Kurz gesagt: yes, you can do the Great Ocean Road in one day from Melbourne, but it is a long one. The Twelve Apostles are about 275 km from Melbourne, roughly four hours each way by the coast road, and our day tour is 13 hours. Phillip Island is much closer, about 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne plus around 20 minutes more to the Penguin Parade, and the penguins arrive at sunset. If you only have one day, pick one: the coast for scenery, the island for wildlife.
Facts below were checked on 27 October 2026 against the Australian Government’s heritage listing for the Great Ocean Road, Parks Victoria, Visit Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Nature Parks. Tour details come from our own current listings.
Questions: the Great Ocean Road basics
Wie lang ist die Great Ocean Road?
The Great Ocean Road is 242 km long. The Australian Government’s National Heritage listing describes it as running from Torquay to Allansford, near Warrnambool, and some tourism sources round it to 243 km. It was built by returned soldiers after the First World War and is Victoria’s war memorial road.
Where does the Great Ocean Road start and end?
It starts at Torquay, on Victoria’s surf coast, and ends at Allansford, east of Warrnambool, where it meets the Princes Highway. Most day tours do not drive the whole length. They run Torquay to the Twelve Apostles and return, or join the Princes Highway for part of the way back.
Wie lange dauert die Fahrt auf der Great Ocean Road?
Plan a full day just to drive it, and two or three days to enjoy it. Driving the road itself does not take long, but the road is winding, speed limits are low and every lookout and township invites a stop. Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles alone is roughly four hours by the coast road, or about three hours by the faster inland route via Colac.
How far are the Twelve Apostles from Melbourne?
About 275 km, which is roughly four hours’ drive along the Great Ocean Road (Visit Great Ocean Road, checked Oct 2026). The inland Princes Highway route via Colac is shorter in time, about three hours, but skips most of the coast. That distance is why day tours run 12 to 13 hours.
Wie viele der Twelve Apostles gibt es noch?
Seven stacks remain, according to Parks Victoria. There were never twelve: the count was nine until one collapsed in 2005, and another fell in 2009. The stacks keep eroding in the Southern Ocean surf. The name stuck anyway.
Is the Great Ocean Road worth it?
Yes, if you like coastline and are happy to spend a long day getting there. You get the Memorial Arch, Otways rainforest, Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles, which is the most photographed stretch of the road. If you hate long coach days, the 13 hours will wear on you. Our Touren an der Great Ocean Road im Vergleich guide helps you decide.
Questions: doing it in a day
Can you do the Great Ocean Road in one day from Melbourne?
Ja. Die Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles Tagestour ab Melbourne, ab 109 €, is 13 hours and reaches the Twelve Apostles in afternoon light. It includes national park fees, morning tea with kangaroos and emus, an easy guided rainforest walk in the Otways and Wi-Fi onboard. Meals beyond morning tea are yours to buy.
Is a tour better than driving the Great Ocean Road yourself?
A tour is better for a single day; driving is better if you have two or more. On a tour you skip the 8 hours of driving, the parking and the navigation, and you can look out the window. Driving gives you your own pace and stops, but you need a hire car, a licence and the stamina for the road. With a tour the day is fixed, so you cannot linger at a lookout.
What is the best Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne?
For one day, the Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles Day Tour ab 109 € is the one we sell. It runs on a medium coach for up to 38. If you are travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide, the 3-day Great Ocean Road and Grampians tours turn the transfer into the trip: the Melbourne to Adelaide tour ab 599 €oder die Adelaide to Melbourne tour ab 599 €.
Is there a reverse itinerary Great Ocean Road tour?
Not as a day trip. Our day tour runs from Melbourne to the Apostles and back. For the opposite direction, the Adelaide to Melbourne 3-day tour does the Grampians first and finishes at the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the Otways. See every Great Ocean Road tour compared.
What is the best time of day to see the Twelve Apostles?
Afternoon, which is why our day tour visits them last and photographs best in afternoon light. Weather on this coast changes in any season, and the wind off the Southern Ocean is strong even in summer, so bring a jacket.
What is the best time of year to do the Great Ocean Road?
There is no bad month to go, but the weather on this coast is changeable in every season, so dress in layers and pick your day by the forecast. The Melbourne backpacker guide covers planning around the city.
Can you see koalas on the Great Ocean Road?
Yes. Wild koalas live in the Otways, and a well-known spot is Kennett River, between Lorne and Apollo Bay. Our 3-day Melbourne to Adelaide tour includes wild koalas on the Great Ocean Road leg. Koalas sleep high in gum trees, so you are looking up, and there is no guarantee on any day.
Can you do the Grampians as well?
Not on the day tour: the Grampians are inland and a separate day from Melbourne. We sell three, including the Grampians National Park Wildlife-Tour ab 99 €. The 3-day Melbourne and Adelaide tours cover both the coast and the Grampians.
Questions: Phillip Island and the Penguin Parade
How far is Phillip Island from Melbourne?
About 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne to the bridge onto the island, plus roughly 20 minutes more to the Penguin Parade (Phillip Island Nature Parks, checked Oct 2026). It is a much shorter trip than the Twelve Apostles, so it fits comfortably in a single day.
What time is the Penguin Parade?
At sunset. Phillip Island Nature Parks says the penguins arrive at sunset every day of the year, so the time shifts with the season. Its website has a penguin arrival calendar with the time for each date. Arrive well before sunset to settle in and find your spot.
Can you take photos at the Penguin Parade?
No. Phillip Island Nature Parks asks visitors not to use cameras, camcorders or camera phones after sunset at the Penguin Parade, because a sudden flash or unusual light can frighten or disorientate the penguins. Free professional photos are available to download from its website for personal use.
Can you see the penguins without a tour?
Yes, you can buy a ticket directly from Phillip Island Nature Parks and drive yourself. Pre-booking is strongly recommended year-round, and essential in peak periods such as summer holidays. A tour saves you the 90-minute drive each way after dark, which is why many travellers book a tour instead. The Parade is a ticketed attraction.
What is the cheapest Phillip Island tour from Melbourne?
We sell one: the French & Phillip Island Wildlife-Expedition, ab 159 €, an 11-hour small-group day. It starts with a ferry to French Island and a guided 4WD search for wild koalas, then goes on to the Nobbies seal colony boardwalk and general entry to the Penguin Parade at dusk. Dinner and drinks are extra. Upgrades such as Penguins Plus are optional.
Great Ocean Road or Phillip Island: which one if you only have one day?
Pick the Great Ocean Road for scenery and Phillip Island for wildlife. The Great Ocean Road gives you the Twelve Apostles, a rainforest walk and the Shipwreck Coast, in a 13-hour day. Phillip Island gives you koalas, seals and little penguins at dusk in about 11 hours. If you have two days, do both, as separate day trips.
Jetzt buchen
Compare prices for both on Great Ocean Road tour prices und Melbourne tour prices. The main bookings are the Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles Day Tour ab 109 €, deckt die French & Phillip Island Wildlife-Expedition ab 159 €, and the 3-day Great Ocean Road and Grampians tours if you are heading to or from Adelaide.
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