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Best Airport transfer services options for you
We compare a wide range of tourist sites to find you the best prices on the market.
Best Airport transfer services options for you
Melbourne has three main airports that serve both international and local flights, and our main objective is to compare all three airports in detail, so you know which ones are closest to your destination and top city attractions
The Melbourne (MEL) airport is the main airport in Australia, it serves both national and international flights. Moorabbin (MBW) airport is also located in Melbourne's Southern suburbs, it also serves local and international flights with light aircraft. The two airports are closer to the city centre, and MEL has public transport buses and cars readily available to take travellers to the city centre and different tourist attractions close to the airport. The Avalon (AVV) airport is roughly the busiest airport in Melbourne and the farthest to the city centre. The AVV serves more customers and has shuttle buses that transport travellers from the airport to the city centre and other airports with ease.
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Avalon Airport |
Melbourne Airport |
Moorabbin Airport |
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| Airport Maps | Avalon Airport Map | Melbourne Airport Map | Moorabbin Airport (Reina Sofia) Map | |
Getting to Central Australia, Victoria, Melbourne Airports from each Airport |
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| Distance from Central Melbourne | The airport is 31 miles (50 kilometres) from the city centre making it the farthest. | The airport is 12 miles (20 kilometres) from the city centre making it the closest. | The airport is 14 miles (22 kilometres) from the city centre making it second closest. | |
| Public transport general operating hours | Public transports generally open from 4:00 AM - 12:00 AM. | Public transports generally operate around the clock and are always available for 24 hours. | The last train departs at 22:00 pm at night. | |
| Australia Underground Metro | N/a | N/a | N/a | |
| Train | N/A | N/A |
The train usually runs from 6:00 am until 22:00 pm Frequency: it departs every 82 minutes Adult fare: $28.34 for a train ticket. |
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| Easybus coach | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Bus |
These buses provide a link to the city from the airport. Fares start from $22 for a One-way Adult Single trip from Melbourne $19 for a One-way Adult Single trip from Werribee while up to 4 children (4-16) get to travel for free. |
SkyBus service is a shuttle that conveys travellers to and from the city centre 24-hours daily. It has two locations where passengers are picked from by the shuttle - the Qantas/Jetstar domestic terminal or Virgin Australia terminal. Travellers can buy the SkyBus tickets at the desks in T1 and T3 or from the driver using their cards. Fares A trip from the airport to the city centre takes 20 minutes and costs $18 (one-way trip) and $30 (two-way trip). The SkyBus shuttles depart frequently every 10 minutes and 30 minutes between 1 am and 4 am. |
The Moorabbin airport SkyBuses are always available to transfer travellers from the airport for as little as $22 for a one-way trip and $44 for a return journey. This bus service offer discounts to Seniors while kids travel for free using the Family 1 and Family 2 fares.
Top Airport Bus & Shuttles in Moorabbin |
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| Special Buses | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Le Bus Direct | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Express Trains (Fast Trains) | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Airport Shuttle | N/A | Shuttle buses are available at the MEL into the city from the airport. Buses & shuttles | N/A | |
| Taxi / Cab Services | To enjoy a Taxi or Cab service, it would cost you around $42-$84 | Around $56-$84. | Around $42-$70. | |
| Taxis | You can order an Uber for a journey to the city centre from $121-$162. Uber fare estimator |
Uber from the MEL Airport will cost around $88-$141 to the city centre Uber fare estimator |
Uber from the MBW will cost around $70-$136 to the city centre. Uber fare estimator |
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Which Airport Is Best For Me? |
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| How close to City and Top Attractions? |
Avalon is the farthest to and from the city centre amongst the three airports. So it is suitable for those travelling within Australia on a budget, as many low-cost flights operate from this airport. Also, travellers must consider the cost of transportation from the city centre to the airport and attractions vice versa. |
This airport is the major travel hub in Australia. The MEL is not too far from the city centre and it is connected by the road leading directly to the city. There is a lot of cabs, bus, shuttle bus, and taxis services available for incoming and outgoing travellers. Note: For more information concerning the times and stops for these bus/cab/taxi services, you may want to check each individual bus schedule. |
