Arriving/Departing at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

Melbourne's main airport at Tullamarine is located 20kms from the CBD and takes around 20mins or 30-35mins in the peak hours.  A taxi to the city should be around A$50-$60, including the compulsory airport fee payable by departing taxis, and CityLink tollway charges.

If you plan to drive around, you can hire a car at the airport from one of several operators. The drive to the city is along CityLink. Check with your rental company on how you are covered for CityLink tolls.   The alternative, non-tolled route is on arterial roads such as Mt Alexander Road, originally the route to Bendigo's goldfields.

Routes to the city and on to other major centres, Geelong (and then the Great Ocean Road), Bendigo and Ballarat are straightforward.  Turn offs are well signposted. For Phillip Island you head towards the city but stay on the toll road, CityLink, and bypass the CBD. You then continue along the Monash Freeway and follow the signs to Phillip Island. Remember that many inner city hotels charge extra for parking.

Unlike Brisbane and Sydney, Melbourne regrettably lacks a heavy rail link between Tullamarine Airport and Melbourne's CBD.

The main airport shuttle to and from Melbourne Airport and the city is www.skybus.com.au . Operating 24/7 ,they take you direct to Southern Cross Station and leave every ten minutes for most of the day. They also offer a free shuttle to most CBD, Docklands and Southbank hotels from Southern Cross station.

There are also other buses that will take you direct to your hotel at varying costs these include Starbus which has a desk near baggage pickup in domestic and departs Melbourne Airport from Zones 2 & 5, approximately every 15 mins and Jetbus http://jetbus.com.au/melbourne/ticket...   which will drop you anywhere in Melbourne CBD and 3km surroundings.

An interesting and inexpensive way to get from Melbourne Airport to the city for the adventurous is by combined bus and train, or combined bus and tram.

But it should be noted that the local bus stop is purely a sign in the grass on Service Drive opposite the Tiger Airways terminal (4) way down near the taxi holding area, a 10 minute walk of about 350 metres from the International Terminal. It has no seats or shelter. There is no public transport information at the airport and no direction signs!

The best bus/train option is taking the 901 SmartBus to Broadmeadows station (a trip of about 20 minutes) and the train from there (direction Flinders Street usually from platform 1). A combined Zone 1 plus 2 Metcard ticket fare of A$6 for adults, allowing unlimited transfers for up to 2hrs55mins. This "two hour" Metcard ticket can be purchased from bus drivers who also sell tickets valid for the entire day. A bonus for visitors is that bus (but not tram!) drivers also give/make change!

On Sundays, the A$3.50 Sunday Saver Metcard gives all day travel in Zones 1 plus 2 but is unavailable from bus drivers and not sold at Melbourne Airport: it is available from staffed railway stations such as Broadmeadows and Metcard outlets at convenience stores, etc.

The 901 SmartBus operates at about 15 minute intervals on weekdays until 2010 and then at 30 minute intervals until midnight.  At weekends it operates at 30 minute intervals.  The ultimate destination of the 901 is Frankston (via Epping, Greensborough, Blackburn, Ringwood and Dandenong): a 115km trip of more than four hours! Typically it is quicker to travel to destinations Blackburn and beyond served by the SmartBus by alighting at Broadmeadows railway station and travelling by train via Southern Cross or Flinders Street stations, because the bus' average speed is less than suburban trains. The exception is late at night when train frequencies decline to 30 minutes on most lines, or 40 minutes on Sunday nights. Smartbus 901 travels entirely in Zone 2 so anyone with plenty of time can travel very inexpensively to Frankston and intermediate points! And enjoy a variety of Melbourne "suburban" scenery along the way! As well as Broadmeadows (the closest station to the airport) the 901 SmartBus also provides train connections at Epping, Greensborough, Blackburn, Ringwood, Dandenong and Frankston. 

Another public transport alternative (best on weekends, when there is an hourly service) is on Tullamarine Bus Lines route 478 for much of the day between Melbourne Airport (departing from the somewhat out of the way bus stop mentioned above) and Essendon railway station, where easy transfers to the generally 20 minute frequency trains to Southern Cross and Flinders Street railway station are available. Buy a Zone 1 plus 2 two-hour ticket from the bus driver for A$5.80.  The train from Essendon to Kensington passes through attractive older suburbs with Victorian-era houses and railway station buildings dating back to the 1880s.

The bus/tram option is far slower:  catch a bus on route 478 or 479 from the airport to Moonee Ponds Junction. Both routes run infrequently during the week, so times should be carefully coordinated with the schedule.

www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au  From Moonee Ponds take one of the city's famous trams (no 59) to the city. Slower and similarly cheap to the bus/train option at $6 for a Zone 1 plus 2 Metcard.

For the really keen and budget minded travellers wanting a ride on a tram, it is possible to take the 901 bus to Gladstone Park, walk across the road to the 902 stop, take the 902 to Airport West and then catch the 59 tram to the city from the nearby terminus. (901 and 902 are SmartBus services operating from early morning until late at night seven days a week).

It is no longer possible to purchase Metcard tickets in advance from the Metlink website so a Myki card might be an option for budget minded travellers spending time in Melbourne. "Savvy" regular travellers often carry a 10x two hour Metcard ticket and a 5x weekend Metcard ticket; that combination provides the most flexible options. (The 5x weekend ticket is similar to the Sunday Saver but can be used on both Saturdays and Sundays [but not public holidays]). Metcard tickets are expected to be phased out during 2012 as Myki becomes the fare system for Melbourne and some regional public transport.

Myki is a smart card ticketing system valid for travel on V/Line trains between major regional towns and Melbourne.

Another option for regional travellers, connecting to V/Line services from Melbourne Airport via the infrequent 479/500 buses to Sunbury (on the Bendigo line) and the 901 to Broadmeadows (on the Seymour/Albury/Shepparton lines). V/Line tickets can be used on metropolitan public transport services (but not Skybus) for no extra charge. But they would need to be purchased in advance (on line) in order to be used from the airport by arriving passengers.

Using public transport takes a little time and effort, but the cost is low. However, visitors should be mindful that the airport administration directs people to the Skybus. There is no public transport information at the airport. The "secret" stop of the metropolitan bus services (mentioned above) does make it something of a challenge to find but the effort is worthwhile. It remains a mystery why the transport authorities put on an expanded local bus service (the 901 SmartBus) in 2011 yet kept it a secret from most visitors and travellers!

Arriving/Departing at Avalon Airport

Sita Buses offer transfers between Avalon Airport and the Southern Cross Station Coach Terminal in Melbourne for $20 one way/$36 return. If at least 48 hours notice is given buses will also pick up at city hotel and accommodation venues, Werribee RSL and suburbs up to 6 kilometres from the city (additional charges apply). Buses are timed to meet all Tiger and Jetstar flights.

Approximate taxi fare to/from Melbourne is $80

Avalon is also serviced by each of the major car rental companies.