The complete travel guide on travelling between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD
Whether you visit Melbourne once or on a regular flying schedule, you’ll need to get further than the airport. Melbourne Airport has one of the busiest taxi ranks in greater Victoria. Yet, many different commuting options exist between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and the Melbourne CBD.
In this travel guide, we explore all the various options available. We look into the options for solo travellers and groups, the fastest and longest commuting choices, and compare all the prices. Here is everything there is to know about travelling between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD.
The Skybus City Express:
The Skybus City Express is one of the most popular and easiest ways to travel between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and Melbourne CBD. It at Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 before making its way to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne CBD and back. The service runs non‑stop from 4:00 am until 1:00 am, seven days a week.
Between roughly 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, buses depart approximately every 10 minutes; outside those hours, they run roughly every 15 minutes. The current one‑way adult fare on the Melbourne City Express is around AUD 24.90. It’s AUD 6.60 for children (4–16 years) and AUD 19.90 for seniors. A 10‑trip app‑only pass priced at about AUD 180 (one way).
Tickets can be purchased online, at the airport SkyBus desks, at Southern Cross Station, and via the SkyBus app.
Travelling on the SkyBus City Express:
The SkyBus is an easy and affordable way to travel between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD. It strikes an outstanding balance between costs and comfort for solo travellers and small groups. Waiting times are never long, and within 25–30 minutes, you reach your destination.
Moreover, if you don’t have a sim card or last-minute bookings to make, the SkyBus has free Wi-Fi aboard during the trip.
If you travel with a group of three adults or more, group fares make the SkyBus a better value than many other options for getting into the Melbourne CBD. Besides, the SkyBus only gets you as far as Southern Cross. So in the city, you’ll need to take additional transport options to get to your destination.
Rideshare at Melbourne Airport:
For good reasons, rideshares have recently become very popular at Melbourne Airport. Prices for a rideshare from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD vary from AUD 45 to AUD 85, depending on the type of car, demand, and how many people it can take.
However, the prices on two- or three-person rideshare rides are similar to taxis. A rideshare is a much cheaper option if you book XL versions for up to six or seven people. As with taxis, an AUD 4.54 access fee applies.
Rideshare passengers are picked up from Lane 3 (or the designated rideshare zone), just in front of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 forecourts (note: new T123 Transport Hub zones open late 2026). If you don’t have internet access, Melbourne Airport has free Wi-Fi available in the terminals. If you are getting dropped off at Melbourne Airport by rideshare, that can be in the drop-off zone on Level 2 forecourt (Terminals 1–3) or Level 2 car park (Terminal 4).
Rideshares from Melbourne Airport:
The final price between a rideshare and a taxi from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD is, on average, pretty similar. The difference is that your taxi will count for the minutes spent driving, and the rideshare will give you a rate beforehand. It’s a matter of preference, but I like to know my fee ahead of time.
Taxis at Melbourne Airport:
Getting from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport into the Melbourne CBD by taxi is approximately a 25–40 minute fare and will cost AUD 60–80 on average (traffic dependent). Taxis are available across all terminals. The current access fee of AUD 4.50 (until November 2025; AUD 5.15 from then) applies to all airport rank pickups. Although, the access fee is usually included in your total taxi fare. If you are getting dropped off at the airport, you don’t need to pay the access airport charge.
It is possible to pre-book taxis at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. However, make sure to choose the correct departing time. You’ll skip the queue if you get there in time, but you’ll pay AUD 4.25 for the first 15 minutes (pre-booked zone). Then AUD 4.95 (15–30 mins), AUD 9.90 (30–60 mins), or more for longer waits.
Travelling by taxi from Melbourne Airport:
The average taxi price from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD is between AUD 60 and AUD 80, with Black & White often the cheaper option and 13Cabs tending toward the higher end. A taxi is an excellent option if you want extra comfort and a ride straight to your destination. Besides, if you are travelling with 3 or 4 adults, its price is similar to the SkyBus.
Also, taxis are a straightforward option if you travel to the airport as you don’t need to travel to Southern Cross Station beforehand. Keep the fares in mind, as they can be much higher if you travel outside the CBD.
Public Transport at Melbourne Airport:
If you have time and want to stick to a small budget while travelling between Melbourne Airport and the Melbourne CBD, public transport is your way to go! Melbourne has one of the best public transport systems in the world. For just AUD 5.70 (2-hour full fare, zones 1+2), you’ll commute between Tullamarine and the CBD. The average journey takes 1–1.5 hours.
To use public transport you’ll need a myki card. If you don’t have a myki card, you will find a vending machine near Terminal 4, or you can register on the PTV app on your phone. Here are the two options:
You follow the signs to the bus stops from the airport and start by taking bus 901 near Terminal 4. Bus 901 will take you to Broadmeadows Railway Station, where you board the Craigieburn line straight into the city (Southern Cross). You’ll take that same Craigieburn line from the city, get off at Broadmeadows station and take the 901 towards the airport.