Moorabbin Airport is situated directly within the city centre, which makes it the perfect choice for travellers would like to spend less time getting to their hotels or attractions from the airport. Many low-cost flights operate from the MBW airport. But also keep in mind that it serves only national flights even though it is situated close to the city, consider the cost of getting there from the airport to top attractions and the hotel. |
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| Flight Fares Take from April 30-3-2018 | ||||
| Flight Fares | Flight fares start from $723 Frankfurt, $1664 London, $1385 New York, $1966 Madrid. | From $709 Frankfurt, $543 London, $1042 New York, $718 Madrid. | From $709 Frankfurt, $543 London, $1042 New York, $718 Madrid. | |
| Cost Factor |
The Avalon airport flight fare is 15% - 30% cheaper than that of the Melbourne airport. Also, Public transport transfer is on the high side compared to MEL Airport because of its distance from the city centre. Car rentals are 30% Lower while hotel rates are at a 10% low when compared to AVV and MBW. |
MEL handles mainly budget airlines to European destinations. Hence, making flight rates higher than AVV and MBW. Public transport fares depend on the chosen transfer option, it is either lower or higher when compared to MBW and AVV. Car hire rates at MEL are higher than at AVV while hotel rates are on the lower side. |
Although the flight fare at MBW is low, the cost of getting to and from the airport is high. The cost of renting a car is a bit on the lower side, while hotels cost higher due to many choices other than hotels. In all, choosing the MBW will only help you if you get a really good flight deal and some extra time to spare. |
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| Airport Delays |
AVV is roughly the busiest airport in Australia with regular flights, this causes some delays for travellers. Average Security & Immigration Delays: Low Average Flight Arrival Delays: 20 minutes |
Average Security & Immigration Delays: low Average Flight Arrival Delays: 20mins |
Average Security & Immigration Delays: Low Average Flight Arrival Delays: No |
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Hotel Prices per day (26-03-2018 to 27-03-2018) searched by 24-03-18 |
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| Hotels |
Avillion Port Dickson (5-star): Starting from $179.97. D'Wharf Hotel & Serviced Residence (3-star): Starting from $73.69 Cheaper than Oaks on William and Island Sea View |
Oaks on William (4-star): Starting from $310.33 ibis Styles Kingsgate Hotel(3-star): Starting from$196.97 More expensive than Avillion Port Dickson |
The island Sea View (3-star): Starting from $123.28 Mizingani Seafront Hotel (4-star): Starting from $253.65 |
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Car Hire Companies |
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| Car Hire Companies |
A number of different online car rental companies operate in the AVV with different offers and prices ranging from $165.73- Economy (Holden Spark or Similar), $169.52- Compact (Kia Rio or Similar), $233.83- Full Size (Toyota Camry or Similar) and $423.53- SUV (Mitsubishi Parejo or Similar) Some of the companies include Budget Carshttps://www.budget.com.au/ Europe Car Avalon Airport https://www.europcar.com.au/ |
Prices start from $162.16- Economy (Suzuki Swift or Similar), $166.22- Compact (Toyota Corolla or Similar), $205.51- Full Size (Toyota Camry or Similar) and $479.98- SUV (Toyota Kluger or Similar) Hertz Carhttps://www.hertz.com.au/ Europe Car Melbourne Airport https://www.europcar.com.au/ |
From $201.54- Economy (Suzuki Swift or Similar), $216- Compact (Toyota Corolla or Similar), $220- Full Size (Toyota Camry or Similar), $392.87- SUV (Toyota Kluger or Similar). Hertz Carhttps://www.hertz.com.au/ Europe Car Melbourne Airport https://www.europcar.com.au/ |
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Airport Facilities |
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| Shopping | Kids Zone, Game Room and more. | Australian Produce Store, Australian Way, Amcal Pharmacy, Baggage Storage by SmarteCarte, Bally and many more. | Home art and more. | |
| Eating & Drinking | Refresh yourself with coffee, tea, snacks by using the Drinks and snack machines opposite airport check-in. | Able Baker Charlie, Airport Lotteries, Ali Baba, Amuse, Baxa, Bar pulpo and many more. | Direct Factory Outlets (DFO). | |
| Lounge | The airport has the Flying Fox Bar & Lounge. | Air Bar & Lounge and many more. | Cafe Lounge and more. | |
| Wi-Fi | 4 hours free Wi-Fi | Free Wi-Fi Available | Free Wi-Fi Available | |
How To Transfer Between Airport Terminals? |
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| Terminal information. How many? How to transfer? Min connection time. | 1 Terminal: AVV has only one terminal (T1) and many bus services connect both Melbourne and Avalon Airport to the suburbs and regional centres. |
4 Terminals: The Melbourne Airport (MEL) has four (4) terminals (T1, T2, T3, and T4) which provide travellers with an undercover interchange for buses located at the Domestic Terminal (T4).
The bus interchange offers direct access to Jetstar, Regional Express services, and Tiger Airways while other airlines depart using T1, T2, and T3. These terminals all have bus services to enable travellers to get to the central business district with ease. T4 is 10 minutes' walk away from T1 so it is a walking distance. |
1 Terminal | |
| Currency Exchange, ATMs & cashpoints | Travelex, HSBC | Travelex, HSBC | Travelex | |
| Important phone numbers | Avalon Airport Phone: +61 3 5227 9100 | Phone: +61 3 9297 1600 | Phone: +61 3 8587 8000 | |
| Major Airlines and Destinations | ||||
| Major airlines Operating | Jet star Airways. | Air Asia X, Aircalin, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, Air North, Alliance airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Jet star Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and many more. | King Island Airlines | |
| Major connecting Destinations | Adelaide, Gold Coast, Hobart, Sydney. | Dublin, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Alicante, London-Heathrow, Boston, Geneva, Innsbruck, Barcelona, New Quay, Dubai International, New York, Nice, Aberdeen, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and many more. | King Island. | |
| Tourist Information | ||||
| Tourist Info Centres | Geelong and Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre. | Melbourne Airport Visitor Information Centre assists visitors with a variety of tourism services. | Get tourist info on the corner of Grange Road and Centra Dandenong Road in Cheltenham, DFO Moorabbin. | |
| Official airport website | https://www.avalonairport .com.au/ | https://www.melbourneairport .com.au/ | http://www.moorabbinairport .com.au/ | |
Melbourne Airport is the closest to the city centre 12 miles (20 kilometres) to central Melbourne. The airport does not have a rail line but is served by airport SkyBus which will get you to the city centre in 25 minutes. Moorabbin Airport is not too far from the city centre as well, just 14 miles (22 kilometres) and its fast Metropolitan buses 811 & 812 connects to the Metro Frankston train links to the city and it takes 55 minutes. Avalon airport is the furthest 31 miles (50 kilometres) to central Melbourne, it takes 58 minutes using airport taxis which will connect you to the V-Line Melbourne - Geelong train. Moorabbin and Avalon airports are not very comfortable for people travelling with children or plenty of luggage.
Compare airport distances and transfer times to the center of Melbourne City by public transport below.
Distance to Central Melbourne City:
Melbourne Airport: 12 miles / 20 km
Moorabbin Airport: 14 miles / 22 km
Avalon Airport:31 miles / 50 km
Melbourne Airport to the Central Melbourne CityJourney Times:
By Bus: 25 minutes
By Taxi: 18 minutes
Moorabbin to Central Melbourne CityJourney Times:
By Train (Bus + Train): 55 minutes
By Bus: 95 minutes
By Taxi: 24 minutes
Avalon Airport to Central Melbourne CityJourney Times:
By Train (Taxi + Train): 58 minutes
By Bus: 82 minutes
By Taxi: 43 minutes
Deciding which airport is best to fly greatly depends on the destination you are departing from, airport and airline also determines which airport you will arrive into in Melbourne City.
Melbourne airport is the primary airport serving the Melbourne city, it is the second busiest hub in Australia and the closest to central Melbourne just 20 km away. It is served by good public transport service links to the city by bus, the airport is not linked to the city by rail so other means include taxis, car hire and shared-rides. The SkyBus shuttles serve this airport with passenger transfers to the city centre taking just 25 minutes depending on the traffic situation. This is a major hub for domestic and international travels with airlines like Air Asia X, Aircalin, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, Air North, Alliance airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Jet star Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and many other airlines operate from the airport. This airport is best to fly especially for travellers who would not want to waste time on transfers from the airport to the city centre.
Moorabbin Airportis 22 km away and not too far from the city centre, but the airport is basically use for general aviation purposes. Only King Island Airlines operate from this airport with flights to King Island. The airport is connected to the city centre by Metro buses to Metro Frankston train station for passenger transfer which takes around 55 minutes. This is especially inconvenient for people travelling with children and a lot of luggage, other than that, the airport airport is also fast and handles less passengers meaning less flights delays and queues.
Avalon is further than all the airports, it is located in Avalon outside Melbourne 50 km from the city centre in Melbourne. Jet star Airways and AirAsia X handle international and domestic flights to a limited number of destinations. Transfer by rail requires a taxi ride to the closest train station taking 58 minutes for the total journey time. SkyBus Avalon Express runs from the airport to the city centre every 4 hours taking about 82 minutes for the journey. This airport is best for budget travellers and tourists who have extra time and money to spare on transfers from the airport to central Melbourne.
