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

About 2 hours 15 minutes for the 145 km drive via the Great Ocean Road through Geelong, Torquay, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet. The same trip via the inland Princes Highway (Princes Hwy to Winchelsea, then south) takes 2 hours but skips all the scenic stops. Allow 2.5–3 hours if you stop for coffee or photos along the way.

What's the fastest route from Melbourne to Lorne?

Princes Highway (M1) west to Geelong, then continue on M1 to the Surf Coast Highway (B100), south through Torquay, then Great Ocean Road through Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Lorne. Total: 145 km, about 2 hours 15 minutes. The inland alternative via Winchelsea is technically 10 minutes faster but cuts out the entire Surf Coast experience — only worth it on a return trip.

Can you take public transport from Melbourne to Lorne?

Yes — V/Line runs a daily coach service from Melbourne to Apollo Bay that stops at Lorne. The trip takes about 3 hours 15 minutes from Melbourne CBD (with the Geelong train + V/Line coach connection). Cost is roughly AU$30–40 one way. The service runs once or twice daily depending on the day; check vline.com.au for current timetables. You'll be car-less in Lorne, which limits things like the Erskine Falls drive.

Where can you park in Lorne?

Mountjoy Parade has paid metered parking 9am–5pm in summer (typically AU$3–5 per hour). The side streets one block back are mostly free. Larger free car parks at the eastern (pier) end of Mountjoy and at the surf club. Cumberland River and Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park have their own parking. In peak summer (December–January) Mountjoy fills by 11am — arrive early or park 2 blocks back.

Are there EV charging stations in Lorne?

Yes — Tesla Supercharger station at the Lorne Foreshore Reserve (8 stalls). Lorne also has a Chargefox AC charger and a Tesla destination charger at Mantra Lorne. The full Lorne to Apollo Bay stretch has good EV coverage; the Otway region west of Apollo Bay is sparser. EV travellers driving the full road should top up at Lorne or Apollo Bay, not Port Campbell.

Is the road from Melbourne to Lorne suitable for a campervan or caravan?

Yes, easily. The Princes Highway and Surf Coast Highway are dual-carriageway and two-lane respectively, with normal speed limits and no tight bends. The only winding section before Lorne is between Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, but it's well-engineered and signed at 80 km/h. Caravan-friendly accommodation in Lorne includes the multiple sections of the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park.

Where can I stop on the drive from Melbourne to Lorne?

Bells Beach (a 6 km detour from Torquay, 15-min stop). Memorial Arch at Eastern View (10-min photo stop). Aireys Inlet — coffee at A La Grecque, plus the Split Point Lighthouse if you have an hour. Anglesea for the kangaroos at the golf course (15-min detour) or the patrolled main beach.

Is the drive to Lorne safe at night?

The Princes Highway portion is safe at any time. The Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Lorne is mostly safe but the Anglesea-to-Aireys-Inlet stretch has tight bends with limited night visibility — drive at the limit, watch for kangaroos at dusk, and avoid in heavy rain. After 9pm, fewer cars, but also fewer fuel stations open. Not recommended for first-time visitors after dark.

Aerial view of the Great Ocean Road winding along the Victorian coastline

Getting to Lorne

How to get to Lorne

Drive times, the fastest route, public transport options, parking, and EV charging — everything you need to plan the actual journey.

Where to stay Lorne overview

145 km

From Melbourne

2h 15

Direct drive time

V/Line

Bus from Melbourne

8 stalls

Tesla Supercharger

By car

The two routes from Melbourne

From Melbourne, there are two practical routes to Lorne. The scenic coastal route via the Great Ocean Road is what most travellers want to drive. The inland Princes Highway is a faster alternative useful for return legs or when you're short on time.

Route 1: Coastal (recommended for the trip out). M1 west out of Melbourne to Geelong (~1 hour). Continue M1 south past Geelong onto the Surf Coast Highway (B100) through Torquay (1.5 hours total from Melbourne). From Torquay, follow the Great Ocean Road through Bells Beach, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, then into Lorne (2 hours 15 minutes total). This is the route that includes Memorial Arch and Split Point Lighthouse — the actual journey, not just the destination.

Route 2: Inland (useful for return). M1 west to Geelong, continue Princes Highway (A1) west to Winchelsea, then south on the C151 (Winchelsea–Deans Marsh Road) directly to Lorne. Total: about 2 hours, no scenic stops. Use this on the way home from a multi-day trip when you've already driven the coast.

The coast route adds 15 minutes of driving time but adds the entire Surf Coast — Bells Beach, the surfing museum at Torquay, the Memorial Arch, the lighthouse at Aireys Inlet, the kangaroo paddocks at Anglesea Golf Course. For first-timers, the choice is obvious.

Distance markers

Distances along the way

Melbourne CBD → Geelong: 75 km, 1 hour
Geelong → Torquay: 25 km, 25 minutes
Torquay → Bells Beach: 6 km, 10 min (detour)
Torquay → Anglesea: 10 km, 12 min
Anglesea → Aireys Inlet: 15 km, 18 min
Aireys Inlet → Lorne: 20 km, 25 min
Lorne → Apollo Bay: 45 km, 1 hour

Realistic Melbourne-to-Lorne with stops: 3–4 hours including coffee and photos.