The second option leaves from the car park near Terminal 4. You take one of the local buses towards Airport West (478, 479 or 482) to hop onto tram 59 towards the CBD. The tram 59 doesn’t make it as far as the Airport West stop in the early mornings or late evenings, so this only works during the day. Luckily there are plans to extend the rail network towards the airport (Melbourne Airport Rail), expected to open around 2033.
Travelling by Public Transport:
Public transport into the CBD is pretty straightforward if your goal is to save money. It takes three times as long as the SkyBus City Express, but you’ll save about 75% on the SkyBus price.
Hire Cars at Melbourne Airport:
Like most big and international airports, Melbourne Airport offers car hire, allowing travellers to collect and return vehicles at the terminal. Eight car rental companies (Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, SIXT, and others) are located on the ground floor of the T123 car park, directly opposite Terminal 2. Each car rental company is accessible via the walkways from the terminals. As for most car rentals, it is wise to get different quotes ahead of arrival and to book early to ensure they are not out of cars.
Depending on your travel or business plans, it might be worth getting hire car quotes from the city and its suburbs. As much as it is convenient to pick up and drop off your car at the airport, you will likely pay for that convenience.
Car Rentals at Melbourne Airport:
The hire car companies at Tullamarine are easy to find and make hiring cars as easy as possible. If you are coming to Melbourne for a short time and planning to hire a car, it is worth hiring one from the airport. It is worth getting multiple quotes if you travel around Victoria for a long time. Long-term rates may significantly surpass the extra price of getting to the city and back.
Bicycles and Motorbikes:
Tullamarine Airport has different options for people travelling by bicycle or motorbike. In Terminals 1, 2 and 3, there are designated areas to park motorbikes and motorcycles while you are on holiday. There are motorcycle bays on the Ground Floor of the T1 T2 T3 Terminal Car Park, near the exit gates (or any available bay). The parking rates for a motorbike are the same as those for standard vehicles. (e.g., Value Park ~AUD 14–20/day online; Terminal up to AUD 60/day).
The bicycle racks at Tullamarine Airport are located on all ground floors of Terminal 1, 2 and 3 car parks (next to car rental offices). You’ll have to park your bicycle in the right spot and secure it at the bicycle rack, as they will remove all wrongly parked bikes.
Bicycles and Motorbikes at Melbourne Airport:
The option to park bicycles and motorbikes at Melbourne Airport is an excellent addition to the airport’s infrastructure. Doing it at full car rates (e.g., ~AUD 50–60 daily at Terminal) is a little less significant. Using your motorbike or bicycle to travel between Melbourne Airport and home is only worth it for a short time, as the parking cost quickly exceeds all other possible transportation to and from the airport.
Walking between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD:
It’s one of those backpackers on a budget questions, but can you walk between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD? Yes, you can walk. The total distance is 21 km, which takes about 4–4.5 hours to complete. Is it worth walking from the airport into the Melbourne city centre? No, it is not. You will mainly be walking next to busy roads with cars everywhere.
Walking from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD:
If you are on a tight budget and need to save money on transport, I recommend following the Public Transport option available, costing a total of AUD 5.70. Walking almost 5 hours from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD is not worth saving a couple of dollars. Besides, even if you would partially walk and take public transportation, it will still cost AUD 5.70. Still not worth walking to the nearest tram stop (~6–7 km).
Private Transport at Tullamarine Airport:
Pickups and drop-offs:
Ensure your passenger is waiting and ready for pickup before approaching the pickup area. All vehicles at Melbourne Airport have a one-minute standing time limit to avoid traffic jams. If your passenger needs time, you can wait for free in the Wait Zone for 60 minutes (on Mercer Drive); then AUD 4 (60 mins–2 hours), or Terminal rates after. Note: New expanded free pick-up/drop-off zones at T123 Transport Hub open late 2026. Although free for the first 15 minutes in terminal car parks (AUD 15/hour after), it is AUD 16/day Value drive-up. To get to the one-minute pickup road, follow the signs (Public Pickup). The waiting zone is located on Mercer Drive.
Park your car at Melbourne Airport:
If you are driving your car between Melbourne and Melbourne Airport, you’ll need to park it for the duration of your trip. You can pre-book parking arrangements and cancel and change your booking free of charge until two hours before arrival. For your convenience, you can quickly pay with credit cards or other mobile payments. To save money, you can pre-book online. Tullamarine offers various possibilities for private vehicles.
The cheapest option is the Value Car Park. It’s located just outside the airport with free shuttles every 15 minutes driving between the car park and the airport. The Value Car Park is an open-air park and comes at AUD 14 per day (pre-booked online; AUD 16/day drive-up).
The middle option is the Terminal Car Park. An undercover park located in a central position in front of all the terminals. This parking is the closest to the airport, with a separate car park for Terminal 4. Rates come at AUD 53–54 per day (drive-up).
The more expensive option is the Premium and Business Car Park. These car parks are in the same building as the Terminal Car Park, although they hold the best spots in the entire airport, with only a two-minute walk to the terminals. Options are available to get your car parked for you (valet). The premium car park comes at AUD 79–84 per day.
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