Last month my sister flew into Avalon Airport for a family wedding, and I got a frantic call: “How do I get to Melbourne without spending a fortune?” This got me thinking about all the times I’ve made the Geelong-Melbourne journey and the tricks I’ve picked up along the way.
The 75km stretch between Geelong and Melbourne is well-traveled, but finding affordable transport options can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. After years of making this trip for work meetings, family visits, and nights out, I’ve gathered some insider knowledge worth sharing.
Understanding Your Options
The taxi journey from Geelong to Melbourne typically costs between $140-200 depending on the time, day, and service you choose. That’s not pocket change! But with a bit of know-how, you can bring this down considerably.
Geelong Taxi service has been operating in the region for decades. The local fleet includes standard sedans, station wagons for extra luggage, and maxi taxis for groups. While they’re reliable and available 24/7, they’re not always the cheapest option for the Melbourne run – especially if you book without doing your homework first.
Pre-booking vs. Hailing
One mistake I made when I first moved to Geelong was assuming that hailing a cab on the street would cost the same as pre-booking. Wrong! Pre-booking often gets you better rates, especially for longer journeys like this one.
I called three different companies last week to compare, and the difference was around $25-30 cheaper for a pre-booked ride versus the meter rate. That’s enough saved for a nice lunch in Melbourne!
Timing Matters
The journey costs significantly more during peak times. My neighbor John regularly travels to Melbourne for business and swears by the 10 AM booking – just after morning rush hour has settled down.
Weekend nights and public holidays will hit your wallet harder. I once paid nearly $220 for a ride back from Melbourne after a concert on Cup Day. Lesson learned.
Rideshare Alternatives
Traditional taxis aren’t your only option. Rideshare services operate throughout the region and often offer competitive rates. Last summer, I compared prices for a midday Tuesday trip:
Traditional taxi: $165 Rideshare service: $128 Airport shuttle (with other passengers): $55
The savings speak for themselves, though service availability can vary depending on your exact location in Geelong and the time of day.
Share the Ride
When my work colleagues and I attend conferences in Melbourne, we split a maxi taxi. With four people sharing, the per-person cost drops to around $40-50 each way – suddenly much more reasonable.
There are also Facebook groups dedicated to ridesharing between Geelong and Melbourne. I’ve used these twice with good experiences, though obviously exercise caution and common sense when arranging rides with strangers.
The Train Option
Not strictly a taxi option, but worth mentioning – the V/Line train service costs about $18-25 one way and takes roughly an hour. From Southern Cross Station, you can then grab a local Melbourne taxi to your final destination. This combination often works out cheaper than a direct taxi.
The downside? Limited late-night services and occasional replacement buses that can add to journey time.
Negotiating Fares
Something many don’t realize – for longer journeys like Geelong to Melbourne, some drivers will negotiate a flat rate. This has worked for me about half the time, particularly with independent operators.
Last Christmas, I needed to get my elderly parents to Melbourne for a family gathering. I called ahead, explained the situation, and managed to arrange a return journey at a discount of about 15% off the standard rate.
Book a Return Journey
If you’re planning a day trip, booking your return journey with the same driver can lead to savings. Many drivers prefer the guaranteed fare back rather than waiting for random pickups in the city.
When my brother visited from Perth, we arranged this with a local Geelong driver who gave us his card and offered a 10% discount on the return leg. He even waited an extra 30 minutes when our lunch ran long.
Final Thoughts
The cheapest option will always depend on your specific circumstances – how many travelers, how much luggage, time constraints, and comfort requirements. For solo travelers on a budget, the train-plus-local-taxi combination usually wins. For groups of three or more, a shared taxi or rideshare service often makes more financial sense.
Whatever you choose, plan ahead. The spontaneous dash to hail a taxi outside Geelong Station will almost always be the most expensive approach.
What’s your experience with traveling between these two cities? Have you found other money-saving tricks I’ve missed? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
