Great Ocean Road
187 km to Apollo Bay · about 3 hours
Visit Victoria's three-day touring route runs from Melbourne to Apollo Bay on day one. Melbourne to Torquay, where the road starts, is just over an hour.
Car hire in Melbourne CBD
Melbourne's CBD rental counters cluster at Southern Cross Station on Spencer Street, with a Hertz branch on Franklin Street, and hours are short: Budget at Southern Cross closes at 4:30pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends. If you are flying in, the airport has six companies in one hall. Whichever you use, Melbourne's toll roads are cashless, so sort out the toll arrangement before you drive off.
Updated
Melbourne CBD at a glance
- Southern Cross counters
- Budget (Unit 28) and Sixt (Shop 10) at 99 Spencer St; Budget's counter is inside the Southern Cross bus terminal
- Hertz in the CBD
- Shop 3/8 Franklin Street; Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
- Budget Southern Cross hours
- Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:30pm; Sat and Sun 8am-12pm; after-hours returns not available
- Sixt Melbourne City hours
- Open 8am-1pm daily, including bank holidays
- Tolls
- Melbourne toll roads are cashless; using one without a pass can mean admin fees or fines
Compare cars at Melbourne city
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 from Southern Cross Station or the CBD
Choose a city branch that fits your arrival: Southern Cross for station access, or Franklin Street for the northern CBD. Check the booked branch’s hours before travelling.
Unit 28, 99 Spencer Street, Southern Cross Station bus terminal
- Budget
Enter from Spencer Street next to the 7-Eleven. Returns go to Wilson Parking at 163-235 Spencer Street.
Shop 10, 99 Spencer Street, Docklands, below DFO
- Sixt
A short walk from Southern Cross Station.
Shop 3/8 Franklin Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Hertz
Melbourne City branch, 89 Franklin Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
- Europcar
Collecting the car
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For Budget, go into the Southern Cross bus terminal from the Spencer Street side, next to the 7-Eleven, to Unit 28. For Sixt, Sixt's directions from Spencer Street lead you to the Coach Terminal sign, up to Level M and along to the office; the branch page puts it below the DFO.
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Check the branch's hours against your arrival time. Budget's counter closes at 4:30pm on weekdays and at noon on weekends; Sixt is open until 1pm.
- 3
Ask about tolls before you leave the counter. Melbourne's toll roads are cashless, and the rental company can tell you whether a toll package is already on the car.
- 4
Plan your first turn. Right-hand turns from the left lane at 'hook turn' signs are common in the CBD: keep to the far left of the intersection and wait for the lights on the road you are entering to turn green.
Returning in the CBD
- 1
Budget's Southern Cross returns go to Wilson Parking at 163-235 Spencer St, not the counter. It does not offer after-hours returns, so allow for the closing time.
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If you are heading to the airport afterwards, remember that Melbourne Airport returns are at the ground floor of the T123 car park, reached from Centre Road.
Drives from Melbourne city
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Phillip Island
90 to 120 minutes
Allow a further 20 minutes from the bridge to the Penguin Parade, and more in busy seasons. Car parking is free on site.
Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry loop
Searoad's crossing takes about 40 to 45 minutes and hire cars are allowed; arrive 40 minutes early with a vehicle. It links the Bellarine Peninsula to the Mornington Peninsula.
A Mildura-centred trip can start at the local airport instead of paying for a Melbourne city car throughout the journey.
For a border-country visit, consider an Albury Airport collection and confirm the exact return branch before choosing Melbourne pickup.
