Melbourne Transport

Melbourne transport on Experience Oz covers the airport run and a few ways out of the city without a car. That means the SkyBus express from Tullamarine Airport to the CBD, a Phillip Island penguin tour with return transfers, and a ferry-and-bike day across the bay to Portarlington.

Transport from Melbourne Airport to the city

The SkyBus express links Melbourne Tullamarine Airport with the Southern Cross Station Coach Terminal, with a coach leaving every quarter hour from 4am to 1am, 7 days a week. At the airport, buses leave from the kerbside at Terminals 1, 3 and 4. It's a 30-minute trip on average, and a 45-minute trip in the morning and afternoon peaks (roughly 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm).

There's no time to reserve on the day. You pick one-way or return tickets, turn up at the stop with a 10-minute buffer, and hop on the next coach. SkyBus from Melbourne City to Tullamarine Airport and the airport-to-city service both have free WiFi, wheelchair-friendly coaches and no excess luggage fees, and tickets stay valid for 3 months from the date you buy them.

Day trip transport to Phillip Island

Phillip Island is a 90 to 120-minute drive from Melbourne, so the driving is the part worth handing over. The Phillip Island Penguin Sunset Tour with Melbourne Transfers collects you from the Mail Exchange Hotel on Bourke Street (hotel pickup is an option too), runs on a modern bus with a local guide, and includes National Park fees and general entry to the Penguin Parade.

Highlights include a stop at The Nobbies for views across Bass Strait, a stroll along the boardwalks and the Penguin Parade at sunset. The tour leaves at 3pm during daylight saving and 1.30pm outside it.

A ferry and bike day to Portarlington

Not every Melbourne transfer needs wheels on a road. The Portarlington Cruise and Cycle Tour starts at Port Phillip Ferries in Docklands with a ferry across the bay, then hands you a bike for a self-guided ride along the Bellarine Coastal Trail. Departures are 9.30am or 10.40am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and it makes a 6-hour day.

Bike hire, a helmet, a bike bag, a water bottle, a map and a written guide are all covered, with on-call assistance if you need it. The route has stops for local food and wine, so there's no rush to get back.

Choosing the right Melbourne transport

If the job is getting between the airport and the city, the SkyBus is the simple answer: frequent coaches, no fixed booking time, and straight into Southern Cross. If you want a day out with the transport built in, a coach tour like the penguin trip means no parking and no map reading.

For a slower pace with a bit of effort, the ferry-and-bike day is the one. More guided day trips from the city are on the Melbourne tours page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the SkyBus take from Melbourne Airport to the city?

The SkyBus from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Southern Cross Station is a 30-minute trip on average. In peak times, roughly 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm, allow a 45-minute trip.

Do I need to book a time for the SkyBus in Melbourne?

No. The SkyBus leaves every quarter hour from 4am to 1am, 7 days a week, and you don't reserve a departure time. Allow a 10-minute buffer at the stop before the coach you want.

Which terminals does the SkyBus leave from at Melbourne Airport?

The SkyBus departs from the kerbside at Terminals 1, 3 and 4 at Melbourne Airport. In the city, the service runs to and from the Southern Cross Station Coach Terminal.

How far is Phillip Island from Melbourne?

Phillip Island is a 90 to 120-minute drive from Melbourne, so a tour with return transfers takes the driving off your hands.

Where does the Phillip Island penguin tour leave from in Melbourne?

The Phillip Island Penguin Sunset Tour with Melbourne Transfers leaves from the Mail Exchange Hotel at 688 Bourke Street, where you wait at the bus stop. It departs at 3pm during daylight saving and 1.30pm outside it, and hotel pickup is available as an option.

Melbourne transport here comes down to the airport run and getting out of the city without a car. Start with the Melbourne airport transfers for the Tullamarine leg, or pick a day trip with the driving already taken care of.