Sydney to Melbourne flights
Melbourne lies 713 km (443 mi) south-west of Sydney, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 40 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Sydney | Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 5.6 million | 5.4 million |
| Elevation | 58 m (190 ft) | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) | UTC+10 (Australia/Melbourne) |
| Nearest large airport | SYD, 9 km out | MEL, 19 km out |
| Postal codes | 1001–2001 | 3000–8383 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Sydney
Sydney is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre, whose 12,999-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Melbourne Airport (MEL), 19 km (12 mi) from the centre, whose 11,998-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Melbourne Avalon International Airport (AVV, 50 km), Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB, 11 km), Melbourne Moorabbin Airport (MBW, 22 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Airport | MEL | 19 km (12 mi) | 11,998 ft | 434 ft |
| Melbourne Avalon International Airport | AVV | 50 km (31 mi) | 10,000 ft | 35 ft |
| Melbourne Essendon Airport (regional) | MEB | 11 km (7 mi) | 6,302 ft | 282 ft |
| Melbourne Moorabbin Airport (regional) | MBW | 22 km (14 mi) | 4,380 ft | 50 ft |
Book a flight to Melbourne
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Staying in Melbourne
Our booking partner lists 3,019+ places to stay in Melbourne (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 738 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (531), and 118 are five-star. Across 557 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.5 out of 10. Guests have left 990,748 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Melbourne
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Melbourne from Sydney?
713 km (443 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Sydney.
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Melbourne by air?
About 1 h 40 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sydney and Melbourne?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Sydney to Melbourne flights?
Typically Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Melbourne Airport (MEL); Melbourne also has AVV, MEB, MBW.
Where can I stay in Melbourne?
Our booking partner lists 3,019+ places to stay in Melbourne, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.