Getting Around Geelong

Getting Around Geelong

Geelong sits on Corio Bay at the western end of Port Phillip Bay, and its compact centre makes it a straightforward city to navigate. Most visitors find that a mix of trains, buses, walking and the occasional taxi or rideshare covers everything they need. The city is also the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast, so some of the transport options below double as ways to explore further afield.

Public Transport at a Glance

Geelong's public transport is built around a frequent rail line and a bus network that feeds into it. The key thing for a visitor to know is that a single smartcard covers both.

• myki smartcard: Required for all train and bus travel in and around Geelong. The same card works across both modes, so switching between a bus and a train doesn't mean paying twice or buying a separate ticket.
• Fare zone: The entire urban area of Geelong sits within one fare region, which keeps things simple — you don't need to worry about crossing zone boundaries as you move around the city.
• Where to start: Geelong Station is the main rail hub and is only a short walk from the city centre. The central bus interchange is on Moorabool Street in the heart of the CBD, and most bus routes terminate at the main station.

Trains

Geelong is served by V/Line, and the service between Melbourne and Geelong runs at a near-suburban frequency — often enough that you can treat the train as a practical way to move around the city itself, not just to arrive in it.

• Trains run frequently on weekdays and less often on weekends, taking roughly an hour between Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and Geelong.
• All trains stop at the grand Geelong Station, a five-minute walk from the city centre.
• There are several stations spread from the northern suburbs through to the south, so the train can be used for intra-city trips as well as longer journeys.
• Long-distance trains toward Warrnambool also stop at Geelong and connect to inland towns such as Colac and Camperdown. Note that reservations and paper tickets are required for services beyond Waurn Ponds toward Warrnambool — myki alone won't cover that stretch.
• North Shore station in the northern suburbs is also a stop for the twice-weekly Overland service between Melbourne and Adelaide.

Buses

Geelong has a reasonable bus network run by two separate operators, McHarry's and CDC Geelong. Buses are the practical way to reach parts of the city that aren't within walking distance of a train station.

• myki cards are used on all bus services, and the whole urban area falls within the same fare region as the trains.
• Most routes terminate at Geelong's main station, and the central interchange is on Moorabool Street in the CBD.
• Some northern suburbs have their own routes that don't run directly into the CBD; instead they interchange at Corio Central Shopping Centre or at North Shore or Lara railway stations.
• Bus timetables are designed to connect with trains, which limits waiting times when you transfer between the two.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

For door-to-door trips, especially late at night or when carrying luggage, taxis and rideshare apps are both readily available.

• Taxis: Two traditional companies serve Geelong — 13CABS and Geelong Taxi Network. Because the industry is regulated, both charge identical fares and offer a similar standard of service.
• You can hail a taxi on the street, pick one up from a rank (commonly found by major shopping centres and train stations), or book by phone or smartphone app.
• Rideshare: Uber (including Uber X and Assist) and DiDi both operate in Geelong. Service and pricing are similar, and drivers often work for both platforms.
• A useful tip: Uber uses surge pricing while DiDi does not, so it's worth checking both apps to compare wait times and fares before you book.

Walking

The city centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. Geelong Station is only a five-minute walk from the heart of the CBD, and the waterfront is close by as well. Many of the central attractions, shops and dining options sit within a comfortable stroll of one another. Beyond the centre, though, there are plenty of areas that aren't within walking distance of a train station, so you'll likely need a bus connection to reach outlying destinations.

Cycling

Bike hire is available on the waterfront during afternoons on weekends and school holidays — note that no reservations are taken, so it's a turn-up-and-hope arrangement. For longer-term needs, Future Rentals offers extended rentals. These are the main rental options in Geelong, so plan ahead if cycling is central to your visit.

Getting In from the Airport

Geelong is served by two airports, and the best option depends on where you're flying from.

Avalon Airport (AVV)

• Avalon is Geelong's international airport and doubles as Melbourne's second airport.
• Jetstar operates domestic flights to Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide, while AirAsia X runs twice-daily flights to Kuala Lumpur with connections onward across Asia and beyond.
• Fares are often cheaper than Melbourne Airport because of the smaller size of the operation.
• It's about 20 minutes by road to the Geelong city centre along the Princes Freeway.
• The Avalon City Express shuttle bus runs to Geelong and South Geelong railway stations and meets every Jetstar flight, making it the easy car-free option.

Melbourne Airport (MEL)

• Melbourne Airport is the state's main international gateway, with services across Australia and the world.
• By road, the trip to Geelong takes about an hour and 15 minutes via the Western Ring Road and then the Princes Freeway.
• Gull Airport Service operates pre-booked shuttle buses between Melbourne Airport and Geelong's city centre every day.
• Alternatively, take the SkyBus from the airport to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, then catch an onward train to Geelong.

Other Ways to Arrive

If you're coming from further afield, Geelong also has ferry connections worth knowing about.

• The Spirit of Tasmania car ferry to Devonport now departs from Corio Quay in Geelong, having relocated from Melbourne's Station Pier. Ticket prices vary by season and accommodation type, with seats being the cheapest option and cabins with bunk beds costing more.
• Car and passenger ferries cross the mouth of Port Phillip Bay between Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, departing hourly through the day. Foot passenger and vehicle rates apply, with vehicle rates varying by season.
• Port Phillip Ferries runs regular passenger services from Geelong to the Bellarine Peninsula town of Portarlington and on to Melbourne's Docklands, with tickets available online. Limited services also run directly from the Geelong CBD waterfront to coincide with Geelong Cats AFL away games in Melbourne. Note that this ferry carries no cars.

Practical Tips

• Get a myki card early — it's the key to both trains and buses, and the single fare region means you won't be caught out by zone charges.
• If you're heading toward Warrnambool beyond Waurn Ponds, remember that reservations and paper tickets are required rather than myki.
• Check both Uber and DiDi before booking a rideshare, since only one of them applies surge pricing.
• For airport arrivals, the Avalon City Express and Gull Airport Service both remove the hassle of arranging a car, and both connect to the city centre or the rail network.