Melbourne Might Be Getting a Regular Commuter Ferry from Geelong to Docklands
Port Phillip Ferries is trialling a new service between the two cities — and it's offering free runs in July.
If life has you travelling regularly between Melbourne and Geelong, here's a little win for you: you could get a free ferry between the two cities next month thanks to Port Phillip Ferries.
The four free services will run for Geelong-based commuters on July 24 and 31. The 300-person capacity ferries will depart for Docklands from Corio Bay at 6.15am, before making the return trip to Geelong at 5.30pm. The trip takes around one hour and 45 minutes, which is a bit longer than the train journey, which typically takes an hour and a half. However, it might be quicker than driving in peak hour traffic — especially if you work in or near the harbour.
Either way, with the added bonus of free wifi, heated cabins, phone charging stations and a free coffee or juice (on a gold coin donation), the ferry ride sounds a whole lot more picturesque than the train journey — and much more tempting than a peak-hour crawl over the West Gate Bridge. If you don't get seasick, that is.
The free trips usually cost $36 return and are part of Port Phillip Ferries' trial of commuter services between Melbourne and Geelong. It has already been running a daily service between Portarlington and Melbourne for the past two years, and if the Geelong trials prove a success, the route will be considered as a permanent fixture for commuters.
Port Phillip Ferries will run four free services on July 24 and 31. Seats can booked here.
Update, July 12, 2018: If you've been looking for an excuse to explore (or re-explore) Geelong, you're in luck. Port Phillip Ferries has just announced that it will also be running free ferries between the Docklands and Geelong for day-trippers on Tuesday, July 24 and 31. The ferries will depart Victoria Harbour, Docklands, at 8.30am each morning and head back to the Docklands from Geelong's Corio Bay at 3.15pm — giving punters five hours to explore the area.
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