Melbourne airport is better to fly into Melbourne City in Australia, because it has more facilities, more airlines and transfer journey times are shorter. I is the closest airport to the central Melbourne taking just 25 minutes using SkyBus shuttle services which costs around $18 for a trip. Taxi and Uber take less than 20 minutes so this is a better airport than the other two airports. If you are on a budget, you can go for Moorabbin or Avalon airports bearing in mind the need for extra time and money for transfer. It is easier for travellers to visit top attraction in the city centre from this airport, but it is also important to note that Melbourne airport is the main airport in the city meaning more crowd, longer queues and some flight delays will be experienced.
Melbourne airport is closest to the Eureka Tower, one of the most amazing places to visit in Melbourne. The Eureka Tower is a 297.3-metre (975 ft) skyscraper in the Southbank of Melbourne which has a Skydeck on the 88th floor with free binoculars, observations deck and son on for tourists to take a 360-degree view of the city. To get there from Melbourne airport is by SkyBus which links you to the Metro
Frankston, Williamstown & Werribee lines, it takes about 39 minutes and $16 for the journey. Taxi takes around $35-$45 for the 19 minutes trip while Uber charges $28-$40. SOme other amazing attractions in Melbourne include Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - Melbourne Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square, Flinders Street Railway Station, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, State Library Victoria, Old Melbourne Gaol, St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, ACMI, Chinatown, Melbourne, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Carlton Gardens, Parliament House, Kings Domain, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, St Patrick's Cathedral, and many others.
From Melbourne Airport by:
By Bus (SkyBus): $18 single - https://www.skybus.com.au/ Bus runs every 10 minutes 24 hours.
Taxi: $56-$84-http://www.silvertop.com.au/Available 24/7.
Uber:$88-$141 - https://www.uber.com/global/en/price-estimate//Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at
From Moorabbin Airport by:
Train (Bus 811 & 812 + Frankston):$28.34 https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Bus runs every hour & Train 15 minutes.
Bus (828): $22 - https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ Bus runs every 20-30 minutes.
Taxi: $42-$70-http://www.silvertop.com.au/Available 24/7.
Uber:$70-$136 - https://www.uber.com/global/en/price-estimate// Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at
From Avalon Airport by:
Train (Taxi + V-Line): $20-$25 https://www.vline.com.au/ Train runs every 30 minutes.
Bus (Taxi + Avalon Express): $16-$22 https://www.avalonairport.com.au/getting-to-avalon/bus-transfersBus runs every 4 hours.
Taxi: $42-$84 - Available 24/7 at the airport.
Uber:$121-$162 - https://www.uber.com/global/en/price-estimate//Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at
Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, the demand for rooms, and which hotel you book but the prices below will give you a rough idea and you can do further research and hotel booking at https://www.tripindicator.com/hotel.html
Melbourne Airport Hotels:From $196.97per night.
Moorabbin Airport Hotels: From $123.28per night
Avalon Airport Hotels: From $73.69per night
All of the airports mentioned offer competitive prices and a range of cars to suit your needs. Prices are based on the type of car, driver age, length of hire, and demand but you can get a rough idea for each airport below.
Melbourne Airport Car Rental:
Economy Cars - Ford Fiesta -starting from $162.16 per week
Full Size Cars - Chevrolet Malibu -starting from $205.51 per week
Compact Cars - Ford Focus - starting from $166.22 per week
SUV Cars-Chevrolet Tahoe- starting from $479.98 per week
Compare prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/melbourne-airport.html
Moorabbin Airport Car Rental:
Economy Cars - Ford Fiesta -starting from $201.54 per week
Full Size Cars - Chevrolet Malibu -starting from $220 per week
Compact Cars - Ford Focus - starting from $216 per week
SUV Cars-Chevrolet Tahoe- starting from $392.87 per week
Compare Prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/melbourne-airport.html
Avalon Airport Car Rental:
Economy Cars - Ford Fiesta -starting from $165.73 per week
Full Size Cars - Chevrolet Malibu -starting from $233.83 per week
Compact Cars - Ford Focus - starting from $169.52 per week
SUV Cars-Chevrolet Tahoe- starting from $423.53 per week
Compare Prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/melbourne-airport.html
For Avalon Airport Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/avv-avalon-airport-terminal-map.html
For Melbourne Airport Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/mel-melbourne-airport-terminal-map.html
For Moorabbin Airport Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/mbw-moorabbin-airport-terminal-map.html
