Avalon Airport
20 km · about 25 minutes
Toll-free, per the airport.
Car hire in Geelong
Geelong has city-centre rental branches with short weekend hours, so a Saturday or Sunday arrival is the thing to check first. Avalon Airport, 20 km and about 25 minutes away on a toll-free road, has seven rental brands but staffs its counters only by booking. The Spirit of Tasmania terminal is about 5 km from the CBD, and whether hire cars may sail is up to your rental company.
Updated
Geelong at a glance
- Budget Geelong Downtown
- 152 Latrobe Terrace (next to the flyover); Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm, Sat 7:30am-4pm, Sun 8am-4pm
- Hertz Geelong
- 18A The Esplanade South; Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-12pm
- Avalon Airport
- 20 km, about 25 minutes from Geelong CBD, toll-free
- Spirit of Tasmania terminal
- Spirit of Tasmania Quay, North Shore, about 5 km from the Geelong CBD; check-in closes 45 minutes before departure
- Great Ocean Road
- 243 km from Torquay to Allansford
Compare cars at Geelong
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up a hire car in Geelong
Two companies with a Geelong city address were confirmed from their own location pages. For the widest choice and later hours, check Avalon Airport.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Local depot152 Latrobe Terrace, next to the flyover; vehicles on site, same-location returns | 152 Latrobe Terrace, next to the flyover; vehicles on site, same-location returns |
| Hertz | Local depot18A The Esplanade South, Geelong 3220 | 18A The Esplanade South, Geelong 3220 |
| Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Turnbull's Hire, Kangaroo Rentals | Desk in the terminalAt Avalon Airport arrivals hall, 20 km away; staffed only by booking | At Avalon Airport arrivals hall, 20 km away; staffed only by booking |
Collecting the car
- 1
Check the branch's opening hours against your arrival, especially on a Sunday. Hertz on the Esplanade is open 8am to noon on weekends; Budget on Latrobe Terrace is open to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
- 2
Book ahead if you plan to use Avalon Airport, because counters there are staffed only when a booking has been made.
- 3
If you are arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania, remember that the terminal is about 5 km from the CBD, so allow for that before you reach a rental branch.
Returning a car in Geelong
- 1
Return to the branch on your booking. Budget's Geelong Downtown page lists same-location returns and no after-hours returns; the branch is next to the flyover on Latrobe Terrace.
- 2
Check the depot's closing time before you plan your day. Hertz closes at noon on weekends and Budget at 4pm.
- 3
If you are returning to Avalon Airport, the airport's page publishes no return procedure; use your booking confirmation.
- 4
If you are boarding the Spirit of Tasmania, check-in closes strictly 45 minutes before departure, so hand the car back well before then.
Drives from Geelong
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Great Ocean Road
243 km from Torquay to Allansford
Visit Great Ocean Road advises against a Melbourne to Twelve Apostles day trip, though it is technically possible. The road is 243 km from Torquay to Allansford.
Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry
crossing takes about 40 to 45 minutes
Searoad says hire cars are allowed but to check with your rental company; arrive at the terminal 40 minutes early with a vehicle.
Spirit of Tasmania terminal
about 5 km from the CBD
The lowest car and 4WD fare listed in September 2026 was $104 each way.
Guides for trips from Geelong
Driving around Geelong
Toll-free to Avalon and Melbourne
Avalon Airport says the routes from the airport to Geelong and to Melbourne are toll-free. Once you reach Melbourne itself, its toll roads are cashless.
Hire cars and Bass Strait
The Spirit of Tasmania's boarding page gives fares and check-in times but nothing on hire cars. Get your rental company's permission in writing before you take a rental car across, or return it in Geelong and hire another in Tasmania.
Stopping on the Great Ocean Road
Stopping on the road itself is strictly prohibited; use designated parking areas and lookouts. Peak times are late December to January and around Easter.
Wildlife
Kangaroos and koalas often cross roads unexpectedly, especially at dawn and dusk.
Geelong car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Is there car hire in Geelong?
Yes. Budget has a Geelong Downtown branch at 152 Latrobe Terrace and Hertz is at 18A The Esplanade South. Both have reduced weekend hours.
Can I take a hire car on the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong?
The lowest car fare listed in September 2026 was $104 each way, and hire car rules are set by your rental company. Ask your rental company before you book the sailing, or return the car in Geelong and hire another in Tasmania.
Where is the Spirit of Tasmania terminal in Geelong?
At Spirit of Tasmania Quay in North Shore, about 5 km from the Geelong CBD. Check-in opens 1.5 to 2.5 hours before departure and closes strictly 45 minutes before.
Is Avalon Airport closer to Geelong than Melbourne Airport?
Yes. Avalon is 20 km from the Geelong CBD, about 25 minutes, toll-free. Melbourne Airport sits on the other side of the city.
Can I take a hire car on the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry?
Searoad says yes, noting that some rental contracts exclude ferry routes, usually those serving an offshore island. It still asks you to check with your rental company before departure.
How do I get from Avalon Airport to Geelong without hiring a car?
MyBus Geelong offers door-to-door transfers to Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast, booked at least two business days ahead. A public bus, Route 18, links Lara Station with the airport.
Nearby and often combined
Avalon AirportCloser to Geelong and the Great Ocean RoadMelbourne Airport (Tullamarine)Tullamarine desks and the CityLink run inMelbourne CBDCBD depots for day trips out of the cityDevonport (airport and Spirit of Tasmania terminal)Spirit of Tasmania arrivals and DPOVictoria car hireEvery Victoria pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Geelong car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.