How to Get From Melbourne to Geelong: The Best Travel Options

At North Removals we are experts in moving people and families from Melbourne to Geelong. After years of being in the moving business, we’ve become the best in making your move stress free and we know the best way to travel between these two great cities.

In this article, we share everything you need to know about traveling to Geelong, whether you’re moving there or just visiting. We’ll tell you all you need to know about train services, scenic drives and everything in between to make the journey smooth and enjoyable. Let’s dive into the options!

Transport	Price	Travel Time	Advantages	Disadvantages
Car	$10–14	54 minutes	Autonomy, quickest option	Driver responsibility
Taxi	$85–110	54 minutes	Comfort	Most expensive
Train	$7-10	1 hour 3 minutes	Cheapest, frequent service	Limited scenic experience
Bus	$20	1 hour 19 minutes	Economical	Limited to Sundays, slower
Ferry	$12	2 hours 10 minutes	Scenic experience	Slowest option

How far is it from Melbourne to Geelong?

A car ride from Melbourne to Geelong is 75 kilometers (47 miles) and can take about 1 hour while by train the trip is about an hour and 3 minutes.

Where can I find the V/Line timetable for Melbourne to Geelong?

Here you can check all the Regional Victoria V/Lines Timetables.

How do I get from Melbourne Airport to Geelong Train Station?

From your airport terminal walk 5 minutes to Melbourne T4 Skybus, then take the Skybus from the airport to Skybus Coach Terminal in Melbourne City and then walk 6 minutes to Southern Cross where you can take your train to Geelong.

What is the cheapest option to travel from Melbourne to Geelong?

– The cheapest transport is by train and is between $7 and $10. And yes, the Myki card is accepted.

What is the quickest option to travel from Melbourne to Geelong?

– The quickest option is by car or taxi.

Are there any discounts for students or tourists?

If you’re an international student with the International Student Travel Pass you can get a 50% discount for all types of public transport in Victoria.

Public transport does not give a discount for tourists in particular but as a tourist you can use the Myki card and this can be entitled to special deals, promotions and reduced weekend fares.

What is the best travel option if I am not in a hurry to get to Geelong?

– If you have the time, the ferry will be your way, the views are amazing!

What is the trip from Melbourne to Geelong like?

Melbourne to Geelong offers great dining spots and has endless nights of fun including cultural attractions (galleries and museums) and a spectacular natural landscaping (beaches and parks).

One advantage of going by taxi or car is the chance to pass through typical places of great interest like Werribee Park, here you can stop to rest while walking through its well-kept gardens and if you stay a little longer you can admire its Victorian style mansion.

Geelong being Victoria’s second largest city is the gateway to several highways that offer the country’s most scenic travel experiences: the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road.

What is Werribee Park like, and why is it worth visiting?

During your trip from Melbourne to Geelong you can take advantage of the experience offered by Werribee Park, one of the best attractions you will find along the way with a park that mixes nature, history and culture.

This is a park of singular beauty that includes Victorian-style gardens for peaceful walks and has one of the most iconic attractions: A magnificent 19th century building that is so spacious that there are even guided tours.

Additionally, if you do decide to take a strategic stop at the park you will encounter some events, concerts, or festivals that are held throughout the year.

Now you know what are the best attractions when travelling from Melbourne to Geelong, we will look at the different transport options you must choose depending on your preferences. Let’s see what they are below.

What Means of Transport Can I Use to Travel from Melbourne to Geelong?

1. Traveling to Geelong by Car or Taxi

• Time: 54 minutes.
• Cost: $10–14 for fuel (car), $85–110 (taxi).
• Advantages: Flexible and quick (and allows for stops at any attractions like Werribee Park).

Tips:

• Navigation Tip: Check live traffic updates & use GPS apps such as Google Maps or Waze that tells you the fastest route to get there.
• Parking: It’s important to research parking options in Geelong early. There are many metered spots in the city center, so be prepared.
• Safety: If you’re traveling long distance, don’t forget to fuel up and check your car before going, especially if you’re traveling all the way to the Great Ocean Road.
• Stops Along the Way: You can use Werribee Open Range Zoo or the You Yangs Regional Park as a scenic stop and do a short hike.

2. Reach Geelong by Train (V/Line Service)

• Time: ~1 hour 3 minutes.
• Cost: $7-10 (Myki card accepted).
• Advantages: The cheapest option; trains run every 30 minutes from Southern Cross Railway Station.

