By car
From central Melbourne, head west on the M1 to Geelong, then follow the signs for the Great Ocean Road via Torquay and Anglesea. From Geelong, it's about 70 minutes of coast‑hugging tarmac to Lorne. The road is narrow and twisty in places; take it slowly, leave plenty of room for the cyclists, and pull over at the lookouts.
By bus
V/Line runs a coach service from Geelong railway station to Apollo Bay that stops in Lorne. Most days there are a handful of services in each direction. Tickets are cheap and they connect with trains from Melbourne via Geelong.
By tour
Plenty of one‑ and two‑day Great Ocean Road tours run from Melbourne and stop in Lorne for lunch or an overnight. For a one‑off trip and no car, it's an easy way to do it.
Parking in town
There's free parking along Mountjoy Parade (the main strip) and in side streets. It fills up in peak summer; arrive before late morning and you'll usually find a spot near the beach.
Distances at a glance
- Melbourne CBD → Lorne: about 145 km / 2 hr
- Geelong → Lorne: about 65 km / 70 min
- Anglesea → Lorne: about 35 km / 40 min
- Apollo Bay → Lorne: about 45 km / 55 min