Minibus Hire Across Australia

Geelong Minibus Hire for the Great Ocean Road and the Bellarine

Geelong sits at the door of two of Victoria's favourite day trips: the Great Ocean Road to the west and the Bellarine Peninsula to the east. Pick the one that suits your group, or split a long weekend between them, and let someone else do the driving.

The Great Ocean Road, done properly

Torquay, where the road begins, is only 25 minutes away, and Lorne is about an hour and a quarter. A day to Lorne and back is relaxed, with time for lunch and a walk along the beach.

The Twelve Apostles are a bigger undertaking: roughly 200 to 230 km each way, or three to three and a half hours before anyone steps out. That's 400 km or more in a day, and on a heavier bus the driver has to stay within the Heavy Vehicle National Law limits on work and rest. Many groups stay a night on the coast instead.

From the opening of the new visitor centre at the Apostles, every visitor to the main precinct must book ahead, and tour vehicles are given a bus bay and a set arrival time.

White minibus parked at the curb
White minibus parked at the curb

Across the Bellarine to Queenscliff

It takes around 35 minutes to reach Queenscliff, past Bellarine wineries and the beaches around Ocean Grove. From there a car ferry crosses to Sorrento in around 40 minutes, sailing hourly from 7am to 6pm. Any vehicle crossing checks in 40 minutes ahead of sailing, and if your minibus is crossing too, book its space for weekends and school holidays.

Flying into Geelong

Places your group will want to see

  • Great Ocean Road (from Torquay) — Coastal touring route west from Torquay to Lorne, Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles
  • Queenscliff and the Bellarine Peninsula — Historic fort town, wineries and the Searoad car ferry to Sorrento
  • Geelong Botanic Gardens — Eastern Park, beside Eastern Beach
  • Geelong Waterfront and Eastern Beach — Bay walk, Cunningham Pier and the art deco Eastern Beach bathing complex
  • National Wool Museum — 26 Moorabool Street, one block from the waterfront; bus parking in front of the museum on Moorabool Street

Where groups usually stay

  • Bellarine Peninsula (Queenscliff, Ocean Grove)
  • Torquay (Great Ocean Road start)
  • Eastern Beach
  • Central Geelong / waterfront

Arriving at Avalon or Tullamarine

Avalon Airport is the handy one, about 24 km from Geelong City Hall and 25 to 30 minutes by road. Buses collect passengers from its Bus Zone and may stay only as long as the pickup takes, so a flight number helps your driver arrive at just the right moment.

Coming from Tullamarine? It's around 85 km, so allow 60 to 75 minutes. On Melbourne's cashless toll roads a bus with 13 seats or more is billed at the heavy-vehicle rate, including a charge on the West Gate Freeway whether you go through the tunnel or over the bridge.

Around town, and across to Tasmania

In the city, the National Wool Museum on Moorabool Street has bus parking right out the front, a block from the water.

Spirit of Tasmania sails for Devonport from Corio Quay in North Geelong. Fresh ships take over the crossing in late 2026, alongside a new terminal at the Devonport end, so confirm current sailings before you plan a run to the quay. Group bookings go through Spirit of Tasmania directly.

Your questions

Can we see the Twelve Apostles as a day trip from Geelong?

It's possible but long, at 400 km or more there and back. Book your Apostles visit ahead, start early and talk through the driver's hours when you ask for a quote.

Can we get to Sovereign Hill from Geelong?

Yes. Ballarat is about 87 km inland, roughly an hour's drive, so it makes an easy day out.

Is a people mover big enough for a Bellarine winery day?

For six or seven people, yes, and it suits the smaller cellar doors. Larger groups usually move up to a minibus of as many as 19 seats.

More trips we can arrange

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