Melbourne Airport is about 23 km from the city and every way in, except one slow bus route, uses the Tullamarine Freeway. How you go decides what you pay and how much of the journey you control.
The ways in
| Cost | Takes | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkyBus | About A$25 one way | About 30 to 35 min from Southern Cross, 45 to 60 in weekday peaks | Runs to the terminals. Check hours and fare |
| Taxi or rideshare | About A$50 to 80 to the city centre | About 25 to 40 min, longer at peak | Per car, so it suits two or more people |
| Train and 901 bus | The cheapest, on a myki | About an hour | Train to Broadmeadows, then a bus to the airport |
| Drive and park | Parking charges | Depends on the road | Car parks fill and sell out |
SkyBus
The simplest option from the city. It runs from Southern Cross station to the terminals, so there is nothing to work out. It shares the freeway with everyone else, so the trip is longer in the weekday peaks. Check SkyBus for the current fare and hours before you rely on an early or late service.
Taxi or rideshare
A taxi or rideshare costs the same for one person or four, so it works out better the more of you there are. Fares we found for the city centre run from about A$50 to A$80, but those figures are dated and rideshare prices move with demand, so check the app. It runs at any hour, which makes it the fallback when SkyBus is not running.
Train and bus
This is the cheap way. Take the Craigieburn line to Broadmeadows, then catch the 901 bus to the airport. Bus times are not coordinated with trains, so expect to wait at Broadmeadows. It takes about an hour and is the slowest option. It makes sense when you have time and little luggage.
There is no airport train
The airport rail line has been planned for decades. Construction has started at Sunshine, but the line itself has no confirmed opening date, and one 2024 report put it at 2033 or later.
If you are driving
Car parks at Melbourne Airport fill and sell out, so book ahead. Allow extra time to find a space and have your booking confirmation ready at the gate.
Pick-up and drop-off has been changing. International pick-up and drop-off has moved to a new hub, and building work around Terminals 1, 2 and 3 has caused delays of up to an hour at peak times. For Terminal 4, and to avoid the busiest forecourt, the airport recommends using the Terminal 4 car park for pick-up and drop-off. Check the airport's own page on the day, because this changes.
The traffic problem
Weekday mornings (roughly 7 to 9am) and late afternoons (roughly 4 to 7pm) are the slow times on the freeway. If you have an early flight, the safest answer is to arrive the day before. Our guide to staying at the airport before an early flight covers which hotels take the drive out of the morning.
Before you go
- Check your airline's check-in and bag drop opening time. It sets how early you need to arrive.
- Check the live fare and hours for SkyBus, or get a rideshare estimate, before you leave.
- Check Melbourne Airport's pick-up and drop-off page for the terminal you are using.
- If you are driving, book parking and bring your confirmation.