Avalon Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

The name "Melbourne-Avalon" is misleading: the airport sits about 55 km south-west of Melbourne's centre, much closer to Geelong and Lara than to the city it's named after. Those who really need to reach Melbourne can take the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station, a trip of about an hour with a stop in Werribee; for those staying on the coast instead, Geelong is the sensible base, about 20-30 minutes by car and with an urban life of its own, waterfront included. Staying in Werribee or Lara only makes sense for those with a dawn flight who want the shortest possible transfer.

Geelong

Nearby town · About 20 km from the airport, 20-25 minutes by car or taxi along the M1; there's no direct public link, so without a car you need a local bus to Lara station and then the V/Line train to Geelong, another 10-15 minutes.

Best for: Those who want a real town with a waterfront, restaurants and something to do in the evening, while staying within half an hour of the airport.

Pros

Eastern Beach waterfront, restaurants and the Geelong Waterfront Carousel within walking distance of the centre's hotels
A railway station with frequent V/Line trains to Melbourne, useful for those who want to visit the city without sleeping there

Cons

Without a car, the connection to the airport requires a bus-to-train change at Lara
Geelong remains a regional city: nightlife is much more limited than in Melbourne

Recommended hotels in this area

Crowne Plaza Geelong by IHG: The newest of the chain hotels in Geelong, on the waterfront near the centre; high-floor rooms with views over Corio Bay.
Novotel Geelong: 450 metres from Eastern Beach, with a heated indoor pool; among the most central hotels on the waterfront.
Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong by IHG: The newest of the three, with the highest review scores; breakfast is often mentioned as a strong point.

See more hotels in this area →

Werribee

Nearby town · About 20 minutes by car from the airport; it's also one of the two SkyBus stops on the route to Melbourne, useful if you're continuing into the city the next day.

Best for: Dawn flights or late-night landings, when it pays to shorten the distance between hotel and terminal as much as possible.

Pros

Closer to the airport than Geelong, useful for those with a flight in the very early hours
A SkyBus stop on the same route to Southern Cross Station, convenient for those heading on to Melbourne

Cons

Werribee is a satellite town of Melbourne with little to do in the evening, not Geelong's seafront
No real connection to the centre of Melbourne: it's still 30-40 minutes by train or SkyBus