Updated on December 11, 2025
Day & Overnight Bus Tours to the famous 12 Apostles
Day tours by bus from Melbourne and return operate all year. If you prefer not to self-drive along the Great Ocean Road, an organised bus tour is a perfect option. Several bus tour companies operate one-day and multi-day trips along the coast to the 12 Apostles.
Our map with 50 of the best highlights along the Great Ocean Road will help you to discover what to expect on a tour to Australia’s most visited destination.
Cheap Great Ocean Road Bus Tour
Finding the best cheap Great Ocean Road tour for one or two days is something many budget travellers search for. The most affordable way to tour is by sharing a rental car or campervan with friends or a group.
If this is not something you want to do, the numerous day tours we recommend below, departing from Melbourne and touring along the Great Ocean Road, offer a budget-friendly way to travel. Visitors can also opt for a tour that goes to Adelaide or via the Grampian Mountains.
Bus Tours – Great Ocean Road
Listed below are some Great Ocean Road Bus Tour options. We suggest using small bus tour companies – they have fewer passengers and generally more time to see the sights. Read all the details of the tours on offer to decide which one suits you best.
Tour the Great Ocean Road by bus – 1 day or more?
Do you want to spend just a day, or maybe two? Are you planning on continuing to Adelaide? Then a trip that takes you along the Ocean Road, through the Grampian Mountains, and to Adelaide might be the best choice.
As a former small group tour operator/guide on the Ocean Road with years of experience and having done a couple of hundred trips in the region, I definitely want your experience along the Great Ocean Road to be the best it can be, which is why these companies have all been recommended as being experts with awesome bus tours to offer travellers.
We do recommend spending more than one day visiting the Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles… but, if one day is what you prefer or all the time you have available, do it!
These tours can all be booked easily through ‘ Get Your Guide’ one of the largest online tour companies.
Go West Eco Tours – 1 Day Tour
Go West is a well-established small bus tour company that has earned an excellent reputation over many years. Their one-day tour stops at all the highlights of the Great Ocean Road, including a beautiful rainforest walk.
Read more about their Great Ocean Road tours
AAT Kings Large Coach 1 Day Tour
AAT Kings is a large bus company that has been operating for many years. They run 1-day tours using full-size coaches that carry 50 or more passengers. If you prefer to be on a big bus for the tour, AAT Kings might be ideal.
Read more about a 1 day Tour with AAT Kings
Wildlife 2 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians Tour
Wildlife Tours has been providing great tours for more than 20 years. They are a really well-established company and great value for money. This 2-day tour stays overnight in the Grampians, the first day is spent on the Great Ocean Road before driving to their accommodation in the Grampian Mountains.
You can read more on their website about the tours they offer.
Autopia Tours 2 Day Great Ocean Road & Otways
Autopia Tours has been going for well over 20 years. This small bus company was one of the first backpacker-style tour operators in Melbourne. I believe they are now owned by one of the big bus companies, but they still operate in the same way by offering small bus fun tours to travellers.
This trip is great as they take passengers via Warrnambool, then along to the 12 Apostles for sunset with an overnight stay in Port Campbell. The second day is spent cruising back along the Ocean Road to Melbourne. This tour is quite a bit different from most!
Read more about Autopia’s Two Day Tour
Bunyip Tours 2 Day Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island
Bunyip Tours, such a great name! Another long-established small bus tour company. This tour is a bit different, and a good plan. The Bunyip bus takes passengers along to the beginning of the Great Ocean Road and does the trip in reverse. Travellers then stay overnight on the Bellarine Peninsula before crossing by ferry to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, and then travel on down to Phillip Island and the famous Penguin Parade.
Find out more about Bunyip Tours
Wildlife Tours 3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians
Wildlife also operates a 3-day tour along the Great Ocean Road, staying the first night in Warrnambool before driving on to the Grampian Mountains the next day and spending a night there. This is a good value trip and allows for enough time to really enjoy two beautiful regions of Victoria.
Find out more about this 3-day tour
Helicopter Tours!
This is another incredible way to experience The Great Ocean Road and the famous 12 Apostles. Helicopter Tours operate out of Melbourne, offering various options, such as a flight to the Twelve Apostles for lunch, followed by a visit to Phillip Island to see the Little Penguins waddle ashore.
The pilot lands the helicopter by the 12 Apostles, allowing passengers to take in the most famous section of the Great Ocean Road and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch —ideal for proposals… anniversaries… or just because you want to…
Read more and maybe book the adventure of a lifetime!
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