Avalon Airport Guide

IT might be a mere "blink and you will miss it" airport, but Melbourne International's "little brother" serves the purpose for one airline, Jetstar, which offers budget flights that don't empty your wallet - it's a super alternative.

Avalon is 55 kilometres south west of Melbourne across the West Gate Bridge and down the Princess Freeway towards Geelong. The journey takes around 40 minutes by car and a little longer by bus.

With Victoria's second city of Geelong just 15 kilometres away and the increasingly popular Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast towns of Torquay and Anglesea, Avalon Airport is perfectly placed to provide quick and easy access to air travel to communities that would have traditionally made the longer journey up to Tullamarine International Airport. Whilst destinations and carriers are limited, for those travelling to the more popular interstate cities Avalon is a blessing at their doorstep. For others, the attraction includes Jetstar, the main carrier to operate out of Avalon and one of Australia's leading budget airlines.

The airport is open daily and Jetstar, the budget airline offshoot of Qantas, offers international flights to Bali, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City as well as domestic flights to Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney. Additionally Avalon handles diverted traffic from Melbourne International Airport in Tullamarine and even Sydney if necessary.

For a little airport, Avalon is bright, well designed and has a country feel so forget about the hustle and bustle of big city airports most travellers are accustomed to. It's quite relaxed and laid-back. It also plays host to the Australian International Air-show which attracts thousands of spectators and aircraft from around the world every two years.

Airlines & Terminals

Today Avalon Airport has just one major airline in operation, Jetstar who offer a range of flights to destinations throughout Australia and Asia. The Jetstar terminal is well signed and consists of separate departure and arrivals terminal buildings just three minutes walk apart.

Jetstar's Flight check-in desks open two hours before departure and close 30 minutes before the flight is scheduled to leave. Allow plenty of time to ensure you don't miss the 30 minute cut-off as passengers arriving late will not be able to board their aircraft. As Jetstar operates out of both Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport and Avalon it's worth a quick double check to ensure you're heading to the right airport!

In the future Jetstar may have company as Malaysia's budget carrier AirAsia is reported to  be in discussions on expanding its Australian operations and fly to and from Avalon from Kuala Lumpur which could involve construction of a full-service international terminal.

Facilities

The terminal has basic, clean facilities including unisex toilets for wheelchair access, baby change facilities and there is a popular cafe in the departure lounge - because it's the only one! There's also a newsagent, bar, internet access and pay TV in the waiting lounge.

Car Rental

Need a hire car? Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty are all located at Avalon and in partnership with Drivenow offer great rental deals to get you on the road quickly, smoothly and as cheaply as possible!

Drivenow has designed an innovative rate screen so you can instantly compare rates, vehicles and suppliers in a clear, concise and no-nonsense manner. The booking process is quick, secure and easy with everything up front and no hidden charges, fees or surprises. An email confirmation provides you with all the details of your booking and where to collect your vehicle. Drivenow covers all airports in Australia, including smaller ones such as Avalon, providing travellers with the perfect vehicle for hiring a car.

Rental rates at Avalon Airport start from a low $69 a day, drive-away no more to pay!

Directions and Transport

The airport is about 40 minutes from Melbourne's city centre. To reach the city from the airport you have several choices - car hire, bus, taxi or train. Perhaps the best deal is to snap up a bargain rental/hire car, which can be organised swiftly through DriveNow.

Other options include a taxi which are easy to find at the airport and cost about $80 to reach the city, or a Sun Bus departs about 20 minutes after flights and about two and a half hours before departures if coming from Melbourne. Prices are only $19 one way between Avalon and Southern Cross Station (previously known as Spencer Street Station) in the city. If you're heading south to Geelong expect to pay around $30 for a taxi to the city centre and $12 by bus to the Geelong Bus Port.

Another option is Lara Train Station, which is only a few kilometres from Avalon Airport. Victoria's V-Line railway network runs daily services to Lara.

Accommodation

Wedged between the state of Victoria's two biggest cities, you can't really go wrong for accommodation here - there are loads of options and our hotel accommodation booking partner, roomsnow.com.au is a great starting point.

For local accommodation in Geelong & the Bellarine Peninsula or options close to Avalon Airport visit www.visitgeelong.org. If you're looking for something down on the Surf Coast or along the Great Ocean Road, one of Victoria's hottest tourist attractions, www.greatoceanroad.org.au has a wide range of options and information on what to do and visit in the region.