The Brisbane to Melbourne route is one of the most well traversed journeys in Australia. On any given day, more than five different flights to Melbourne depart from Brisbane Domestic Airport, thousands of cars travel down Queensland’s highways, and dozens of buses and trains make their way to Victoria’s capital city. If you’re planning on travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne, you might be wondering what the best and the quickest method of transport is, whether it’s cheaper to fly or to take the bus, and whether or not your options have been impacted by the recent COVID-19 travel restrictions. For the most recent advice – read on to find out more about the trip from Brisbane to Melbourne, from flights, trains & more.
If you’re not too familiar with Australian geography, you may be surprised to learn that the distance between Brisbane and Melbourne is a whopping 1375 km! The road distance is an even longer 1749 km, meaning that driving between the two cities can take around 27 hours, without factoring in break. So while you’ll find that taking a bus, car or train to Melbourne looks considerably cheaper on paper than air travel, the difference in journey time more than makes up for the extra cost. If you’d like to compare these options for yourself, we’ve provided all the details below in order to help you plan your trip.
Flights From Brisbane to Melbourne
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas all have regular flights scheduled from Brisbane to Melbourne, which leave every few hours. A direct flight between the two cities typically takes two hours twenty minutes, and costs around $200 AUD one-way (October, 2020). Due to recent travel restrictions, less than 5% of normally scheduled flights are running. This has pushed ticket prices upwards, with some flights costing upwards of $400 AUD one-way, if booked last minute. Prior to March 2020, flight prices for the Brisbane to Melbourne averaged around $120 AUD.
If you’re planning on flying from Brisbane Airport, you’ll also need to factor in your journey to BNE. While it is possible to take a public bus to the Domestic Terminal, we suggest driving your own car and parking in an off-site facility, to save both time and money. Official parking Brisbane Airport can be pricey at the best of times, but the temporary closure of the AIRPARK facility has limited your at-terminal options to ParkLong and ParkShort. Instead of paying up to $57.00 AUD per day to park at either of these facilities, we recommend that you select an unofficial option such as Andrew’s Airport Parking or Gateway Airport & Cruise Parking. Parking at one of these car parks can cost as little as $5.42 per day, provided that you book your airport parking online and in advance.
Trains From Brisbane to Melbourne
At present, there is no direct train between Brisbane and Melbourne. However, there are train services departing from Brisbane and arriving at Southern Cross via Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes just over 26 hours. The journey costs between $160 and $420 AUD, depending on the class of service and route you select, and you can book your tickets up to eleven months in advance.
It’s worth noting that there are many negative reviews have been left on various websites in respect to the Brisbane and Melbourne train route. One passenger described having to take a bus for four hours before transferring onto a train, with a shared overnight cabin, and then having to transfer onto a second train early the next morning. And while this experience may not be common amongst all passengers travelling from Brisbane to Melbourne, it can and does happen. Be warned!
Driving From Brisbane to Melbourne
Another popular way to travel between Brisbane and Melbourne is to take the Greyhound Bus. The route takes close to 27 hours (and sometimes up to 40), and includes a transfer in Sydney. Tickets cost between $125.00 and $275.00 AUD per person, with buses leaving four times daily. All of Greyhound’s buses come with free WiFi, USB chargers, air-conditioning, reclining seats, and restroom facilities, however many older passengers find it uncomfortable to be seated for such an extended period of time.
If you’d prefer to take your own vehicle, you can make the 1749km drive along the Pacific Hwy/A1 and M31 in around 27 hours. There are motels and service stations along the way, with plenty of points to rest and stretch your legs. This trip is particularly popular with tourists and backpackers, who often rent a campervan in Brisbane in order to drive down to Melbourne, passing through the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Sydney, the Southern Highlands, Canberra, and Falls Creek along the way.
Just bear in mind that restrictions are in place in Victoria, meaning that you will need a travel permit to cross the border. There are police stops along the entrance roads to the state, and every driver is asked to show a valid permit.
For more information on domestic travel between various Australian cities, you can explore the Flyparks blog. There you’ll find plenty of useful and up-to-date travel advice, plus ways to save money the next time you plan a holiday whether by road or by air. Happy travels!