Guides for trips from Melbourne city
Day Trips from Melbourne by CarChoose a Melbourne car hire day trip to Daylesford, the Grampians, Phillip Island or the Great Ocean RoadHire Cars on Ferries in AustraliaA ferry ticket does not give you rental permissionMelbourne to Phillip Island driveMelbourne to Phillip Island takes about 90 minutes, then allow 20 more to the Penguin ParadeMornington Peninsula self drivePlan a Melbourne to Mornington Peninsula day trip through Mornington, Rye and SorrentoWilsons Promontory drive from MelbourneWilsons Promontory is about three hours from Melbourne, with Tidal River another 30 km inside the parkAirport versus city car hireIs airport or city car hire cheaper? Compare total rental cost, branch hours, transfers and return location on the same datesElectric Car Hire MelbourneConsidering an electric hire car in Melbourne? Check the booked model, AC and DC charging, regional charger maps, return charge rule and rental terms.Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean RoadMelbourne to Adelaide is 728 km direct in about 8 hours; the Great Ocean Road route is a 4 day, 989 km tripMelbourne to Bright driveDrive from Melbourne to Bright via the Hume Freeway and Snow Road, then the Great Alpine RoadMelbourne to Grampians DriveAllow about three hours from Melbourne to the Grampians via Ballarat and AraratMelbourne to Sydney Coastal Drive and One-Way HireThe coastal route is 1,432 km and about 20 driving hoursMelbourne to the snow: drives to Buller, Falls Creek and Baw BawMt Buller is 248 km and about 3 hours from Melbourne
Driving around Melbourne city
Cashless tolls
Melbourne has cashless toll roads. Linkt's Visitor's Pass has a $3.50 online opening fee and covers CityLink and EastLink, with CityLink trips claimable up to 5 days after travel. Ask your rental company whether the car already has a toll package so you do not pay twice.
West Gate Tunnel
The West Gate Tunnel opened on 14 December 2025. The West Gate Bridge and Freeway stay toll-free for cars, so only tunnel trips are charged. A 24-hour tunnel pass has recently been quoted at $17.31 by Linkt and $16.78 by RACV, so check the current price.
Hook turns
At a 'right turn from left only' sign, move to the left lane, indicate right, enter the intersection keeping to the far left and wait for the lights on the road you want to enter to go green. Hook turns are most common in the CBD and inner suburbs and exist to keep intersections clear for trams.
Overseas licence
A current overseas licence for the right class is valid for visitors staying less than 6 months. If it is not in English, carry an English translation or an international driving permit in English.
Melbourne CBD car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Is there car hire at Southern Cross Station?
Yes. Budget has Unit 28 at 99 Spencer St inside the Southern Cross bus terminal, and Sixt's Melbourne City branch is at Shop 10, 99 Spencer St, below the DFO. Both have short daytime hours, so check them against your train.
Is there car hire in Docklands?
Sixt's Melbourne City branch is at Shop 10, 99 Spencer St, Docklands 3008, beneath the DFO and within walking distance of Southern Cross Station. It is open 8am to 1pm daily.
Is Melbourne CBD car hire open at night or on weekends?
Only partly. Hertz's Franklin Street branch is open Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm; Budget's Southern Cross counter is open until noon on weekends. The airport branches keep longer hours. Hertz's airport counter is open until 1am on weekdays.
Is it cheaper to hire a car in the CBD or at the airport?
It depends on your dates, so compare both in the search box above. The airport has six companies in one hall and all offer after-hours return, while Budget at Southern Cross has no after-hours returns.
How do tolls work in a Melbourne hire car?
Melbourne toll roads are cashless. Using a toll road without a pass can lead to extra administration charges or fines; most providers offer a toll solution you can add to your booking. Linkt sells a Visitor's Pass for $3.50 online, but rental car use of the pass is up to the rental company, so ask yours before relying on it.
Can I take a Melbourne hire car on the Queenscliff ferry?
Yes, subject to your rental agreement. Many rental companies exclude ferry routes, usually those serving an offshore island, so check with your rental company before departure.
Nearby and often combined
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)Tullamarine desks and the CityLink run inGeelongSurf Coast and Great Ocean Road startAvalon AirportCloser to Geelong and the Great Ocean RoadAdelaide AirportGateway to the Hills, Barossa and FleurieuVictoria car hireEvery Victoria pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Melbourne city car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.