In shortThis is a one-day coastal run built around the evening light: pickup from selected Melbourne hotels between 9am and 10am in standard time or 10am and 11am during daylight saving, 11-14 hours in total, and 60 minutes at the Twelve Apostles at the end of the afternoon. Commentary is live in English from the guide, with an onboard audio guide in 16 languages including German, Italian, French, Russian and Spanish. It suits photographers, late risers and anyone following the land manager's advice to reach the Apostles outside the middle of the day.
11–14 htour length
from $112per adult
★ 4.91,303 reviews
What the Great Ocean Road sunset tour covers
The day is built backwards from sunset. Pickup from selected Melbourne hotels runs between 9am and 10am outside daylight saving and between 10am and 11am during it, depending on which hotel you choose, so the coast is reached around midday and the Twelve Apostles in the last hours of light. Total length is 11 to 14 hours, with the return to Melbourne somewhere between 9pm and midnight according to the season.
The touring vehicle carries 24 guests and has upgraded seating for comfort and visibility, air conditioning and WiFi. A guide gives live commentary along the way, and there is an audio guide in 16 languages, including German, Italian, French, Russian and Spanish, plus a set of old-time images the operator shows to fill in the history of the coast. All fees and taxes are covered. Food, drink and gratuities are not: the lunch stop in Lorne and the dinner stop in Colac are at your own expense.
Timing is the real reason to pick this departure. More than 2 million people visit the Twelve Apostles each year and the land manager advises arriving early in the morning or later in the afternoon, which is exactly where this itinerary lands. Since 16 October 2026 a booking is compulsory to enter the precinct, car park and lookouts included, and tour operators can reserve arrival slots up to four months ahead.
Sunset moves a long way through the year, and so does the finish time. The summer solstice usually falls on 22 December and the winter solstice on 22 June, so a December departure spends far longer in daylight than a June one. Little Penguins come ashore at dusk below the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge lookouts, typically starting 10 to 15 minutes after sunset with most arriving 20 to 25 minutes after, and their tracks show in the sand. Do not feed or touch any wildlife; an H5 bird flu warning is active across Great Ocean Road parks, and sick or dead animals should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Great Ocean Road Sunset Day Tour from Melbourne
Pickup from selected hotels, WiFi on board, all fees and taxes included, and 60 minutes at the Twelve Apostles timed for the end of the day.
The Great Ocean Road240 min Most of the day is the road itself, with the guide talking through the coast as it passes. The memorial road runs 242 kilometres from Torquay to Allansford and the Lorne to Apollo Bay section is narrow and winding, which is why the driving hours add up.
Anglesea15 min A short leg stretch beside the Anglesea River, the first stop once the coach reaches the coast. Many cafes and bakeries along the route close by 2:30pm, so it is a sensible place to pick up something to carry.
Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway10 min The photo stop under the arch, with the story of how the road came to be. It was built as a war memorial by more than 3,000 returned servicemen between 1919 and 1932.
Lorne50 min In the summer months the lunch break is Lorne, with cafes and restaurants a short walk from the beachfront. Meals are at your own expense.
Kennett River20 min Koala spotting in the eucalypts at Kennett River, halfway between Lorne and Apollo Bay. If the precinct is closed, the operator substitutes an alternative koala location; official advice is to look from a walking trail or designated area rather than the roadside.
Loch Ard Gorge30 min Thirty minutes for the cliff lookouts and the rock formations above the gorge, which is named after the clipper Loch Ard, wrecked on Mutton Bird Island in 1878. Beach access here reopened in late October 2026 after safety repair works. Dogs are not permitted.
The Twelve Apostles60 min An hour at the precinct on the corner of the Great Ocean Road and Booringa Road, Princetown, about 7 kilometres east of Port Campbell, timed for the changing evening light. Coaches use their own boom gate on Booringa Road; the Keerray Woorroong Visitor Centre, cafe and accessible viewing platforms are open until 8:00 PM and the car park closes at 9:00 PM.
Colac30 min A dinner stop in the country town of Colac, with time to buy a meal at your own expense before the last stretch back into Melbourne.
Photos: ours and the tour operator's
What is included
Included
Pickup from selected hotels
WiFi on board
Friendly and informative tour guide
100% satisfaction guarantee
All fees and taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Food and drink
Gratuities
Meeting point, pickup and cancellation
Pickup: only from the hotel list provided at checkout. Times fall between 9am and 10am in standard time (AEST) and between 10am and 11am during daylight saving (AEDT), depending on the hotel selected, and the exact time is confirmed after booking.
Return: back in Melbourne at approximately 9pm to midnight, depending on the season.
Cancellation: a full refund applies if cancelled at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Ages: infant 0-3, child 4-15, adult 16+.
Other sunset departures compared
Three evening-timed days sit side by side below. This page's tour has by far the most reviews of the three and the same 11-14 hour window as the Full-Day option, which starts lower at $98 but with a weaker rating; the Discovery tour starts at $55 over 12-13 hours, with only 23 reviews behind it, so there is less to judge it on.
Tour
Length
From
Rating
Great Ocean Road Sunset Day Tour from Melbourne (this page)
From $112 per adult, 11 to 14 hours, pickup from selected Melbourne hotels and an hour at the Twelve Apostles in the evening light. Current dates and departure times are on the booking page.