Stops to consider

Worth stopping for on the way

Bells Beach — 6 km detour from Torquay, 15-min cliff-top stop. Bells Beach guide.
Anglesea Golf Course — wild kangaroos on the fairways, free to view from the road.
Memorial Arch — 10-min photo stop at Eastern View. Memorial Arch guide.
Split Point Lighthouse — Aireys Inlet headland, 45-min walking loop, optional tower tour. Lighthouse guide.
A La Grecque (Aireys Inlet) — coffee/lunch, the best non-Lorne café on this stretch.

By bus

V/Line public transport

V/Line operates a daily coach from Melbourne to Apollo Bay via Lorne. It's the only practical public transport option for reaching Lorne without a car. The trip is a combination of train (Southern Cross to Geelong) plus coach (Geelong to Apollo Bay) — typically two changes in total, ~3 hours 15 minutes door to door.

Booking is via vline.com.au or the V/Line app. Cost is around AU$30–40 one way. The frequency depends on the day — typically 1–2 services per day. Verify the current timetable before booking; services occasionally don't run on Sundays or public holidays.

The downside of V/Line is that you arrive in Lorne without a vehicle. Erskine Falls (10 km inland) and Teddy's Lookout (3 km west) are not reachable on foot from town. You can taxi or rideshare those if needed, but the practical implication is that bus travellers should plan around staying in town. If you want the full Otway experience, drive.

Parking

Where to park in Lorne

Lorne has a mix of paid metered parking on the main strip and free parking on side streets and at larger lots.

Mountjoy Parade — paid 9am–5pm summer (~AU$3–5/hr), free outside those hours and outside summer.
Side streets one block back — Otway Street, Smith Street, Williams Street — mostly free, close walk to everything.
Pier end car park — large free lot at the eastern end of the foreshore.
Surf club car park — free, close to main beach access.
Foreshore caravan park — visitor parking available; check signage.

In peak summer (December–January), Mountjoy fills by 11am. Arrive early or use a side street.

EV charging

Charging in Lorne

Lorne is well-equipped for EVs.

Tesla Supercharger — Lorne Foreshore Reserve, 8 stalls. Fast DC charging.
Chargefox AC — Lorne foreshore, slower (use overnight or for top-ups).
Mantra Lorne — Tesla Destination Charger, available to guests.

For EV travellers driving the full road: top up at Lorne or Apollo Bay, not Port Campbell. The Otway and Shipwreck Coast sections have sparser charging infrastructure than the Surf Coast.

Frequently asked

Getting to Lorne FAQs

How long does it take to drive from Melbourne to Lorne?: About 2 hours 15 minutes for the 145 km drive via the Great Ocean Road through Geelong, Torquay, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet. The same trip via the inland Princes Highway (Princes Hwy to Winchelsea, then south) takes 2 hours but skips all the scenic stops. Allow 2.5–3 hours if you stop for coffee or photos along the way.
What's the fastest route from Melbourne to Lorne?: Princes Highway (M1) west to Geelong, then continue on M1 to the Surf Coast Highway (B100), south through Torquay, then Great Ocean Road through Anglesea and Aireys Inlet to Lorne. Total: 145 km, about 2 hours 15 minutes. The inland alternative via Winchelsea is technically 10 minutes faster but cuts out the entire Surf Coast experience — only worth it on a return trip.
Can you take public transport from Melbourne to Lorne?: Yes — V/Line runs a daily coach service from Melbourne to Apollo Bay that stops at Lorne. The trip takes about 3 hours 15 minutes from Melbourne CBD (with the Geelong train + V/Line coach connection). Cost is roughly AU$30–40 one way. The service runs once or twice daily depending on the day; check vline.com.au for current timetables. You'll be car-less in Lorne, which limits things like the Erskine Falls drive.
Where can you park in Lorne?: Mountjoy Parade has paid metered parking 9am–5pm in summer (typically AU$3–5 per hour). The side streets one block back are mostly free. Larger free car parks at the eastern (pier) end of Mountjoy and at the surf club. Cumberland River and Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park have their own parking. In peak summer (December–January) Mountjoy fills by 11am — arrive early or park 2 blocks back.
Are there EV charging stations in Lorne?: Yes — Tesla Supercharger station at the Lorne Foreshore Reserve (8 stalls). Lorne also has a Chargefox AC charger and a Tesla destination charger at Mantra Lorne. The full Lorne to Apollo Bay stretch has good EV coverage; the Otway region west of Apollo Bay is sparser. EV travellers driving the full road should top up at Lorne or Apollo Bay, not Port Campbell.
Is the road from Melbourne to Lorne suitable for a campervan or caravan?: Yes, easily. The Princes Highway and Surf Coast Highway are dual-carriageway and two-lane respectively, with normal speed limits and no tight bends. The only winding section before Lorne is between Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, but it's well-engineered and signed at 80 km/h. Caravan-friendly accommodation in Lorne includes the multiple sections of the Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park.
Where can I stop on the drive from Melbourne to Lorne?: Bells Beach (a 6 km detour from Torquay, 15-min stop). Memorial Arch at Eastern View (10-min photo stop). Aireys Inlet — coffee at A La Grecque, plus the Split Point Lighthouse if you have an hour. Anglesea for the kangaroos at the golf course (15-min detour) or the patrolled main beach.
Is the drive to Lorne safe at night?: The Princes Highway portion is safe at any time. The Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Lorne is mostly safe but the Anglesea-to-Aireys-Inlet stretch has tight bends with limited night visibility — drive at the limit, watch for kangaroos at dusk, and avoid in heavy rain. After 9pm, fewer cars, but also fewer fuel stations open. Not recommended for first-time visitors after dark.

Now book accommodation

Where to stay → Lorne overview