Located approximately 2 hours southeast of Melbourne and ideally situated on the Great Ocean Road, getting to Lorne is easy. Although the Great Ocean Road is itself a touring route, getting to this iconic tourist attraction is via a dual lane highway that is in good condition and very well signposted. Once you're on the Great Ocean Road, there's no missing this famously scenic coastal drive. The main road is obviously signposted, ensuring you'll be able to easily find your way to Lorne and back on track again should you wish to continue exploring the scenic coastal drive.
There are two main routes for getting to Lorne from Melbourne, both of which involve taking the Princes Highway out of the city to Geelong. From Geelong you can either take the Great Ocean Road all the way through Torquay to Lorne. Alternatively, you can go from Geelong to Winchelsea, taking the C151 to Lorne via Deans Marsh. If you're visiting from a little further afield and will be arriving at the Tullamarine Airport but still wish to drive to Lorne, you can easily and affordably hire a car and take the Western Ring Road south to the Princes Highway and follow either of the routes above.
Getting to Lorne by public transport is also a great option, including from the Tullamarine Airport. From the airport you can take the Skybus to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne and then connect with a number of V/Line rail and coach services to Geelong, the Great Ocean Road and Lorne. Similarly, if you're departing from the city there are a number of V/Line train and bus services that depart daily from Southern Cross Station to Geelong and make their way along the Great Ocean Road to Lorne and Apollo Bay. This is a great way to let someone else take care of the driving while you sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery.