Transport from Melbourne Airport to the City: A Guide for New Arrivals

The time to travel to Melbourne is approaching, and I imagine you might be wondering, who's going to pick me up from the airport if I don't know anyone? How much will transport to my accommodation cost?

Let me tell you that by the time you arrive in Melbourne, you'll have been traveling for between 24 and 48 hours, and it's very likely that you'll be completely exhausted. The last thing you need is to worry at that moment about how you're going to get from the airport to the city.

In this post, we'll explain what options are available, how much they cost, and if you need to do anything in advance.

The basics

Let's start by saying that Melbourne airport is approximately 23km from the city, which is a considerable distance. It can take between 20-40 minutes to reach the suburbs near the city.

Consider that Melbourne doesn't have a train station that links the airport with the city, so public transport is not really an option here. There are local buses that visit the airport, but they stop at a lot of stops in the suburbs around the airport on their way into the city.

We strongly recommend using one of the below transport methods to get to the city, especially on your first visit. Once you're in the city, you can use public transport to move to the suburb you need.

So lets dive in! Here are the options:

Option 1. Uber

As you probably know, Uber is a well-known, safe, reliable, and legal application in Australia. At Melbourne airport, there's a specific bay for picking up people who have ordered an Uber service.

Pros

Uber can operate with an existing account, meaning you don't need to set up a new account. The application will debit the cost from your home country's card without problems.

The Uber will take you directly to the door of your accommodation, and you won't need to make transfers or changes to trains or buses.

Cons

You need an internet connection to order the service. You can connect to the airport's free WiFi or activate your Roaming (which can be extremely expensive).

During peak hours, Uber can be quite expensive. Fares vary depending on the time and distance (how far the suburb is). I've paid between $35-$110 AUD for a trip from Melbourne airport to South Melbourne, which is a suburb near the center.

How to get an Uber

If you arrive at terminal 1, 2, or 3, head to the pickup bay at the main entrance of terminal 2. If you arrive at terminal 4 (normally only for domestic flights and low-cost airlines), the pickup bay is in the terminal 4 car park on the first floor. The airport is very well signposted, so you'll see the sign for the Uber area and sometimes you'll see a line of people waiting.

To order an UberX, you need to use the PIN system (I'll explain it to you).

1. Order your Uber as normal, the application will give you a PIN number.

2. Wait in line and when the car arrives, verify that the license plate details and driver match those given by the application.

3. Get in the car and tell the driver the PIN number.

4. Start your trip!

To order an Uber Comfort or Uber Black, the pickup location is different, it's at the end of the pickup area.

Here you order the Uber as normal and the application will give you a unique license number.

Option 2. SkyBus

This is a bus that travels exclusively between Melbourne airport and Southern Cross Station, which is a train station in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. The bus is red and can be distinguished from a distance and is comfortable enough for a 20-minute journey.

Pros

The price is comfortable and affordable for someone who has just arrived in Melbourne. It costs $23.90 AUD one-way or $40 AUD for a return trip (in case you were just visiting Melbourne).

You can book the ticket in advance online, but you'll need to select a time slot, which is very risky in case your flight is delayed. You can also buy the ticket at the counter at the airport, which is what I would recommend.

The bus is Express, doesn't stop anywhere and operates 21 hours a day (between 4 am and 1 am, 7 days a week) with a frequency between 15 and 30 minutes.

Cons

If you arrive late at night after business hours, there may be no one at the counter to sell you the ticket.

The final stop is Southern Cross Station and from there you'll have to take a train to your final destination. This can be a bit complicated because you'll have to deal with all your luggage but also because you'll have to acquire the Myki card to use on public transport. You can buy this at the airport in terminals 2, 3, and 4. Check out our guide if want to learn about how to use Melbournes public transport.

I recommend the SkyBus if you're going to stay in the city or if you're going to arrive during daytime hours, because someone can guide you on how to load the Myki card with money and indicate which station you should get off at.

Option 3. Someone from the Colombian community who offers the service.

As you may have already seen, there are Facebook groups that offer services. See if there's someone offering airport pickup service and how much it costs.

Pros

• You can know the price in advance if you make contact with someone and it can be a bit more economical than an Uber.

Cons

• You must have the money in cash.

• It can generate a bit of nervousness that someone you don't know is picking you up at the airport in a new city. However, Melbourne is a very safe city and if it's someone from the community, they're probably a good person.

When I was looking for transport options from the airport, I contacted a Colombian girl from the Colombians in Melbourne group who was offering the service. She told me the price and asked me all the flight details. We agreed on a pickup time, however I didn't count on my flight being delayed and that I would miss one of the connections in Sydney. She waited patiently for me and I arrived safely at the accommodation place.

Option 4. If you know someone in Melbourne, ask them for the favor.

It seems like an obvious option but it can be of great help. Going to and from the airport to take transport is an expensive option even for locals, that's why it's very common to ask a friend or family member to take you or pick you up from the airport.

If you know someone who has a car, ask if they can do you the favor of picking you up and offer to contribute something for gas or make an invitation to eat.

Pros

You can see a friendly face when you arrive. Maybe they won't even charge you and best of all, you can talk to someone and see a familiar face.

Cons

Maybe you don't want to talk to anyone after a flight of more than 24 hours and all you want is to get to rest.

It's possible that your acquaintance/friend is expecting a very high contribution for gas and time, so in that case it's more comfortable to pay for an Uber. Watch out! Don't let that contribution be more expensive than an actual service.

What about taxis - are they an option?

You must be wondering if there are taxis in Melbourne. The answer is yes, but almost no one uses them anymore. They have mostly been replaced by Ubers.

I personally haven't had the best experiences with taxis. On one occasion I was charged more than what the taximeter had marked. I really don't recommend taking a taxi from the airport unless you have very good English and know how the taximeter works.

Generally, taxis are more expensive than Uber.

Is there any other option?

If you're going to stay in a higher-end hotel, it's possible that there's a shuttle bus that takes you from the airport to the hotel. Find out if your hotel has that service and if it's 24 hours or only during the day.

To conclude

We know that getting to rest is probably the most important thing after such a long flight. We're sure that after reading our guide you'll find your new home as if you were a local!