Melbourne Airport is about 23 km from the city, and the price of getting there ranges from a few dollars to the better part of A$100. What you pay mostly depends on how much time you are willing to spend.
The options side by side
| Cost | Takes | Suits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train and 901 bus | A few dollars on a myki | About an hour | One or two people, light luggage, plenty of time |
| SkyBus | About A$25 one way | About 30 to 35 minutes off-peak | Most people from the city centre |
| Taxi or rideshare | About A$50 to 80 to the city centre | About 25 to 40 minutes, longer at peak | Two or more people, early or late flights |
Train and bus: the cheap way
Take the Craigieburn line to Broadmeadows, then catch the 901 bus to the airport. It uses a standard myki fare, so it costs only a few dollars. The catch is time: bus and train are not timed to meet, and the trip takes about an hour. It works when you are not in a hurry.
SkyBus: the simple way
SkyBus runs from Southern Cross station to the terminals. There is nothing to work out, and the fare is about A$25 one way. In weekday peaks the trip stretches to 45 to 60 minutes because it shares the freeway. Check the current fare and hours on SkyBus before you rely on an early or late service.
Taxi or rideshare: the flexible way
A taxi or rideshare costs the same for one person or four, so the more of you there are, the better it looks. It runs at any hour, which makes it the fallback for a very early or late flight. Prices move with demand, so get a live estimate from the app.
There is no train
The airport rail line has been planned for decades. Work has begun at Sunshine, but the line has no confirmed opening date, and a 2024 report put it at 2033 or later.
Whichever you choose
The Tullamarine Freeway is slow in weekday peaks, roughly 7 to 9am and 4 to 7pm. For an early flight, the safest answer is to arrive the day before. See why a night at Melbourne Airport can be worth it, and our full guide to getting to Melbourne Airport. To find a hotel near the terminals, start with the stays at Melbourne Airport.