The direct way from Melbourne Airport to Geelong is the Gull Airport Service: a coach from outside Terminal 3 to Geelong station in about 65 to 75 minutes, roughly every hour, for $39 one way or $72 return. The alternative is SkyBus to Southern Cross, then a V/Line train. Driving takes about an hour.
Take the Gull bus. The Gull Airport Service runs from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) straight to Geelong station in about 65 to 70 minutes, with a second stop in McKillop Street about 5 minutes later. Buses leave roughly every hour, and an adult ticket costs $39 one way or $72 return (checked October 2026). The main alternative is SkyBus to Southern Cross and a V/Line train; driving takes about an hour.
Checked October 2026.
| Option | Time | Adult cost | Frequency | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gull Airport Service | About 65 to 70 min to Geelong station, 70 to 75 min to McKillop St | $39 one way, $72 return | Roughly hourly, about 5:30 am to 11:55 pm | Most travellers, especially with luggage |
| SkyBus to Southern Cross, then V/Line | SkyBus ride plus 59 to 62 min on the train | SkyBus fare plus a V/Line fare capped at $5.70 weekdays, $4.00 weekends | SkyBus every 10 to 15 min; trains every 20 min off-peak | A stop in Melbourne first, or late flights |
| Drive or hire car | About 1 hour | Fuel and parking | Any time | Onward trips to the coast |
Sources: Gull timetables and fares, Melbourne Airport bus services, V/Line timetable effective 23 August 2026, Visit Geelong & the Bellarine FAQs.
Gull is a private coach company, and its airport run is the direct scheduled service between Tullamarine and Geelong.
Where to catch it: At the airport, the stop is on the first island opposite the Virgin Australia Terminal 3, at ground level. Walk out of arrivals and cross to the island. If you have landed at Terminal 1 or 4, allow a few minutes to walk across to Terminal 3.
Where it stops in Geelong: Gull stops at Geelong Railway Station (bus bay 7, Railway Terrace) and 45 McKillop Street, and also serves Corio Village. The station stop is the one most visitors want: it is in the city centre, about a 10-minute walk from the waterfront, and connects with local buses and V/Line trains.
When it runs: On weekdays the first bus leaves the airport at 6:30 am (5:30 am in school holidays); at weekends the first leaves at 5:25 am. The last leaves at 11:55 pm. Gaps between buses run from 60 to 75 minutes, so look at the timetable before you land rather than turning up and waiting. Gull runs every day except Christmas Day.
Checked October 2026.
| Ticket | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $39 | $72 |
| Child (3 to 17) | $26 | $48 |
| Senior (Australian Seniors Card) | $36 | $68 |
| Family (2 adults, 1 to 3 children) | $78 | $144 |
| Family (1 adult, 2 or 3 children) | $65 | $120 |
| Under 3 | Free | Free |
Source: Gull fares.
Book online at any hour, or phone the Geelong office on 03 5222 4966 on weekdays, 9 am to 5 pm. You can also pay on board, but drivers take only Visa, Mastercard or cash.
Two useful policies. If your flight is late and you miss your booked bus, the ticket is valid on the next service with seats. And surfboards and bike boxes travel at no extra charge, as long as you tell Gull in advance. That matters if you’re heading for Torquay or Bells Beach.
Gull warns that construction at Melbourne Airport can delay buses. Leave margin for a departing flight.
There is no railway to Melbourne Airport. The public transport route is SkyBus to Southern Cross Station, then a V/Line train down the Geelong line.
SkyBus leaves from outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4, every 10 minutes at peak times and every 15 minutes otherwise, from 4 am to 1 am. Buy tickets online at skybus.com.au, at kiosks at the stops, or at the baggage storage desks in Terminal 2 arrivals. We haven’t quoted the SkyBus fare here; check it on the SkyBus site.
At Southern Cross, V/Line trains to Geelong leave every 20 minutes off-peak and at weekends and take about 59 to 62 minutes. Pay with myki or a contactless card. Fares are half price until 1 January 2027, capped at $5.70 a day on weekdays and $4.00 at weekends, and under-18s ride free. Our Melbourne to Geelong guide has the train details.
