Melbourne Airport Transfers

Most travellers use Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), approximately 25 km north-west of Melbourne CBD. There is no operating airport railway service. The main city choices are SkyBus Melbourne City Express, local myki buses, taxi or rideshare. SkyBus stops outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4; public and regional buses use the Terminal 4 Ground Transport Hub. (Melbourne Airport transport, checked 2026-09-28)

SkyBus Melbourne City Express is the simplest public transfer to Southern Cross Station. It is a separate commercial service: myki is not accepted. Buy online, in the SkyBus app, at an airport e-kiosk or at the airport’s listed sales points. Southern Cross connects with metropolitan trains, trams, regional trains and coaches, but your accommodation may need a further walk or city connection. (Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

If your destination is in the northern suburbs, Route 901 SmartBus links the airport with Broadmeadows, Roxburgh Park, Epping and Greensborough, continuing to Frankston. Routes 478, 479 and 482 connect with Airport West and Sunbury. These public buses leave from the T4 interchange and require myki. (Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

Avalon Airport is Melbourne’s second passenger airport and is used for Jetstar domestic and international flights. It is 55 km from Melbourne CBD and 20 km from Geelong. Avalon City Express SkyBus runs to Southern Cross via Werribee, while Route 18 links the airport with Lara Station for onward trains and buses. Check the airport named on your booking before planning the transfer. (Avalon Airport driving information, checked 2026-09-28; Avalon Airport bus services, checked 2026-09-28)

Melbourne Airport publishes an approximate 30-minute taxi journey to Melbourne CBD. That figure is an airport-to-CBD estimate, not a door-to-door promise: traffic, the toll route, luggage and the final address affect the trip. Taxi or rideshare is the direct choice for heavy luggage, several passengers or an arrival outside SkyBus hours. (Melbourne Airport taxis, checked 2026-09-28)

SkyBus publishes departure patterns and a date-specific journey planner, but its current Melbourne City Express pages do not give one fixed airport-to-Southern-Cross duration. Allow time for immigration, baggage collection, the terminal walk, boarding, road traffic and the final connection from Southern Cross. Use the planner for your direction and travel date. (SkyBus Melbourne City Express timetable, checked 2026-09-28)

Route 901 is useful when Broadmeadows or its connecting rail corridor is near your destination. The airport bus is only one part of the journey; the train connection and any later tram or bus must be added. Transport Victoria directs passengers to its Journey Planner for current times, fares and connections, rather than publishing one airport-to-CBD duration for every itinerary. (Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

Avalon Airport publishes approximately 50 minutes to Melbourne CBD by road and approximately 25 minutes to Geelong CBD. The Melbourne figure still ends at the city destination, not your hotel. Route 18 reaches Lara Station; it is a connecting service rather than a published direct journey time to Melbourne. (Avalon Airport driving information, checked 2026-09-28; Avalon Airport FAQs, checked 2026-09-28)

Melbourne City Express SkyBus publishes A$25.90 for an adult single and A$43.40 for an adult return. Children aged 4–16 pay A$6.60 single or A$11.00 return. The senior fare is A$20.70 single or A$35.10 return for holders of an eligible Australian state-issued Seniors card. A return ticket is for one passenger and contains two trips. (SkyBus Melbourne City Express fares, checked 2026-09-28)

SkyBus also sells a ten-trip Melbourne City Express product for A$180 through its app. The product is ten single journeys for one person, not a shared family ticket. SkyBus tickets are valid for 12 months from purchase, and the operator says you do not need to reserve a particular departure. (SkyBus Melbourne City Express fares, checked 2026-09-28; SkyBus ticket information, checked 2026-09-28)

Routes 478, 479, 482 and 901 use myki. Transport Victoria currently publishes a full-fare daily cap of A$5.70 on weekdays and A$4.00 on weekends, with concession caps of A$2.85 and A$2.00. This all-traveller half-price fare offer is scheduled to end on 1 January 2027; the listed caps are temporary. SkyBus is excluded from the offer. Use myki or eligible contactless payment for the public bus routes, not for SkyBus. (Transport Victoria tickets and payments, checked 2026-09-28; Transport Victoria half-price fares, checked 2026-09-28)

