Is there a Colac to Lorne bus in 2026-27?

Colac Station is the first stop toward Lorne, on Gellibrand Street. Birregurra is the town stop on Austin Street. Deans Marsh is the stop before Lorne. The Lorne Visitor Centre is the Lorne end of the bus, on the Great Ocean Road. Stop names are published in the Transport Victoria GTFS schedule. ⁠¹

What we found, checked 1 November 2026

We conducted checks on the 7 pages in Sources and repeat only what they state. ⁠^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

The published feed lists this bus from 18 December 2026. Transport Victoria is the agency, and the route name there is Colac - Lorne. See the Transport Victoria GTFS schedule. Christian’s Bus Co runs the service. ⁠^{1, 2}

When does the Colac to Lorne summer bus run in 2026-27?

It starts on 18 December 2026. In the published feed it runs every day from that date except Christmas Day, when there are no trips on 25 December 2026. The Shire describes about six weeks over summer and says the service could be extended. ⁠^{1, 3}

The dates above are in the Transport Victoria GTFS schedule. The Shire note is on the Surf Coast Shire public transport page. ⁠^{1, 3}

Trips run toward Lorne and back toward Colac on the days the feed lists. ⁠¹

Where does the bus stop?

Toward Lorne there are five stops. They are Colac Station on Gellibrand Street, the Colac Bus Interchange on Gellibrand Street, Austin Street in Birregurra, Deans Marsh - Lorne Road, and the Lorne Visitor Centre on the Great Ocean Road. Toward Colac the same stops run in reverse. ⁠¹

At Deans Marsh and Birregurra the return trip uses the opposite side of the road. The Birregurra bus stop is on Austin Street. It is not at the railway station. ⁠¹

How do you get to Colac from Melbourne?

Take a V/Line train from Melbourne. Trains between Southern Cross and Warrnambool run via Geelong and stop at Colac and Birregurra. Change at a train stop such as Colac or Birregurra, then ride the summer bus. This guide does not reproduce the V/Line timetable. ⁠^{5, 4, 1}

The Birregurra bus stop is on Austin Street, not at the railway station. Train stops at Colac and Birregurra are listed on the V/Line Warrnambool line timetable. ⁠^{5, 1}

How do you pay?

Pay with myki. Christian’s Bus Co points readers to PTV for myki information and fare information. Before you travel, contact the operator on its information line, 1800 800 007. This guide does not state a fare. ⁠²

The operator page is the Christian’s Bus Co Colac timetable. ⁠²

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Every trip in the published feed is flagged as wheelchair accessible. That flag describes the vehicle trip, not individual stop access, so ask Christian’s Bus Co on 1800 800 007 about the stop you will use. ⁠^{1, 2}

Who runs it and why?

Christian’s Bus Co is the operator, and it runs the bus for PTV. The service followed a community campaign, including a petition led by a Grade 6 student at Deans Marsh Primary School. PTV funds the service. Colac Otway Shire says the bus is not managed by Council. ⁠^{2, 7, 4}

The Surf Coast Times report on the campaign is the background. The Colac Otway Shire public transport page says Council does not manage the bus. The Colac Herald report of 29 May 2026 reported fewer passengers in the 2025-26 season than before, and service interruptions in January from extreme weather. No figures are repeated here. Use it as a prompt to check service updates. ⁠^{7, 4, 6}

Coming from Geelong or staying in Lorne?

Coming from Geelong, use the train and coach that runs via Geelong. That trip is a different service from this summer bus. Staying in Lorne is a separate choice once you know which stop you will use. The buttons below split those two decisions. ⁠^{3, 5}

See the bus and transfers page and the bus guides. If you would rather drive, read car hire for Lorne. ⁠

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