Tips:

• Peak Times: Try to travel at non peak hours and especially on weekday mornings and afternoons to avoid crowded trains.
• Food and Drinks: Facilities on board are limited so bring snacks or drinks for the trip.
• Comfort: A quieter ride and more seating options are available on an off peak train.
• Arrival Tips: As Geelong Railway Station is well connected consider walking to your final destination or using a local bus or taxi.

3. Travel from Melbourne to Geelong by Bus

• Time: ~1 hour 19 minutes.
• Cost: ~$20.
• Advantages: Economical and comfortable.
• Limitations: Operates once a week on Sundays.

Tips:

• Booking: Tickets can be purchased online in advance to ensure you get a seat as services are infrequent.
• Comfort: A travel pillow or neck support will make a more relaxing ride.
• Connections: Bus stops at both ends are double checked (some services do not stop at central locations in Geelong).

4. From Melbourne to Geelong on a Ferry Ride

• Time: ~2 hours 10 minutes.
• Cost: $12.
• Advantages: Unique and scenic; departs from Melbourne Docklands on weekends.

Tips:

• Seating: If you can, come early on so you can choose the best seats to enjoy scenic views along the way.
• Weather Preparation: You also want to bring layers as the deck can get windy and cool in summer.
• Entertainment: If it’s a longer travel time, then carry a book or music that you can enjoy.
• Accessibility: If you need help, contact the ferry operator in advance so the arrangements are made.

What is the Myki card for?

The Myki card is an electronic payment system for public transport used in Melbourne and parts of Victoria, including Geelong. It allows users to pay fares easily and conveniently on trams, buses and trains.

The card is rechargeable and users can choose between two modalities: The Myki Pass is used to pay for unlimited travel in certain areas in set periods and the Myki Money for each trip.

The card costs $6 at the outset (or $3 for concession). An entire trip for adults in zones 1 and 2 costs $9.20 and for concession users $4.60.

What’s cool about this card is you get special discounts on tourist activities. This is possible with the Myki Explorer package, created for visitors. The package comes with a card pre-loaded and a discount voucher.

Traveling from Melbourne to Geelong with Uber

As long as you don’t mind using a mobile app, you can order an Uber to get to Geelong.

• Availability. One thing that you will love is the flexibility it gives you which you cannot get with a traditional taxi service. You can request a ride at any time of the day without having to organise with hours in advance.
• Economy. There are a lot of options in the city, but the most used is UberX. Rentals and taxis are another option but if you’re going to Geelong, Uber is the easiest and cheapest way.
• Efficient connection. Your driver’s route will be determined by many other elements like time, traffic and number of customers requesting a ride. The truth is that with Uber, you have one thing guaranteed: It will be the application’s technology that will indicate to the driver the quickest route to Geelong.

Let us learn about the possibilities of Uber.

If you are Uber user, you will be familiar with the fact that in the app you are able to see current prices and the different ways to travel available to you.

• Uber Black. The premium option includes luxury vehicles at the expense of $157.
• Uber Green is a sustainable option. If you’re concerned about the environment, this is your option. You’ll be traveling in an electric car, costing $82.
• Uber XL. If you’re traveling with a group, this is the best option. You can fit up to six people in these vehicles for $134.
• UberX. This is the option mentioned above. It’s the most affordable option, and you can request it to travel to Geelong for $80.

Travelling from Melbourne to Geelong by Truck

Shipping a truck full of furniture to Geelong it tends to take longer than by car. A car can make the trip in about 1 hour but a fully loaded truck will take anything from 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on how it’s loaded and the road conditions.

This extra time guarantees your furniture is delivered to you safely and securely. All our drivers are experts, they drive slowly, make stops and know hoe to navigate uneven roads so your belongings won’t get damaged. The safety of your items is of the highest importance to us.

Are you planning a move to Geelong? To see how affordable and efficient your relocation can be, check out our regional removalist pricing page. You can be sure that with North Removals you will have a professional and worry-free move.

What do you do once you arrive in Geelong?

There are so many things to do in Geelong. Visitors to Geelong can expect beaches and board walks, restaurants, bars and cafes and some city’s cultural attractions which includes museums and old galleries.

The Eastern Beach is an iconic beach if you love to enjoy salt water. It has its historic carousel, a fenced swimming area, boardwalk, and gardens where you can share a picnic, and walk along the Geelong Waterfront or just enjoy the spectacular views.

But if you’re after food and drink, you must stop at the Little Creatures Brewery which is famous for brewing tasty craft beers in a relaxing environment. For a wine lover who is after a memorable experience, the Leura Park Estate is the place to be.