This route takes longer than Gull, with a change in the middle. It wins in two cases: when you want a night or two in Melbourne before Geelong, and when your flight lands after the last Gull bus. SkyBus runs until 1 am and V/Line has late trains on weekend nights.
Visit Geelong & the Bellarine puts the drive at about an hour. It is the quickest option if you are hiring a car anyway, and it makes sense if your trip is about the coast: the Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay, about 25 to 30 minutes past Geelong.
Once in the city, parking ranges from free streets above Eastern Beach to $15.90 a day in council car parks. Our Geelong parking guide has the details.
Gull runs the same route in reverse from Geelong station and McKillop Street. Check the Geelong departure times on the Gull timetable, book ahead for an early flight, and allow extra time for airport construction. By public transport, take the V/Line train to Southern Cross and SkyBus from there.
If you haven’t booked your flight yet, look at Avalon. It is about 20 km from Geelong, about 25 minutes by car, with Jetstar flights to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Bali. See our Avalon Airport to Geelong guide.
When you’ve arrived, where to stay in Geelong compares the waterfront and city-centre hotels, most of them 5 to 15 minutes’ walk from the Gull stop at the station.
3.5 hours
Snorkel at Popes Eye and with the young fur seals at Chinaman's Hat, then go looking for dolphins in Port Phillip Heads, with an optional bus transfer from Geelong Station.
fromA$210
Check availability4 hours
A dawn balloon flight that meets at the Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong and drifts over the city, the bay, the Barwon River and the Barrabool Hills, with breakfast afterwards.
fromA$390
Check availability1.5-2 hours
A beginner surf lesson on Torquay's main beach with wetsuit and board supplied; there are also three-lesson course and private options.
fromA$94
Check availabilityPrices and ratings were taken from GetYourGuide and can change. Booking through these links supports this site at no extra cost to you.
Updated
Take the Gull Airport Service. It leaves from the first island opposite Terminal 3 at ground level, runs roughly every hour, and reaches Geelong station in about 65 to 70 minutes. An adult ticket costs $39 one way or $72 return, checked October 2026. You can book online or pay the driver by Visa, Mastercard or cash. The other options are SkyBus plus V/Line, or driving.
Adults pay $39 one way and $72 return. Children aged 3 to 17 pay $26 and $48, Australian Seniors Card holders $36 and $68, and a family of two adults with up to three children $78 and $144. Under-3s ride free. Gull says it has no separate concession fare for pensioners or Health Care Card holders. Prices checked October 2026.
About an hour, according to Visit Geelong & the Bellarine. Allow longer in peak hour, and Gull warns that construction at Melbourne Airport can slow traffic around the terminals. If you are hiring a car, it is the fastest option and lets you carry on to the Bellarine or the Great Ocean Road. Plan parking in central Geelong before you arrive.
The last departure from the airport on Gull's timetable is 11:55 pm. The first weekday bus leaves at 6:30 am, or 5:30 am during school holidays, and the first weekend bus at 5:25 am. Gaps between buses run from 60 to 75 minutes. Gull runs every day except Christmas Day. If you miss your booked bus, your ticket is valid on the next one with free seats.
Not directly; there is no airport railway. Take SkyBus from outside Terminals 1, 3 or 4 to Southern Cross Station, then a V/Line train to Geelong, which takes about 59 to 62 minutes and runs every 20 minutes off-peak. SkyBus runs every 10 to 15 minutes, 4 am to 1 am. Check SkyBus fares on its own site.
Avalon Airport is about 20 km from central Geelong, roughly 25 minutes by car on a toll-free road.
The quickest way from Melbourne to Geelong is the V/Line train from Southern Cross: about 59 to 62 minutes, every 20 minutes off-peak and at weekends.
Stay on the waterfront at the Crowne Plaza or Novotel if you have no car and want the bay at the door.
From Geelong, the Great Ocean Road starts 21 km away in Torquay.