Most freedom
A hire car
Your own pace and route
See this dayQuick decision aid
Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne: drive or join a tour
Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles day trip from Melbourne
★ 4.7 · 6,340 guest ratings
Two questions, one pick
Which guided day fits you
If you would rather not drive, say what you want from the day and a tour appears with its starting price.
The one for you
The full day we list
from $95
It runs 13 hours 30 minutes with pickup from selected CBD hotels and morning tea included.
The one for you
The ten-stop day
from $55
It runs 12 to 13 hours with 10 stops, in reverse order, and has the lowest opening price here.
The one for you
The small reverse day
from $97
It is limited to 11 participants and runs inland first with pickups from 6:30 AM.
The one for you
The deluxe minibus day
from $112
It runs about 13 hours for a maximum of 24 guests, with recorded commentary in 16 languages.
The coast road is long, winding and best seen in daylight. Here is what driving yourself asks of you, what a guided day takes off your hands, and how to decide which suits your trip.
Editorial team, 12apostlestour.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · ~7 min read
In brief
- The driveTourism Australia gives a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles.1
- The sideAustralians drive on the left, which matters most if you hire a car.2
- The tourThe day we list runs 13 hours 30 minutes with pickup from selected CBD hotels.
- The costThat tour starts from $95, and a hire car is quoted separately by the rental firm.
- The riskKangaroos, wombats and koalas are most active at dawn and dusk and wander onto roads.3
Two good ways to take the road, and what each asks of you
Almost everyone who plans a Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne ends up choosing between two things: a hire car with the freedom to stop where you like, or a seat on a guided day where someone else drives. Both reach the same limestone coast, and neither is wrong. What differs is who carries the load of navigation, parking, driving on the left and watching the clock, and how much you want to carry it yourself.
Start with the distance, because it frames everything. Tourism Australia describes the road as stretching over 243 km and gives a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles.4,1 The Parks Victoria visitor guide agrees on 4.5 hours by the coast and gives 3 hours by the inland route.5 Those are driving times without stops, and a day on this road is full of stops.
A guided day turns that arithmetic into a plan. The tour we list leaves from selected hotels in the Melbourne CBD and runs 13 hours 30 minutes, with morning tea included and commentary you can follow in many languages through an app. A hire car gives you none of that structure, and in return it gives you every hour of the day to spend as you like. The rest of this page helps you weigh those two.
Side by side
Driving yourself against a guided day
| Question | Hire a car | Guided day |
|---|---|---|
| Who drives? | You, on the left2 | The guide |
| What you need | Licence, card, passport10 | A booking and a hotel pickup |
| Dawn and dusk | Wildlife on the road3 | The day ends after dinner in Colac |
| Parking at the stacks | Inland side of the road11 | Handled by the guide |
| Price | Ask the rental firm | From $95 |
Prices for a tour are from prices; a hire car is priced by the rental firm and changes with the season.
The drive from Melbourne, hour by hour
Tourism Australia says Torquay, the official starting point of the road, is just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne.6 Its own road-trip plan puts Apollo Bay at 3 hours and 187 km from the city on day one, when you take the coast via Lorne.7 Past Apollo Bay the road leaves the surf coast for the forest and then the open Shipwreck Coast, where the Apostles stand 4.5 hours out.1
That is the answer to how long it takes to drive to the 12 Apostles from Melbourne: about 4.5 hours by the coast, with no stops, according to Tourism Australia and Parks Victoria.1,5 The inland route is shorter. Parks Victoria gives 3 hours for it, and some drivers go out by the inland road and come back along the coast, or the other way round.5 Whichever you choose, budget time for the stops you will want to make.
Parks Victoria also gives a distance for the coast route in the same sentence, but it reads 380 km for the whole trip from Melbourne, a different thing from the 243 km that Tourism Australia and the heritage listing give for the length of the road itself, so we leave that number alone and quote the times.5,4,9 Where official figures differ, the safest plan is to treat the times as a guide and to start earlier than you think you need to.
Driving on the left: rules every visitor should know
If you hire a car, the first thing to settle is the side of the road. Tourism Australia says the most important thing to know is that Australians drive on the left.2 For anyone used to the right, it suggests hiring a car with automatic transmission so there is one less thing to get used to.13 That is sound advice on a road with bends, lookouts and a lot to look at.
Check your licence before you arrive. Tourism Australia says you can drive on a foreign licence for up to three months if it is in English, and an international driving permit is needed if it is not.12 Rental firms also ask for a valid licence, a credit card as security and a passport for ID.10 Have those ready at the counter, since a delay there costs you the first hour of the day.
Speed limits are a matter of law, not advice. Tourism Australia says they are strictly enforced, and that most other roads have a 100 km/h maximum, with lower limits signposted often.15,16 On a winding coastal road you will rarely reach any maximum. Keep to the signposted limit, and treat a slow driver in front as part of the scenery rather than something to overtake on a blind bend.
Three ways to do it
A hire car, a coach day or a small group
Most reviews
A full guided day
The classic coach-style day
- Length13 hours 30 minutes
- Morning teaIncluded
- Starts from$95
Quieter feel
A small group day
Fewer people, reverse order
- GroupLimited to 11
- DirectionInland first
- Starts from$97
Daylight, wildlife and tiredness
The hours around dawn and dusk need care on this road. Tourism Australia says kangaroos, wombats and koalas are most active at dawn and dusk and are known to wander onto roads.3 Its road-trip guide adds that it is recommended to drive during the daytime for that reason.21 A day that ends with a drive back to Melbourne in the dark is a day to plan with care if you are driving yourself.
