 hours in 28-seater vehicles. You finish on the surf coast, the reverse of the classic day.
A short chooser
Is the reverse direction for you
Match your wish to the answer and the fact behind it.
If I want a quieter first hour at the stacks
Choose a reverse day
The authority says midday is busiest and suggests earlier or later visits.4
If I like soft morning light
Choose a reverse day
The stack colors shift from soft gold in the morning.2
If I hate early alarms
Stay with the classic order
The boutique reverse day starts with pickups from 6:30 AM.
If I want morning tea included
Stay with the classic order
The day we list includes morning tea on the way.
If I want the lowest price
Look at the ten-stop reverse
It starts from $55, the lowest opening price here.
What you gain and what you give up
The gain of the reverse order is the early stacks and, on the listings' account, a quieter viewing. The loss is that the long drive comes first, when you are fresh, and the coast road is left for the end of the day, when you may be tired. Tourism Australia says wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk and wanders onto roads, so a long return drive on the coast road late in the day is worth a thought.7
There are practical costs too. The early pickup means an early night before. Small groups mean fewer seats: the boutique reverse day is limited to 11 participants and a premium reverse day takes 10 to 14 guests. A bigger vehicle changes the feel again; the 28-seater reverse day says children 17 and younger must travel with a paying adult or legal guardian.
Weigh these against your own energy. If you wake early without trouble and like a quieter first hour at a famous place, reverse is for you. If you prefer a slower start and an unhurried breakfast, the classic order does that just as well, and you still reach the stacks in the afternoon, which the Authority names as one of the quieter windows.4
Compare the cost
Reverse days from Melbourne, priced
Pick the party size and see the from price of each day.
Compare all 4 options
Reverse days from Melbourne, priced
Pick the party size and see the from price of each day.
- Boutique reverseAbout 12 h · for each guest from $97
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View - Premium reverse11 h 30 min · for each guest from $92
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View - Small-group sunriseReverse · for each guest from $70
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View - 28-seater reverse13 h · for each guest from $99
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View
Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
The reverse day
Inland first, the coast on the way back
Early pickup
Three points in the city
The boutique day has pickups at 6:30 AM, 6:40 AM and 6:50 AM.
Breakfast
A rural town stop
Guests buy breakfast in a rural town on the boutique day, and in Colac on another.
Morning
The inland run to the stacks
Parks Victoria gives about 3 hours by the inland route.1
Next to the stacks
Loch Ard Gorge
The gorge is just minutes from the Twelve Apostles.3
Midday
A rainforest walk
A guided walk in Great Otway National Park is part of the boutique day.
Afternoon
The coast road home
The day returns along the Great Ocean Road.
Which season suits an early start
The month changes how early is early. The chart at the top of the page works out sunset and day length for your travel month from the site's coordinates, so you can see when daylight begins and ends before you book a pickup at 6:30 AM. In midwinter the sun rises late, and an early reverse day starts in the dark.
Tourism Australia names December to February as the high season and June to August as the low season on the Great Ocean Road.8 The low season has shorter days, and the high season has longer light and more people. A reverse day can help at both ends of the year, because it moves your visit to the stacks toward the quieter hours.
Whatever the month, check the weather the evening before. The ten-stop reverse day says severe weather, bushfires, traffic control, vehicle faults or road closures can change the itinerary. A flexible attitude is part of any coast trip, and a reverse day is no exception, so keep a little slack in your own plans for the evening.
Video
Self-guided driving tour of the Great Ocean Road, reversed
Kuratour on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
Their colours shift throughout the day, from soft gold in the morning to rich orange and red at sunset.
Before you book
A checklist for a reverse day
The night before3
- Go to bed early, because pickups start at 6:30 AM
- Check the pickup time and point you are given
- Remember the 24-hour free cancellation window
On the day3
- Carry money for breakfast at the first stop
- Pack layers for a cool morning at the coast
- Wear shoes for the rainforest walk
The reverse listings compared
Several operators run reverse days from Melbourne, and they differ in size and price. The ten-stop reverse day runs 12 to 13 hours, starts from $55, and has 3,380 reviews averaging 4.6. The boutique reverse day starts from $97 and has 1,751 reviews averaging 4.8. A premium reverse day starts from $92, and a small-group reverse day from $70.
The 28-seater reverse day starts from $99 and includes a picnic lunch at one of the stops. Compare the groups before you compare the prices. A day of 11 guests and a day in a 28-seater vehicle are not the same experience, even when the route is the same. Read the stops, the pickup arrangements and the length on each booking page, and let those details decide between them.
Our own listing runs the classic order, from $95 and with 6,340 reviews. If the early start and the inland morning appeal, any of the reverse days above is worth a look. If you prefer the classic order with morning tea included, ours is the one to open, and the two ideas are not exclusive: you can try one direction now and the other on a later visit.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
What is a Great Ocean Road reverse tour?
A reverse day runs inland first, reaches the stacks before larger groups and returns along the coast.
How early does a reverse day start?
The boutique reverse day offers pickups at 6:30 AM, 6:40 AM and 6:50 AM at three points in Melbourne.
Is a reverse tour less crowded at the 12 Apostles?
The authority says the stacks are popular all year, especially in the middle of the day, and suggests early or late visits.4
How big is a reverse tour group?
The boutique day is limited to 11 participants, and a premium reverse day takes 10 to 14 guests.
What does a reverse tour cost?
Reverse listings in our records start from $55, $70, $92, $97 and $99.
Can I cancel a reverse tour for free?
The reverse listings compared here are free to cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Sources
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
- Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Twelve Apostles ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park: Loch Ard Gorge ↩
- Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Twelve Apostles ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Guide to the Great Ocean Road ↩