MEL — Melbourne — Taxi Fare Guide
Taxis queue at the ground-level ranks outside each terminal (T1-T4), with staff directing passengers. Melbourne taxis run on a meter that charges by distance and time, plus a fixed airport departure fee added to rides leaving Tullamarine. Expect a typical CBD fare of A$55-75 under normal conditions.
The fastest route uses CityLink, a toll road; drivers legally pass the toll (around A$6-9) on to you, so it is added on top of the meter. A late-night or public-holiday trip runs on a higher tariff and can push the total toward A$80-85. The trip usually takes 25-45 minutes, stretching to an hour in peak traffic.
Rideshare (Uber, Ola, DiDi) operates from dedicated pick-up zones and is often a few dollars cheaper off-peak, though surge pricing applies at busy times. A card payment surcharge may be added to taxi fares.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Melbourne CBD (incl. toll) | A$60-80 | 25-45 min |
| Southbank / Docklands | A$60-80 | 25-45 min |
| St Kilda | A$75-95 | 35-55 min |
| Brunswick / Carlton | A$50-70 | 25-40 min |
| Practical tips: Confirm the meter is running and that quoted tolls are the actual CityLink charge. Late-night arrivals pay a higher tariff, so budget A$80+; a card surcharge may apply, and peak-hour traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway can add 20-30 minutes. |
Other ways to the city
With no rail link open yet, Melbourne's airport transport revolves around coaches, but they are frequent and well organised.
- SkyBus City Express - the flagship service, running to Southern Cross Station every 10 minutes and through the night, taking about 30 minutes for roughly A$23-24 one way (cheaper return and online fares). Free hotel transfer minibuses operate from Southern Cross during the day.
- SkyBus regional routes - direct coaches to St Kilda, Docklands, Frankston, Werribee and the Peninsula, avoiding a city change.
- Route 901 SmartBus - the budget option, connecting the airport with Broadmeadows station for a standard Myki fare of about A$5, from where suburban trains run to the CBD. Slower but a fraction of the price.
- Route 478/479 buses - local services linking the airport to Airport West and the northern suburbs on normal Myki fares.
- Regional coaches - scheduled services connect the terminals with Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and the Great Ocean Road region.
Melbourne — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.