Tiredness is the other quiet danger. Tourism Australia says long distances are common in Australia, and that you should plan several rest breaks and enough petrol for the journey.17 Rest areas are located every 80 to 100 kilometres on main highways and roads.22 On a day that includes the drive out, the stops and the drive back, the person at the wheel does the most work and sees the least of the view.
A tour spreads that load differently. The listing for the day we list says guests ride in an air-conditioned vehicle and are picked up from selected CBD hotels, so nobody at the table has to hold a steering wheel after dinner in Colac. If you want to enjoy a glass of wine at lunch, or simply to look out of the window for the whole evening drive, that is a real advantage, and it is worth naming before you decide.
Compare the cost
Guided days from Melbourne, priced
Pick the party size and see the from price of each day.
Compare all 4 options
Guided days from Melbourne, priced
Pick the party size and see the from price of each day.
- The full day13 h 30 min · for each guest from $95
≈
View - Deluxe minibusAbout 13 h · for each guest from $112
≈
View - Small group, reverseAbout 12 h · for each guest from $97
≈
View - Ten stops, low priceAbout 12 h · for each guest from $55
≈
View
Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
The drive in order
How the coast road unfolds from Melbourne
Leaving the city
Through Geelong to the coast
Tourism Australia says Torquay is just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne.6
The surf coast
Torquay and the road's start
Torquay is the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road.6
Day one, end
Apollo Bay by the coast
The first day of a road-trip plan reaches Apollo Bay in 3 hours and 187 km.7
The Shipwreck Coast
The 12 Apostles
Tourism Australia gives a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne to the Apostles.1
Next to the stacks
Loch Ard Gorge and the walks
Loch Ard Gorge is just minutes from the Twelve Apostles.8
What a guided day handles that a hire car does not
The most useful thing a guide does is shorten the decisions. Parks Victoria says car and bus parking at the Apostles is on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road, with an all abilities footpath passing under the road to the viewing platforms.11 A driver finds the car park and the path alone, and a tour drops you at the right place with the time to use it.
The day we list also sets the pace for you. It stops at Torquay Surf Beach, a koala and parrot stop, Cape Patton, Apollo Bay, a guided forest walk, the Gibson Steps, the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, in that order. Choosing those stops yourself means reading maps and guessing at timings, and doing it while driving. A guide has done it before.
Prices are simple on the tour side. The day we list starts from $95 with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, while a deluxe minibus day for up to 24 guests starts from $112. For a hire car, fuel and parking, ask the rental firm for a current quote; we do not guess figures that change by season.
Video
Great Ocean Road, Australia: the ultimate road trip guide
Wout of the World on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
The most important thing you need to know about driving in Australia is that we drive on the left.
Before you decide
A checklist for either choice
If you hire a car3
If you join a tour3
- Be ready for pickup at a selected CBD hotel
- Cancel free up to 24 hours before if plans change
- Bring money for lunch and dinner on the day
When driving yourself wins
Driving suits you if you want to stay longer at a single place or sleep on the coast. Tourism Australia's multi-day road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide breaks the Great Ocean Road into days, with the first day running from Melbourne to Apollo Bay in 3 hours and 187 km.7 That kind of slow plan gives you time for places a day tour passes at speed, such as the forest walks and lookouts along the Otway coast.
It also suits anyone who wants to see the stacks at the quiet ends of the day. 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.14 With your own car you choose the hour, within the limits of daylight and the animals on the road.
If you are unsure, split the difference: take a guided day for the long stretch to the stacks, and keep a hire car for the days after. The small-group and reverse options on our other pages sit between the two, with a smaller group and an early start, and the booking is free to cancel up to 24 hours before.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles?
Which side of the road do you drive on in Australia?
On the left.
Tourism Australia says the most important thing to know is that Australians drive on the left.2
Can I drive in Australia on my own licence?
Yes, for up to three months if it is in English.
Tourism Australia says a foreign licence in English works for up to three months, and other licences need an international driving permit.12
Is it safe to drive the Great Ocean Road at dusk?
Take extra care at dawn and dusk.
Tourism Australia says kangaroos, wombats and koalas are most active at dawn and dusk and wander onto roads.3
Does a guided day include lunch?
No, lunch is bought by the guest.
On the day we list, morning tea is included while lunch in Apollo Bay and dinner in Colac are bought by the guest.
Can I cancel a Great Ocean Road tour for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours before.
The day we list is free to cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Sources
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Travel guide to the 12 Apostles ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: a first timers guide ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Tips for responsible wildlife tourism in Australia ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Must-stop places and hidden secrets on 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) · Guide to the Great Ocean Road ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park: Loch Ard Gorge ↩
- Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (dcceew.gov.au) · Great Ocean Road (National Heritage List) ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: road safety and regulations ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: a first timers guide ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: a first timers guide ↩
- Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au) · Twelve Apostles ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: road safety and regulations ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: a first timers guide ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: road safety and regulations ↩
- Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) · Port Campbell National Park and Bay of Islands Coastal Park Visitor Guide (PDF) ↩
- 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) · Melbourne to Adelaide Road Trip ↩
- Tourism Australia (australia.com) · Driving in Australia: road safety and regulations ↩