Melbourne Motorway Question ?
 

We will be arriving at Melbourne Airport from an international flight, collecting a rental car and driving to Geelong and then to the Great Ocean Road. I understand that we can join the Western Ring Road (M.80) from the Tullamarine Fwy and that they are both pay roads. Can we pay cash at a motorway exit booth, as in Europe, or is there some other arrangement ? Appreciate any advice please.
Thank you.

The link to see is www.transurban.com.au . The section of the Tullamarine Freeway you travel is toll free and the ring road is toll free its entire length . Your hire car agency normally has an arrangement with transurban to enable you to pay by subsequently billing any tolls on other roads or early " city end " sections of the Freeway ".They also have arrangements wherby you can by day passes using credit card .Speak to them on arrival . As for the trip to Geelong etc I assume you know that traffic will vary depending on the time of day you arrive .Peak travel times are mornings and late afternoons and the ring road can be very slow and congested as can the Geelong Road .

You can pay the toll at the end of the hire at a booth where you return the car, if you do end up using a toll section. If you don't pay it, though, your credit card used for the rental will be deducted a hefty fine.

Don't forget that in Australia the speed limit is the limit, no grace amount. You can and will be fined for driving just 1 or 2 kph over the limit. Geelong Road is a favored speed trap area.

Thanks for the prompt replies. JohnFitz, seems we get off lightly with both our section of the Tullamarine FWY and the ring road being toll free. As to traffic density, on Sat 12 May we hope to start driving from the Apt around 9.00 am. Nothing much we can do about it, unless you suggest we should delay an hour or so ?

On a Saturday at 9am you ought to be fine and traffic pretty light .As others have said , stick with the speed limit as there are speed detecting Red Light Cameras all along the road and you do not want fines .It is a 100kmh limit and your car ought to ideally have cruise control .

Appreciated, thanks John