How to get from Sydney to Melbourne
Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong (CC BY-SA 2.0)- Fastest
- 3h 51m
- by plane, door to door
- Cheapest
- A$105
- by car
- Distance
- 713 km
- as the crow flies
- Departures
- 1
- from 08:00, Mon 9 Nov
4 ways to travel
713 km apart. Times are the timetables for Mon 9 Nov, planned from 08:00; every price says whether it is live, the operator's fare or our estimate. We add nothing to any fare.
best7h quicker than the train for A$32 more; for most people the time is worth more.
- Flybestfastest3h 51mA$180–260EstimatedSYD → MEL · non-stop · typical times
- Train10h 51mA$148–383Estimatednext 1 from 08:00 · NSW TrainLink
- Drivecheapest10h 44mA$105–140Estimated865 km · fuel only
- Taxi10h 44mA$1,470–1,990Estimatedone-way cab
Data: Timetables via Transitous · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors, routed by OSRM · Typical flight routes from OpenFlights (ODbL), a 2014 snapshot · Places from GeoNames, CC BY 4.0 · All credits and licences
Departures today
The next departures from 08:00, not the whole day. Timetable data via Transitous and the operators' own GTFS feeds. Live delays arrive when an operator publishes a real-time feed.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Melbourne?
The fastest way is by plane: about 3h 51m door to door, including the ride to the airport and check-in. The straight-line distance is 713 km.
What is the cheapest way from Sydney to Melbourne?
Driving is the cheapest, from A$105. That figure is a fuel estimate, not counting tolls or parking.
Is there a direct train from Sydney to Melbourne?
Yes. Of the trains we read from 08:00, one is direct, the fastest taking 10h 51m; more may run later in the day. Fares run A$148–383 across classes.
How long is the flight from Sydney to Melbourne?
About 1h 35m in the air (SYD → MEL); about 3h 51m door to door once you add the ride to the airport, check-in and the cab at the other end. Typical fares run A$180–260; live prices are on Flights70.
How far is Melbourne from Sydney by road?
About 865 km, roughly 10h 44m of driving in normal traffic. Fuel alone costs around A$105–140; tolls and parking are extra.
Who runs it
- NSW TrainLink
Read from today's timetables. Operators don't pay to be listed here.