Key facts
- Melbourne Airport counters
- Ground floor of the T123 Car Park, opposite Terminal 2. Follow the Car Rental signs.
- Avalon Airport counters
- In the arrivals hall, and staffed only for online bookings. The company then directs you to the car.
- Tolls from Melbourne Airport
- The Tullamarine Freeway may require a CityLink pass. The Western Ring Road is an option that avoids it.
- Inland road to Lorne
- Deans Marsh-Lorne Road is often used as an alternative to the Great Ocean Road for drivers travelling to or from Lorne.
- Closest airport to the coast road
- Avalon is the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road, and it offers car hire.
Last checked
Can you hire a car in Lorne?
No. Our search shows no car hire depot in Lorne, so collect the car at Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport or in Geelong, then drive to town.
Great Ocean Road car hire, for a Lorne stay, is a choice of collection point and then a choice of road. Car rental in Lorne is not a counter on the foreshore. 4
Melbourne Airport, Avalon or Geelong: where should you pick up?
Collect at Melbourne Airport for the brands the airport lists on site, at Avalon Airport if that is where you land, or in Geelong for a town-centre depot. 1, 3, 4
Melbourne Airport car hire for a Great Ocean Road trip starts on the ground floor of the T123 Car Park, opposite Terminal 2. Follow the Car Rental signs. The airport lists Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and SIXT. 1
Walk-up rentals exist, and the airport still says pre-booking is recommended. Drive on the left. Return the car with the agreed fuel level, and check the terms for a credit card. 1
Car hire at Avalon Airport is in the arrivals hall. Staff are present only when a booking has been made online, and the company directs you to the parking spot. Visit Great Ocean Road calls Avalon the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road. 3, 4
In our search for sample dates, the Avalon Airport depot was at 80 Beach Road, Lara. Suppliers that appeared were Hertz, Budget, Avis, Thrifty, Dollar, Sixt and Yesaway. That list is what the search returned, not a promise for every date.
Car hire in Geelong, in the same kind of search, showed Europcar at 48 Mercer Street, Budget at 152 Latrobe Terrace, Sixt at 67 Douro Street in North Geelong, and Avis at 13-15 Curtis Street in Belmont. Hertz at Avalon Airport also appeared, so read the depot address before you treat a result as a town counter.
| Check | Melbourne Airport | Avalon Airport | Geelong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counters | Ground floor of the T123 Car Park, opposite Terminal 2. | Arrivals hall. Staffed only for online bookings. | Town depots on Mercer Street, Latrobe Terrace, Douro Street (North Geelong) and Curtis Street (Belmont). |
| Brands | The airport lists Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and SIXT. | In our search for sample dates: Hertz, Budget, Avis, Thrifty, Dollar, Sixt and Yesaway. | In our search for sample dates: Europcar, Sixt, Budget and Avis. |
| Booking | Pre-booking is recommended. | Book online before you fly. | Check the depot terms on the offer. |
| Best for | Flying into Melbourne Airport, for the widest on-site brand choice. | Arriving at Avalon, the closest airport to the start of the Great Ocean Road. | Staying in Geelong first, then driving to Lorne. |
How do you leave Melbourne Airport without paying tolls?
Take the Western Ring Road (M80). Travel on the Tullamarine Freeway may require a CityLink pass and incur tolls, and the airport names the Western Ring Road as an option to avoid that. 2
If you are in a rental car, speak to the rental company about how tolls are charged before you leave the airport. This guide does not set a toll product for you. 2
Coast road or inland road: which way to drive to Lorne?
From the Geelong Ring Road, take the Great Ocean Road (B100) along the coast, or use Deans Marsh-Lorne Road, which is often the inland alternative for Lorne. 4, 6
Visit Great Ocean Road names three east-west options from the Geelong Ring Road: the Hamilton Highway (B140), the Princes Freeway (M1) and the Great Ocean Road (B100). You can travel one way and return by another. 4
The Victorian Government describes Deans Marsh-Lorne Road as the classic winding Otways route, often used by drivers travelling to or from Lorne. Works on the coast road and the inland routes can change conditions, so check before you go. 6, 7
- Melbourne Airport, or Avalon Airport as the alternative start.
- Western Ring Road (M80), then the Princes Freeway (M1) to Geelong.
- Great Ocean Road (B100) via the Memorial Arch at Eastern View to Lorne.
- Deans Marsh-Lorne Road through Deans Marsh, as the inland alternative.
What should you know before driving the Great Ocean Road?
Keep left, expect winding sections, and stop only in signed parking. Use the pull-outs so locals can pass. 4, 5, 1
- Keep left. Sections are very winding and need extra caution.
- Use the designated pull-outs to let locals pass.
- Stop only in clearly signed parking areas. Never park on a blind corner.
- Kangaroos are common, so slow down and stay alert.
- Download offline maps before you leave reception. Reception is patchy, including through the Otways forest.
The road west of Lorne is narrow and winding. The main roads do not need a 4WD. Check VicTraffic for closures, and the Transport Victoria upgrades page, because works can change the drive. 5, 7, 8
Where should you look after you choose a pickup?
Compare cars on the car hire page. For the rest of the trip, read where to stay in Lorne, Great Ocean Road tours that stop in Lorne, and Flying to Lorne: Avalon or Melbourne Airport. If you decide not to drive, the Melbourne to Lorne coach guide covers that journey.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car seat for a child?
Child restraints are required for children up to seven years old. Melbourne Airport states that rule for hire cars. Ask the company whether the offer includes a restraint, and arrange it before you collect the car. Read the offer so the seat matches the child. This guide does not describe a particular seat.
Do I need a credit card to hire a car?
Most providers require one. Melbourne Airport says most providers require a credit card for security, and that you should check the terms. The terms belong to the company on the offer. Read them before you collect the car. The airport page does not set one rule for every company.
What fuel level do I return the car with?
Return the car with the agreed fuel level. Melbourne Airport says that is the rule to follow, and that the provider sets the terms. Check the offer so you know the level you must match when you hand the car back. This guide does not name a fuel stop on the way.
Can I collect a car at Melbourne Airport without arranging it first?
Walk-up rentals exist at Melbourne Airport, and the airport still recommends you arrange the car before you fly. A reserved car is the safer plan if you want a particular brand from the on-site list. The airport does not publish one collection rule for every company.
Where is the car parked at Avalon Airport?
The counters are in the arrivals hall. Avalon Airport says the rental company then directs you to the parking location where you collect the vehicle. Staff are present only when the car was arranged online. Do not expect a desk with no arrangement behind it.
Sources and last checked (8)
- Melbourne Airport car rentals · Checked
- Melbourne Airport maps · Checked
- Avalon Airport car hire · Checked
- Getting here, Visit Great Ocean Road · Checked
- Questions to ask before driving the Great Ocean Road · Checked
- Safer roads in western Victoria, 30 May 2022 · Checked
- Great Ocean Road and inland routes upgrades · Checked
- VicTraffic · Checked