3 Day Great Ocean Road and
Grampians Tour from Melbourne
Three days from Melbourne, two nights away. The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles first, then inland to the Grampians for MacKenzie Falls and the Balconies. Your party only, in a Mercedes-Benz, with a Melbourne-born guide, in English or Mandarin.
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From $3,240 AUD per group. Up to 7 guests.
Three full days, 8 to 9 hours each, 9 AM starts. Door to door from your Melbourne accommodation.
Day one: the Great Ocean Road, Torquay to Apollo Bay
We start where the Great Ocean Road starts, at Torquay, the surfing capital where the big surf brands began. From Bells Beach you see the break that has hosted the same tournament since 1961. The contest still closes this road every Easter. Across the road is usually our best chance of the day to spot a mob of kangaroos.
Then Split Point Lighthouse and its clifftop viewing points, looking out across the Southern Ocean towards Tasmania. Morning tea is provided here.
The road runs along the sand from there. We pass under the Memorial Arch and stop at Lorne for a beach walk and lunch. Before Apollo Bay there is a short hike up to a lookout over the whole town, and if the timing and everyone's legs allow, we head into the Otways for the temperate rainforest. We stay the night at Apollo Bay.
Day two: the Twelve Apostles, then inland to Halls Gap
Up just after the sun. We climb inland to over 550 metres above sea level, past a small township called Lavers Hill, then down through the hills into Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles.
We walk down Gibson Steps to the base of them, then on to Loch Ard Gorge. The gorge has the better story of the two: this is the actual shipwreck coast, and it is named after the ship that went down here.
The afternoon is the drive through the dairy country, reaching the Southern Grampians towards the end of the day. We finish at Halls Gap with a walk around town, a short hike if there is time, and an introduction to the Gariwerd culture of the region. We stay the night there.
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Day three: the Grampians, MacKenzie Falls and the Balconies
An early start, because the Grampians cover over 160,000 hectares and one day in them is not long.
First Baroka Lookout, which looks straight down over Halls Gap and out to Lake Bellfield sitting below the range. Then MacKenzie Falls, one of Victoria's largest waterfalls, which means walking down to see it from the rocks at the base. The climb back up is the price.
Up through the eucalypt forest and the birdlife to Reeds Lookout, then the easy walk out to the Balconies.
We stop for snacks and I ask how everyone is going, because there is a choice at this point. The Pinnacle is the longer hike. Venus Baths and the native gardens are the easier one. Either way we then take the country road home through Ballarat, with its gold mining history, for afternoon tea before Melbourne.
What is included
Private Mercedes-Benz for your party only, up to 7 guests
Door to door pickup from your Melbourne hotel or accommodation
A Melbourne-born guide, in English or Mandarin
Coffee and tea throughout all three days
Three full touring days, 8 to 9 hours each, 9 AM starts, back at your accommodation around 5 PM
Prefer less driving?
The one day Great Ocean Road tour covers the Twelve Apostles and back, and the two day tour adds a night at Port Campbell without the inland leg. The Grampians hiking tour is the walking-focused option.
Add-ons
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles, one way or return
(Priced on request)
Lunch
Souvenirs
"Andy shared so many facts, knew all the best spots for photos, and was a great travel companion."
John R
Great Ocean Road, July 2025
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"Andy is a very nice guy and highly recommended to be with. He is also good at Chinese."
Tina P
Great Ocean Road, May 2025
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"We were traveling with an infant and a senior parent, and Andrew was able to work out a good itinerary that was able to make our trip very comfortable."
Tessa O
Melbourne, April 2024
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About Me
My name is Andy Bonello
Your guide is Andy Bonello. He was born in Melbourne, in a small town out west near the gold fields, and he has guided privately since 2015 after years of running mini bus tours before that. He studied Mandarin and taught English in Taiwan, so the Mandarin on these tours comes from having lived in it rather than from a phrasebook. Family man, keen cyclist, and serious about good coffee.
He will tell you himself that he is not the stereotypical surfing Australian, having nearly drowned proving it, but he knows exactly where the semi-pros paddle out and you will usually see a few of them on the way past.
Our specialties
Why you should go on tour with Southeast Touring
Mandarin-speaking
Local Guide
Bridging cultures and making every guest feel at home
Extra Care and Support
We handle the heavy lifting, from itinerary assistance to ensuring your trip runs smoothly.
Personalised Guidance
We tailor each tour to your interests and give curated local recommendations.
Luxury Experience
Enjoy premium vehicles, spacious seating, bottled water, snacks, and thoughtful amenities throughout the journey.
Door-to-door Service
From pickup to drop-off, travel in complete ease and comfort.
Short-stay Friendly
Most travellers visit Melbourne for 3-4 days, so we go the extra mile to make every moment count with helpful insights and local tips for an unforgettable stay.