Minibus Hire Across Australia

Melbourne Minibus Hire, from the Laneways to the Yarra Valley

Melbourne is a city of neighbourhoods, and some of its best days out begin just past the edge of town: cellar doors in the Yarra Valley, penguins at dusk on Phillip Island, surf and cliffs on the Great Ocean Road. With a driver and a vehicle sized to your group, you can say yes to all of them.

Hopping around the city

In the CBD, buses can stop in the City of Melbourne's signed bus spaces for under 15 minutes to let people on and off, and longer layovers happen outside the centre. In practice that means quick, tidy drop-offs and an agreed time to be collected, which suits a day of galleries, markets and lunch.

Trams have priority on many city streets, and at some intersections a right turn means a hook turn from the left lane. Your driver knows the drill, so you can just watch the city go by.

Minibus interior with individual seats
Minibus interior with individual seats

Flying into Melbourne

Places your group will want to see

  • Melbourne Zoo — Parkville
  • MCG tours and Australian Sports Museum — Yarra Park
  • SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium — Riverside, corner of King and Flinders streets
  • Melbourne Skydeck — Eureka Tower, Southbank
  • Shrine of Remembrance — St Kilda Road
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria — Beside the Shrine of Remembrance
  • Queen Victoria Market — Northern edge of the CBD
  • Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building — Carlton Gardens; UNESCO World Heritage building
  • National Gallery of Victoria — St Kilda Road, Southbank
  • Federation Square — Flinders Street, opposite Flinders Street Station

Where groups usually stay

  • Melbourne Airport hotels (Tullamarine)
  • Carlton / Fitzroy
  • St Kilda
  • Docklands
  • Southbank / South Wharf
  • CBD

Arriving by ship

Wine, penguins and the coast

Allow roughly sixty minutes to reach Healesville in the Yarra Valley, and the same for Puffing Billy at Belgrave in the Dandenongs. Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula takes around an hour and a half.

Phillip Island is roughly two hours away. Plan to be settled an hour ahead of the penguins' walk up the beach, and warn everyone that photos and filming aren't allowed at the Penguin Parade.

Lorne, on the Great Ocean Road, is also about two hours. The Twelve Apostles are further: around three hours on the inland route through Colac and much longer if you follow the coast. Once the new visitor centre opens, every visitor to the main viewing area must book, so secure your booking before you set a departure time. Heavy Vehicle National Law work and rest limits cover buses over 4.5 t built for more than 12 adults, and in Victoria some lighter buses too, which shapes how long a day can run.

Flights into Tullamarine or Avalon

Tullamarine is roughly 28 km by road from Flinders Street Station; with clear roads, the Tullamarine Freeway and tolled CityLink get you there in half an hour or so. Buses collect from permit areas at the terminals, so share your flight details and the pickup is timed around them.

Avalon, down towards Geelong, is a 56 km, 50-minute run to Southern Cross Station. None of Melbourne's three toll roads take cash, and the vehicle's tag looks after them.

Your questions

Can we see the Twelve Apostles and be back for dinner?

With an early start, yes, using the inland road. Book your visit to the viewing area first, then plan the departure around it.

What time should we leave for the Penguin Parade?

Work back from sunset: allow about two hours for the drive and plan to be there an hour before the penguins land.

We're off a cruise at Station Pier. Where do we meet the minibus?

Everyone leaves the pier through the Gatehouse. Private pickups then happen in the car park at the pier entrance, where your driver waits.

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