Travelling from Canberra to Melbourne
Oh so close to home in Canberra, Melbourne is undoubtedly the hipster destination for the cultural, arty and sports-mad to visit for the weekend or longer. Take a walk through the graffiti art laneways, see a show at Princess Theatre, day trip to one of the stunning wineries or marvel at the MCG - Melbourne offers so much to see and do.
Ready to explore? Book Canberra to Melbourne flights with Virgin Australia now or read on for more information about flying to this multicultural hotspot.
Arriving at Melbourne Airport
Melbourne CBD is approximately 23 kilometres from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. The best value and easiest commute is with Skybus, which runs three varying services - 7 days a week. Melbourne City Express travels through to Southern Cross Station; Southbank Docklands Express to Melbourne’s arts precinct and harbour; and St Kilda Express to Melbourne’s beachside St Kilda.
Alternatively book car hire, a private bus transfer, taxi, or rideshare through to your Melbourne accommodation.
Transfer times and cost guide (to Melbourne City)
- Taxi: 20-40mins - $55 - $65
- Private Bus Transfer: 20-40mins - $18 - $25 per person
- Skybus: 20-40mins from $15 per person
Read more in our Melbourne Airport Guide.
Getting around Melbourne
Whether you're navigating through the capital's multiple attractions or planning a getaway down the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne is home to a wide variety of transportation options to help you explore the city and its surrounds.
Tram
With over 31,000 services operating throughout the city every week, Melbourne's trams are the most popular form of transport amongst locals and visitors alike. Short trips within the CBD are free for all passengers, although myki passes are required for longer journeys beyond the city limits. For a detailed map of the network, including the Melbourne CBD Free Tram Zone, visit Public Transport Victoria's official website.
Public Bicycle
Whether you choose to hire a bike from a Melbourne Bike Share docking station or activate one of the many eBikes that are available across town, it's easy to explore the city's bustling streets and laneways on two wheels. For more information on public bike hire in Melbourne, including safety tips for new riders, visit The City of Melbourne's website.
Car Hire
If you're planning to explore the city's surrounds, there are a wide range of car hire options available on arrival at Melbourne Airport. For a great deal, be sure to take advantage of our exclusive partner offers by visiting our Car Hire Offers page before take-off.
Departing from Canberra Airport
Located a close 8 kilometres from Canberra CBD, Canberra Airport’s best-value commute is with Transport Canberra’s ACTION Bus Route Rapid 3, running the 20-minute trip from the City interchange and various interchanges, 7 days a week, to Canberra Airport.
Alternatively travel to Canberra Airport via taxi or rideshare; or self-drive and utilise the airport parking.
Virgin Australia operates from Canberra Domestic Airport for the flight from Canberra to Melbourne.
What time do you need to arrive at Canberra Airport?
If you’re planning to check in luggage we recommend that you arrive at Canberra Airport 60 minutes prior to your flight time, and have your bags dropped at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. This should allow you enough spare time to grab a coffee before your flight.
Read more in our Canberra Airport Guide.
Melbourne Itinerary – What to do in a day?
Only have 24 hours in Melbourne? Here’s our handy guide so you can squeeze in lots of iconic Melbourne attractions and things to do, without feeling like you’re a contender on The Amazing Race.
8.30am - Hop on the City Circle Tram
From Melbourne Airport, catch the Melbourne City Express Skybus through to central Melbourne, drop your bags off at the hotel (we love QT Melbourne and The Jazz Corner), then hop on the free City Circle Tram to get your bearings of this magic city, listening to the audio commentary on the ride.
9.30am – Coffee at Industry Beans and City Walk
Hop off the City Circle tram at Melbourne Central and make your way by foot to Industry Beans on Little Collins Street. Grab a croissant and coffee ‘to go’, walk through the funky graffiti street-art lined Hosier Lane, then on to Federation Square.
10.30am – Tour of the MCG
The next stop is for the Aussie Rules fans (practically a religion in Melbourne) - you’re off to the famous MCG. Jump on the tram at Flinders Street for the quick 4-minute trip to John Cain Arena. Join the guided tour, showcasing the history and sports facilities.
12.00pm - Lunch in Prahran
Grab a rideshare or taxi from the ‘G’, we’re off to the funky precinct of Prahran for lunch. Option A is Casa N.O.M Bar Y Restaurante - this Mexican restaurant offers weekly meal specials and an extensive cocktail menu; Option B is Marbl Steakhouse with its stunning industrial interiors and outstanding menu.
2pm - Shopping on Greville Street (Prahran) and Chapel Street (Fitzroy)
Shopping is next on today’s must-do-list – you’re off to Greville Street, a warm village feel full of funky streetwear and designer shops. Don’t miss Marcus and Burton for their cool designer homeware collections, and Fool Clothing Pty Ltd for their colourful Melbourne designed and made collections. For the musos, make tracks to Greville Records for that hard-to-find vinyl and live music sessions on Sundays. From here you’re an easy stroll to famous Chapel Street with its super cool vintage stores and international brands alongside them.
4pm - National Gallery Victoria (NGV)
It will be tempting to keep shopping, but there’s more to see today! Hop on Yarra tram at Chapel Street over to the Arts Precinct in Southbank for time at Australia’s famous National Gallery Victoria (NGV), home to both permanent collections, and seasonal exhibitions and events such as NGV Friday Nights.
