How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Anglesea?

About 1 hour 30 minutes for the 110 km drive via the M1 to Geelong then south on the Surf Coast Highway through Torquay. The drive is mostly highway with no winding sections — easy for any vehicle including caravans. Add 30 minutes if you stop at Bells Beach on the way.

What's the best route from Melbourne to Anglesea?

M1 west out of Melbourne to Geelong, then south on the Surf Coast Highway (B100) through Torquay (continue south past the town). Anglesea is 17 km south of Torquay. There's no realistic alternative — this is the only sensible route from Melbourne.

Can you take public transport to Anglesea?

Yes — V/Line operates a regular train + coach service. Take the V/Line train from Southern Cross to Geelong (~1 hour), then connect to the Geelong–Apollo Bay coach which stops at Anglesea. Total journey about 2 hours 15 minutes. Cost AU$25–35 one way. Multiple services daily.

Where can you park in Anglesea?

Most parking is free. Foreshore car park has free unlimited parking. Main strip has free time-limited parking. Beach access car parks are free. Even at peak summer the central spots usually have space — Anglesea is bigger than Aireys Inlet but not as crowded as Lorne.

Are there EV charging stations in Anglesea?

Yes — Chargefox AC charger near the foreshore. Closest fast DC is Geelong (40 min north) or the Lorne Tesla Supercharger (30 min south). For EV travellers planning to drive further along the road, top up at Lorne rather than relying on Anglesea AC charging for fast turnaround.

How long is the drive from Anglesea to Lorne?

About 30 minutes / 33 km via the Great Ocean Road. The drive includes Aireys Inlet (15 min into the trip — worth a stop for Split Point Lighthouse) and Memorial Arch (20 min). Most travellers don't drive Anglesea-to-Lorne direct without at least one stop.

Is Anglesea suitable for caravans?

Yes. The drive in is highway. Multiple caravan-friendly accommodations including Anglesea Family Caravan Park (the standout family option). The town's wide streets and free foreshore parking accommodate large rigs without issues.

Driving the Great Ocean Road along the curving cliff highway

Getting to Anglesea

How to get to Anglesea

110 km from Melbourne via the M1 and Surf Coast Highway — 1.5 hours, mostly highway. Plus V/Line bus, parking, and EV charging.

Where to stay Anglesea overview

110 km

From Melbourne

1h 30

Direct drive

V/Line

Bus service available

Free

Town parking

By car

The route from Melbourne

From Melbourne, the route to Anglesea is straightforward and well-trafficked. M1 west to Geelong (~1 hour). Continue south on the Surf Coast Highway through Torquay; Anglesea is 17 km south of Torquay. Total: 110 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes direct.

The drive has no winding sections — it's mostly dual carriageway plus a short two-lane Surf Coast Highway portion. Easy for any vehicle including caravans. Most travellers stop along the way at Bells Beach (6 km detour from Torquay) for the cliff-top viewing platform; a 15-minute stop adds genuine value to the drive.

From Geelong itself, Anglesea is 35 km / 35 minutes south. From Melbourne airport, allow an extra 30 minutes via the Western Ring Road.

Distances

Anglesea distances

Melbourne CBD → Anglesea: 110 km, 1h 30min
Geelong → Anglesea: 35 km, 35 min
Torquay → Anglesea: 17 km, 18 min
Anglesea → Aireys Inlet: 12 km, 15 min
Anglesea → Lorne: 33 km, 30 min
Anglesea → Apollo Bay: 80 km, 1h 30min
Anglesea → Twelve Apostles: 175 km, 3h direct

By bus

V/Line public transport

V/Line operates a regular train + coach service. V/Line train from Southern Cross to Geelong (~1 hour), then the Geelong–Apollo Bay coach stops at Anglesea (~50 minutes onward). Total journey about 2 hours 15 minutes, AU$25–35 one way.

Multiple services daily, fewer on Sundays. Book through vline.com.au or the V/Line app. Once in Anglesea you're walking distance to the beach, river, and main strip — no car needed for in-town activities.

For onward travel south, the same coach continues to Aireys Inlet, Lorne, and Apollo Bay.

Parking + EV

In town

Anglesea's parking is uncomplicated — most spots are free and unlimited. The main foreshore car park has free unlimited parking near the beach and playground. The strip has free time-limited parking. Side streets are free. Even at peak summer, parking is rarely a problem.

EV charging in Anglesea includes a Chargefox AC charger near the foreshore. The closest fast DC charging is Geelong (40 minutes north) or Lorne (30 minutes south, Tesla Supercharger 8 stalls). For EV travellers driving the full road, top up at Lorne rather than relying on Anglesea's slower AC charging.

Frequently asked

Getting to Anglesea FAQs

How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Anglesea?: About 1 hour 30 minutes for the 110 km drive via the M1 to Geelong then south on the Surf Coast Highway through Torquay. The drive is mostly highway with no winding sections — easy for any vehicle including caravans. Add 30 minutes if you stop at Bells Beach on the way.
What's the best route from Melbourne to Anglesea?: M1 west out of Melbourne to Geelong, then south on the Surf Coast Highway (B100) through Torquay (continue south past the town). Anglesea is 17 km south of Torquay. There's no realistic alternative — this is the only sensible route from Melbourne.
Can you take public transport to Anglesea?: Yes — V/Line operates a regular train + coach service. Take the V/Line train from Southern Cross to Geelong (~1 hour), then connect to the Geelong–Apollo Bay coach which stops at Anglesea. Total journey about 2 hours 15 minutes. Cost AU$25–35 one way. Multiple services daily.
Where can you park in Anglesea?: Most parking is free. Foreshore car park has free unlimited parking. Main strip has free time-limited parking. Beach access car parks are free. Even at peak summer the central spots usually have space — Anglesea is bigger than Aireys Inlet but not as crowded as Lorne.
Are there EV charging stations in Anglesea?: Yes — Chargefox AC charger near the foreshore. Closest fast DC is Geelong (40 min north) or the Lorne Tesla Supercharger (30 min south). For EV travellers planning to drive further along the road, top up at Lorne rather than relying on Anglesea AC charging for fast turnaround.
How long is the drive from Anglesea to Lorne?: About 30 minutes / 33 km via the Great Ocean Road. The drive includes Aireys Inlet (15 min into the trip — worth a stop for Split Point Lighthouse) and Memorial Arch (20 min). Most travellers don't drive Anglesea-to-Lorne direct without at least one stop.
Is Anglesea suitable for caravans?: Yes. The drive in is highway. Multiple caravan-friendly accommodations including Anglesea Family Caravan Park (the standout family option). The town's wide streets and free foreshore parking accommodate large rigs without issues.

Now book accommodation

Where to stay → Anglesea overview