If you want quieter places or places of cultural interest, then the National Wool Museum is your place, you can learn about the past and present of the country’s wool industry here. The Geelong Gallery is one of the country’s oldest traditional and modern art galleries and it is also in the city.

What are the best transportation options for people with reduced mobility?

Travel from Melbourne to Geelong is made easier for people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The train option

• The V/Line it is very wheelchair accessible. It provides dedicated spaces, accessible bathrooms, ramps and trained staff to help passengers as they go about their journeys.
• Tip: If you require this assistance, please contact V/Line to arrange it.

Cars: taxis or rental vehicles

In Melbourne you can access taxis equipped with ramps and rental vehicles adapted for people with reduced mobility. If you need one, you must reserve it in advance.

Ferry (Port Phillip)

The ferries and Port Phillip Ferries terminal are wheelchair accessible. This is the most scenic and relaxing option. Before you plan your trip you should confirm accessibility details with the company.

Are you interested in traveling using sustainable transport? Here are the eco-friendly options

Some modes of transport are more polluting than others. For those wanting to travel between Melbourne and Geelong using a more sustainable mode of transport the table below is a comparison of the emissions in grams per passenger and km travelled for each method of transport.

Means of transport	Emissions (g CO2/passenger/km)
Car	104
Bus	68 – 180
Train	14 – 120
Ferry	18

The most polluting means of transport are the bus, with 180 gr. Next comes the combustion car that emits 104 gr.

By comparison, trains and ferries are much more sustainable — especially electric trains, which can emit a maximum of 14 gr.

We can see above that Uber has an eco-friendly option (the green Uber) that uses electric vehicles or you could also choose to use carpooling and share the car with other people.

The carpooling option

It is a transport type which makes it easier for users to share trips in order to minimize their cost and carbon footprint. There are several options in this modality in Melbourne.

• Coseats. This is one of the largest carpooling networks in Australia. Shared rides can be offered or found here.
• Moovl is an app that allows passengers and drivers to connect based on same direction travel. You can book trips, and even offer your available seats in your car.

Other platforms with carpooling options are Bushride and Kapuddle..

Traveling to Geelong from Melbourne Airport?

Melbourne Airport until Geelong has a big difference in distance than Melbourne with the coastal city. It is located 75 km from the city center and 84.1 km from the airport.

If you wish to travel from Melbourne Airport directly to Geelong you have a few options to choose from. There are three main kinds: by private transfer or taxi, direct bus and bus with train connection.

What Means of Transport Can I Use to Travel from Melbourne Airport to Geelong?

1. Traveling from Melbourne Airport to Geelong by Car or Taxi

• Time: ~1 hour.
• Cost: $10–14 for fuel (car), $130–170 (taxi).
• Advantages: Fast, flexible, and convenient for travellers with luggage.

2. Reach Geelong by Train (V/Line Service via SkyBus Transfer)

• Time: SkyBus + Train ~1 hour 35 minutes.
• Cost: $16–23.
• Advantages: A budget friendly option, putting the reliable SkyBus together with V/Line trains.

3. Travel from Melbourne Airport to Geelong by Bus

• Time: ~1 hour 10 minutes (Direct Bus).
• Cost: ~$20–25.
• Advantages: Direct connection to Geelong without transfers.

Can I rent a car at the airport?

If you decide to go with the car option, which is the fastest and will allow you to wander around at your own leisure on the way to Geelong, you will have quite a few rental options at Melbourne Airport.

Rental prices vary depending on the time of year and how far in advance you make the transaction. For example, if you rent more than 90 days in advance, you can expect an average of $40 per day.

Prices also vary depending on whether you rent on weekdays or weekends. In addition, throughout the year you can find special offers that vary according to the service provider.

An interesting fact is that January is the best month to rent and make your trip from Melbourne Airport direct to Geelong.

Conclusion: The Best Ways to Travel to Geelong

From our perspective, the best transport options to Geelong are:

From Melbourne City: The V/Line train is the ideal choice if you don’t have a car. It’s affordable ($7-10), fast (1 hour 3 minutes), and runs every 30 minutes from Southern Cross Station.

From Melbourne Airport: The most efficient way is the direct bus ($20–25) and fast (1 hour 10 minutes).

Moving to Geelong? Simplify Your Transition with North Removals

North Removals offers a prompt and trouble-free move from Melbourne to Geelong. Our professional removalist team provides you with quality and reliable services to suit your needs so that your relocation can be as smooth as your move to this vibrant city.