5pm – Show at Arts Centre Melbourne
Time for a rest and take in a show at nearby Arts Centre Melbourne. Performances vary throughout the year, catch anything from comedy to music.
8pm – Dinner in the Docklands
Tonight’s dinner is a treat, you’re off to Stokehouse in St Kilda, with its uninterrupted sea views and incredible seafood fare.
9.30pm – Drinks at The Espy
Next – you’re off for a post-dinner drink at The Espy (Hotel Esplanade) - the renowned seaside hotel and live music icon that hosts comedy nights, DJs, open mic and basement gigs. Mad musos will recognise The Espy as the once set of SBS TV show ‘Rockwiz’.
11pm – Nightcap at Eau de Vie
Lucky last stop for your epic day in Melbourne – heading back to the City you’re off for a night cap at Eau de Vie, a bar straight out of 1920s prohibition America. Slink into the whisky room secretly hidden behind a bookcase, or a private booth in the main bar.
Where to stay in Melbourne?
Melbourne offers an incredible range of accommodation to suit all styles and budgets - located in the CBD and surrounding inner-city precincts, each with their own unique personality.
Melbourne CBD
Always a popular area to stay, Melbourne CBD is central to a host of key attractions such as Princess Theatre, Federation Square, Royal Botanic Gardens, the MCG, and Melbourne Aquarium. Melbourne CBD offers a diverse range of accommodation too, from value-friendly to luxury hotels.
St Kilda
An easy 7km from the city centre is one of Melbourne’s favourite beach suburbs St Kilda, a hip seaside resort area known for its iconic Melbourne landmarks such as Luna Park, The Espy, Palais Theatre – alongside great shopping, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Fitzroy
For a more alternative feel, book a stay in inner-city Fitzroy. Minutes from the city on tram #112 Fitzroy offers an eclectic feel, vintage clothing stores, local designer fashion, funky bars and cool cafes. There’s fewer accommodation choices here, so we do recommend that you book your hotel in advance. For something quirky stay at The Nunnery Accommodation.
Carlton
For a little bit of Europe, stay in the vibrant Italian community suburb of Carlton, a quick 10-minute tram ride on line 6 from the City. Start the day as the locals do - drink expresso, walk in Carlton Gardens, and indulge in authentic gelato and pizza. Then spend the afternoon at Melbourne Museum and enjoy an evening movie at the arthouse movie theatre, Cinema Nova.
Footscray
For a true cultural feel during your stay in Melbourne, we recommend a stay in Footscray. Home to a range of migrant communities, enjoy the variety of cuisine on offer - from Vietnamese to African, Footscray Market, and the Footscray Community Arts Centre.
South Yarra
If you love to shop, you can’t go past a stay in South Yarra. Home to famous Chapel Street, you’ll find everything from vintage treasures, quirky local designer clothing, and high-end international brands. We recommend a stay at The Olsen Melbourne, one of the Art Series hotels.
When to visit Melbourne?
Melbourne is a fantastic year-round destination, with a busy event calendar, and so much to do and see throughout the year.
A popular time to visit from Canberra is the shoulder season, between March and May, and September to November. You’ll find that during this time temperatures are comfortable, it’s less crowded, and there’s often great value airfares and accommodation available.
Melbourne hosts key events that draw visitors throughout the year - Australian Open (February), Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March to April), Melbourne International Film Festival (August), Australian Moto Grand Prix (late October), and Melbourne Cup (November).
What to pack for your trip to Melbourne?
Melbourne is well known for its “four seasons in a day”, so our advice is to pack a lot of layers in the same or complimentary colour scheme that will all work together. We also highly recommend that you pack an umbrella as there’s generally more wet days than at home in Canberra.
Bring comfortable walking shoes for your urban adventures, plus we recommend that you bring a day bag, so you can bring extra layers for an easy transition from daytime sightseeing, to events in the evening.
Must Pack
- Summer: lightweight clothes, sunscreen, comfortable dresses for women, short- sleeved shirts for the men
- Autumn: a light-medium jacket
- Winter: jeans; boots; warm scarf, hat and gloves; long-sleeved tops; warm coat
- Spring: a light-medium jacket for cooler evenings
Canberra to Melbourne - Quick facts
Plane |
Boeing 737-800 |
|---|---|
Airport |
Melbourne Tullamarine (T3) |
Airport transfer time |
27mins to city |
Average direct flight time |
1hr 10mins |
Timezone |
GMT +10/11 |
Cabins |
Business, Economy X, Economy |
Frequently asked questions - Canberra to Melbourne flights
The average time for your flight from Canberra to Melbourne is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
*Note: flight times should be used as a guide only. Carefully consider your requirements before travelling and always allow extra time to arrive at your destination.
You will travel approximately 470 kilometres on your flight from Canberra to Melbourne.
During peak periods, Virgin Australia flies three times a day from Canberra to Melbourne direct, and up to two additional flights with stopovers, operating regularly scheduled flights from 6.25am to 6.15pm.
Virgin Australia flies our Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 on the Canberra to Melbourne route. Find more information on our fleet here.