Cheap flights from Sydney to Melbourne
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Sydney to Melbourne flight information
Feeling like flying south and losing yourself in the labyrinth of Melbourne’s laneways or jetting down for an unmissable footy match? Easy! Jetstar operate up to 20 Sydney to Melbourne flights every day, flying into either Melbourne Tullamarine or Avalon Airport. Heading the other direction? Find cheap flights from Melbourne to Sydney.
Quick flight facts
| Origin | Sydney (SYD) |
| Destination | Melbourne - Tullamarine (MEL), or Melbourne - Avalon (AVV) |
| Flight time | 1 hour 35 mins |
| Distance | 708km (to MEL)
758km (to AVV) |
What makes Melbourne such a great destination?
In just over an hour and a half, you’ll be in Melbourne and diving into the famed cafes, exploring the inner-city suburbs of Fitzroy, Carlton and Collingwood or riding the ferris wheel and soaking up the seaside fun of St Kilda. Melbourne can serve up the fun for all ages!
While you could stay in the centre of Melbourne and spent your days in the galleries, museums, cafes, shopping malls and sporting stadiums, there are a huge range of other treats on Melbourne’s relative doorstep – tour the wineries of the Yarra Valley, the beaches of the Mornington Peninsula or the scenic green walking tracks of Mount Macedon.
Airport information for Sydney to Melbourne flights
Departing from Sydney Airport (SYD)
Sydney Airport is pretty central - just 8km from the Sydney CBD and about a 25 minute drive in light traffic. (The roads to the airport can get congested at peak hour so factor that in to your plans.) Most Jetstar flights depart from Terminal 2. You can get to the airport by taxi, rideshare, shuttle, public bus or train (Airport Link) which runs every 10 minutes and takes just 13 minutes from the CBD. You need an Opal card to use the Airport Link.
Arriving at Melbourne Airport (MEL)
Melbourne Airport is located 23kms from the CBD – about a 30-minute drive in light traffic. You can get from the airport by taxi, hire car, ride share, some public buses and the express SkyBus, which runs every 10 minutes to Southern Cross Station in the city. Most Jetstar flights from Sydney to Melbourne land at Terminal 4.
Arriving at Avalon Airport (AVV)
Some flights from Sydney to Melbourne land at the smaller Avalon Airport, which is 56kms from the Melbourne CBD and 21kms from Geelong. Access is via road – car, taxi, ride share, some public buses and the SkyBus which runs between Avalon and Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, as well as Geelong and other tourist destinations. Avalon is a great airport to fly into if you're planning to hire a car and explore western Victoria.
Sydney to Melbourne FAQs
What is the distance between Sydney and Melbourne?
It's roughly 878kms between Sydney and Melbourne – that's the equivalent of driving across the Sydney Harbour Bridge 764 times. Even in peak hour.
How long does a flight from Sydney to Melbourne take?
A flight from Sydney to Melbourne is an easy 1 hour and 25 minutes – enough time to watch a movie, if you're happy to skip the credits.
What time do I need to be at the airport if I have checked in online for a Sydney to Melbourne flight?
If you've got bags to check in, you just need to put your bags at the bag drop before check-in closes (30 mins before departure). Basically, get there early enough to drop your bags off, impulse buy some souvenirs, then get to your gate with time to spare (gates close 15 mins before departure).
How early do I have to be at the airport for a Sydney to Melbourne flight?
Earlier is always better – no one likes that last-minute travel stress. If you're on a domestic flight, check in closes 30 minutes before departure, so allow enough time to check in, drop your bags off, have a coffee and get to your gate. If you're flying to Melbourne but on a domestic flight departing from an international terminal, you have to get there way earlier – check in and bag drop opens three hours before departure and closes an hour before.
What's the best way to travel from Sydney to Melbourne?
Um, in layers? You're heading to Melbourne, after all. But once you're dressed right, the quickest way is just to hop a flight down. The quicker you get there, the quicker you can hit the laneways. And complain about the weather.
Flying from somewhere else?
Find cheap flights to Melbourne from other cities.
Get inspired for your Melbourne trip!
Melbourne’s best shopping haunts
Where to go in Melbourne to get your culture fix
Melbourne food guide - The ultimate food lover's guide to Melbourne
What's the weather like in Melbourne compared to Sydney?
The weather in Melbourne has a well-deserved reputation for having ‘four seasons in one day’ – it can be madly changeable compared to Sydney’s fairly reliable, year-round mildness. Summers in Melbourne can be hot and very dry, compared to Sydney’s more humid summers, while winters in Melbourne can be super cold, wet and windy. Autumn is mild and pretty in Melbourne, while spring can be a bit more unpredictable.
Want the full Melbourne travel guide?
Make like a local and know exactly when to go, what to do and so much more, right here with our Melbourne destination guide >
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