Great Ocean Road

Day 1: Wildlife Of the Western Plains

Upon departing Melbourne, guests will travel west to the beautiful eucalypt forests of the Serendip and You Yangs National Parks to spot wild Koalas and cockatoos including Corellas, Galahs, the iconic Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Other birds that may be encountered include White-winged Choughs, Emus, Cape Barren, Magpie Geese, Laughing Kookaburras.

Led by an experienced Wildlife Guide, the group will be alongside a Koala Researcher, searching for these sometimes elusive arboreal mammals. To help protect these adorable animals, guests will take part in the “Make a Home for Koala Clancy” conservation project by removing the invasive Boneseed weed.

On the grassy plains, wildlife guides will share how to approach wild mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos without disturbing them. A fascinating insight will be given into the complex social life of Australia’s most iconic animal, with the opportunity to get close enough to observe these behaviours.  

Emus, cockatoos, Superb Fairy-wrens, numerous honeyeaters, Swamp wallabies, Blue-tongued Skinks and Jacky Lizards are also likely to be encountered. A substantial picnic lunch is included. Dinner is at the local Pub – a real Aussie experience!

Accommodation is at a 4.5 star boutique property in the tiny outback town of Little River. Please note: Little River B&B does not have twin share rooms – all rooms have one King or Queen-size double bed. Standard price listed is based on two people sharing one room/bed this night. If you must have one bed per person, a reduced single supplement price will be offered for this night only.

Day 2: Rainforests and the Twelve Apostles

Venturing along the famous Great Ocean Road, guests will enjoy some of the world’s most spectacular coastal scenery, traversing through rainforests, beaches and dramatic cliffs composed of limestone and sandstone, that have been weathered by the surging Southern Ocean surf.

Guests will travel past quaint seaside holiday villages with glorious beaches and into the rainforest of the Great Otway National Park.  This forest rings with the calls of Crimson Rosellas, Golden Whistlers, Pied Currawongs.

Later the group will travel along Port Campbell National Park towards the Twelve Apostles, looking out for Short-beaked Echidnas, Red-necked and Swamp Wallabies, Rufous Bristlebirds and Southern Brown Bandicoots in the rich coastal heathlands. Dinner is at a local restaurant or at the accommodation.

Accommodation is at a 4.5 star B&B near Loch Ard Gorge/Port Campbell

Day 3: Sheep stations, volcanoes and volcanic lakes

After a leisurely breakfast, guests will travel to the remote western edge of the Great Ocean Road to see the glorious limestone coastal formations the morning light.  Heading inland guests will then encounter coastal forests and the Western Plains; a land of enormous sheep stations and dramatic skies.

The Western Plains were created by many small volcanoes over the past two million years. Many birds benefit from the open lands, including Wedge-tailed Eagles, Brown Falcons and Nankeen Kestrels which can be seen soaring overhead. The region is also home to many large permanent lakes, which we travel past, stopping to watch for waterbirds.  The group then returns to Melbourne in the late afternoon after an amazing three days spent with your expert wildlife guide. 

Key Details

Group Size: Maximum of 8 guests.
Pick-up and Drop Off Point: Melbourne city hotels
Pick-up and Drop-off Time:  8:00am on day one, Approximately 5:00pm on day four.
Private Touring: Available at additional cost - please enquire with your group size & interests.
Please note: Tour does not run 23rd December & 30th December.

Responsible Travel

Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours is internationally-recognised in wildlife in the wild conservation travel, and winner of the 2014 World Responsible Travel Award. Our extensive policies with respect to conservation and social enterprise are available for your reference. As a social enterprise tour company, we invest more than 50% of our profit into our mission. Most of that investment is through our Koala Research Project, and through in-kind and direct financial support to the Koala Clancy Foundation. 

We strongly support the concept of privately-owned land to increase the habitat available to wildlife – this is essential if wildlife is to survive the upcoming challenges of climate change. Through Koala Clancy Foundation we plant koala food trees in river valleys and along creeks on private farmland near Melbourne – returning the indigenous flora to that denuded environment.

Recent Awards

WINNER Best for Wildlife Conservation at the World Responsible Tourism Awards London • 2014
WINNER Seatrade Cruise Award for World’s Most Innovative Shore Excursion • 2017
WINNER TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014

Recent Testimonials

"The highlight of our mother and daughter trip to Australia was this three day tour. The company, Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours, has a strong investment in the area and is directly responsible for koala protection and identification. But, beyond the organization itself, our three day tour with Brett, and Dan...Both guides were knowledgeable and had good senses of humor," - Sylph7, Kentucky

"My husband and I took a 3-day private tour with Echidna Walkabout to see wildlife and the Great Ocean Road....Our guide Brett was fantastic and great company. That's important on a 3-day trip when you spend a lot of time together. He was relaxed, funny, smart, extremely knowledgeable, and seemed as excited as we were about all of the great wildlife sightings and beautiful scenery." - Mary, Washington DC