Coach Hire Across Australia

Melbourne Coach and Bus Charter

Melbourne's CBD rules are counted in minutes. A signed bus space gives a coach under 15 to load, a loading zone up to 30, so the group should be at the kerb when the coach pulls in.

Short stops inside the grid

The City of Melbourne's bus spaces are for loading and unloading, not for waiting. A hotel pick-up works when bags are packed and people are in the lobby at the stated time.

Longer layover happens only in designated areas outside the CBD, so between runs the coach may be some way off. Agree a collection time rather than calling the coach in when you are ready. Where signs require it, a right turn becomes a hook turn from the kerbside lane, clear of the trams.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 49-seat coach, exterior
Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 49-seat coach, exterior

Tullamarine or Avalon

From Tullamarine to Flinders Street Station is roughly 28 km. When traffic is light the coach covers it in half an hour, using the Tullamarine Freeway and the CityLink toll road. The coach needs an airport permit, cannot be left unattended, and pays extra if it overstays its dwell time. The practical rule: call the coach forward once the whole group is through baggage.

Avalon is further out: some 56 km, or close to 50 minutes, to Southern Cross. Its Bus Zone is for collecting passengers only, and larger groups are arranged directly with the airport. For a group staying in Geelong or heading down the coast, Avalon is often the shorter road.

Airports serving Melbourne

Stadiums and arenas

  • Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) — AFL home ground for several Melbourne clubs, AFL Grand Final, Boxing Day Test; Yarra Park
  • Marvel Stadium — Essendon, Carlton, North Melbourne, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs (AFL); Docklands
  • AAMI Park — Melbourne Storm (NRL), Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City (A-League)
  • Rod Laver Arena — Australian Open, concerts; Melbourne Park
  • John Cain Arena — Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix (NBL); Melbourne Park
  • Flemington Racecourse — Melbourne Cup Carnival
  • Albert Park — Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix street circuit

Day trips and transfers from Melbourne

  • Dandenong Ranges (Belgrave, Puffing Billy) — about 45 km, about 1 h
  • Yarra Valley (Healesville) — about 65 km, about 1 h
  • Geelong — about 75 km, about 1 h
  • Mornington Peninsula (Sorrento) — about 95 km, about 1.5 h
  • Ballarat (Sovereign Hill) — about 115 km, about 1.25 h
  • Phillip Island (Penguin Parade) — about 140 km, about 2 h
  • Great Ocean Road (Lorne) — about 140 km, about 2 h
  • Twelve Apostles (Port Campbell) — about 230 km inland via Colac, about 3 h inland; much longer along the Great Ocean Road

Coach rules in Melbourne

  • Melbourne Airport (MEL, Tullamarine) is about 28 km by road to Flinders Street Station, about 30 min in light traffic via the Tullamarine Freeway and tolled CityLink, and longer at peak times. Avalon Airport (AVV) is about 56 km by road to Southern Cross Station, about 50 min.
  • Every operator using the Melbourne Airport forecourt or the Terminal 4 Ground Transport Hub commercially needs a permit, issued after the vehicle is registered in the airport's online Bus Account System; buses may not be left unattended, and dwell-time limits apply.
  • In the Melbourne CBD, the City of Melbourne's bus spaces are signed "No Stopping, Buses stopping less than 15 minutes excepted" for picking up and dropping off passengers.
  • Buses may also pick up and drop off in Loading Zones (up to 30 minutes unless the sign says otherwise) and in No Parking areas (up to 2 minutes, with the driver within 3 metres of the bus).
  • Longer-stay bus and coach layover is only in designated areas outside the CBD; the City of Melbourne publishes an interactive map of bus spaces and the times they apply.
  • At CBD intersections signed "Right turn from left only", right turns must be made as hook turns from the left lane, to keep the tram tracks clear.
  • Melbourne has three cashless toll roads: CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel (opened 14 December 2025). A visitor toll pass covers all three and can be bought after travel (CityLink trips up to 5 days back, EastLink up to 3 days); heavy commercial vehicles have their own toll class.
  • Twelve Apostles: a new visitor centre is due to open in October 2026, and from its opening every visitor to the main viewing precinct must book in advance; tour coaches that book are given a reserved bus bay, so book well ahead.
  • Phillip Island Penguin Parade: arrive about an hour before the penguins come ashore; cameras and camcorders cannot be used at the Penguin Parade.
  • Tasmania trips: the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry sails from Geelong (Corio Quay Road, North Geelong) to Devonport and is moving to new ships in late 2026, so check sailing times; groups and coaches book through its group travel team.

Tolls and the heavy-vehicle class

None of Melbourne's three toll roads (CityLink, EastLink and the newer West Gate Tunnel) has a cash booth, and coaches are charged in a separate heavy-commercial class. The operator's tag covers them and the cost goes into the quote.

The coast, the island and the ship

From the opening of the new Twelve Apostles visitor centre, the main lookouts are by booking only, and a booked tour coach gets a bus bay. Secure the slot first. The inland road via Colac is about three hours; the Great Ocean Road takes much longer. Out on one and back on the other is popular, but the total has to sit within the Heavy Vehicle National Law's fatigue limits, which in Victoria reach some lighter buses too.

Phillip Island is about two hours away. Plan to be seated roughly sixty minutes before the birds reach the beach, and warn the group that cameras are not allowed at the parade. For Tasmania, the Spirit leaves from Geelong; new ships enter service late in 2026, so confirm the timetable first.

Questions

Can the coach collect us from the hotel entrance?

Where a bus space or loading zone is close to the door, yes, for a quick load. Otherwise the driver uses the nearest legal kerb and tells you where it is beforehand.

Is the Twelve Apostles too far for a day trip?

It can be done, but it is long. For a school or seniors group, a night on the coast makes the timing easier.

Do you cover the Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open?

Yes. Both bring road closures and tight set-down rules. See the event pages and book early, as coaches are in demand on those days.

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