Melbourne Airport does not publish a fixed taxi fare to the CBD. It provides a fare-estimation link and states that rideshare operators set their own prices; the airport’s current rideshare access charge is A$4.48 including GST per trip, which the provider may pass to the passenger. Avalon Airport publishes approximate taxi fares of A$120–130 to Melbourne and A$40–50 to Geelong. (Melbourne Airport transport, checked 2026-09-28; Avalon Airport taxis, checked 2026-09-28)

Avalon City Express SkyBus publishes A$29.00 adult single and A$54.80 adult return to Melbourne City or Werribee. Family 1 is A$29.00 single for one adult and up to four children; Family 2 is A$58.00 single for two adults and up to four children. Route 18 follows myki pricing instead. (SkyBus Avalon City Express fares, checked 2026-09-28)

SkyBus publishes daily City Express service from 04:00 to 01:00. Its timetable was updated on 20 September 2026, with departures every 10 minutes during peak periods and up to every 15 minutes at other times. Melbourne Airport’s separate page still says 24/7 service; use the SkyBus timetable and ticket page for the current operating window and departure times. (SkyBus Melbourne City Express timetable, checked 2026-09-28; SkyBus ticket information, checked 2026-09-28)

The service is turn-up-and-go: SkyBus says a specific date and time does not need to be booked. Tickets can be bought online, in the app or at an airport e-kiosk. The airport locations are outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4, with Terminal 4 used for the airport-bound pick-up. (SkyBus Melbourne City Express timetable, checked 2026-09-28; Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

Route 901 runs seven days a week. Transport Victoria publishes approximately 15-minute intervals during busy periods and approximately 30-minute intervals at other times and on weekends. Routes 478, 479 and 482 have separate timetables, so use the Journey Planner for the airport stop, direction and connection instead of applying Route 901’s pattern to them. (Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

Avalon City Express SkyBus is scheduled around major flights, and the airport says Route 18 connects with most flights. Check the flight-linked operator timetable and Route 18’s date-specific times before relying on either connection. (Avalon Airport bus services, checked 2026-09-28; Transport Victoria Route 18 timetable, checked 2026-09-28)

Sunday is covered by Melbourne City Express because SkyBus operates seven days a week within its 04:00–01:00 window. The airport operator explicitly states that SkyBus does not operate between 01:00 and 04:00. For a flight in that gap, use a licensed taxi or rideshare and follow the terminal signs. (SkyBus ticket information, checked 2026-09-28; Melbourne Airport bus services, checked 2026-09-28)

Melbourne Airport taxi ranks are outside Terminals 1 and 2 and in the Terminal 4 Transport Hub. The airport warns passengers not to accept unsolicited offers inside or outside the terminals. Rideshare pick-up areas differ by terminal and airline, so make the booking in the app only after reaching the marked location. (Melbourne Airport taxis, checked 2026-09-28; Melbourne Airport transport, checked 2026-09-28)

Route 901 runs on Sundays, but the exact first and last departure depends on the stop, direction and timetable. Transport Victoria publishes the route and date-specific Journey Planner rather than one universal airport closing time. Check the airport stop before relying on an early Sunday connection, and allow time for the onward Broadmeadows transfer. (Transport Victoria airport connections, checked 2026-09-28)

Avalon Airport states that the passenger terminal opens at 04:00 and closes at midnight. Avalon City Express is linked to major flights, while Route 18 runs on weekends and connects with most flights. For an early Sunday departure or late arrival, match the flight time to the current bus timetable; do not assume an airport bus continues after the terminal closes. (Avalon Airport FAQs, checked 2026-09-28; Avalon Airport bus services, checked 2026-09-28)