Catch Cheap Skybus Melbourne Airport to and from Hotel (Review)

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by

Neerav Bhatt

I recently caught a flight to Melbourne for a conference and chose the cheap, fast and frequent Skybus service to transport me from Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport to my accommodation in the middle of Melbourne.

skybus melbourne airport

Your Choice: Expensive Taxi or Cheap SkyBus

There are no trains or trams from Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport to the city so the only options for transport are:

  • Taxi (appx $50 one way/$100 return), or
  • Cheap rapid transit Skybus service (roughly 1/4 the price of a taxi for a single traveller, 1/2 the price of a taxi for 2 parents+2 children)

Skybus carried 1.6 million people between Melbourne Airport and the city in 2007. It operates 7 days a week, including public holidays, with an average 20 minute trip between airport and city. Buses run every 10 minutes, 7 days a week including public holidays.

About Skybus

skybus melbourne airport ticket office

The Skybus city bus terminal is located at Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, near the corner of Little Bourke Street and Spencer Street.

At Melbourne Tullamarine Skybus stops to pickup passengers right outside arrivals at Terminal T1 (Qantas & Jetstar Domestic flights) and Terminal T3 (Virgin Blue Domestic, Tiger Airways, Rex, and all International flights).

  • You can buy your ticket online and print it yourself (recommended) or at the Skybus ticket office (pictured at right) when you land at Melbourne Airport/the Skybus ticket office at Southern Cross train station when travelling to the airport
  • If you’re flying in and back out from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport buy a RETURN ticket (roughly 20% discount) which is valid for 2 trips within 3 months of ticket purchase
  • As an extra FREE service, Skybus has a fleet of mini-buses to transfer you between the Melbourne city bus terminal and your city hotel or motel (recommended that you book hotel transfers in advance)
  • Skybus prices are fully inclusive of airport access, road tolls, Australian Goods & Services Tax and hotel shuttle transfers
  • Luggage is generously limited to 2 large suitcases per person.
  • Skybus is a carbon neutral service (PDF) because they offset bus emissions by planting trees through Greenfleet.
  • The Skybus fleet has 100% enhanced mobility impaired access rapid transit vehicles (Book ahead to indicate you require wheelchair access). Equipped with kneel-down suspension, the vehicles are easy to access by mobility-impaired passengers. The Skybus Hotel Shuttle is also mobility enhanced, with wheelchair lifts installed on all Hotel Shuttle mini-buses.

I asked some friends who often fly to/from Melbourne Airport what they thought about the Skybus service:

Yep, the Sky Bus is wonderful – when the freeway clogs up it even goes up the inside so it’s faster than any taxi – Charis Palmer

it’s a very cool service isn’t it? Have used it several times. Boy do they need that in Sydney – Kalena Jordan

Comments

11 responses to “Catch Cheap Skybus Melbourne Airport to and from Hotel (Review)”

  1. Jamie M.A.

    An excellent article on an excellent service that is not only a cheaper option but also ‘greener’ and coventiently located adjacent to Southern Cross train station. Having personally used this service we also recommend it to our clients. Jamie M.A.

  2. consta

    I found this information very useful. My bro is a student in Melbourne and I plan to visit him. I will keep in mind you ideas as I plan to fly down under.

    Thanks again

  3. Leanne

    When I went to Melb to visit friends we rode the Skybus. I definitely agree that they have an excellent service and easy to book as well.

  4. Katherine

    Anybody knows if skybus has any schedule bus from Melbourne International Airport to International House at 8 Uganda Street, Burwood – the lodging house for MIBT students.

  5. koval

    if there were skybusses in my home town – I sure would be using them…

  6. “Steve

    The Skybus is a good service for Melbourne airport transfers, though sometimes I catch a cab if I’m in a real hurry.

  7. Jojo Yee

    Is there any cheaper way to go to city beside skybus? perhaps other public transport? My destination is Greenhouse Backpacker at Flinders lane, please advise. Thanks.

  8. mj

    Are you getting paid to advertise Skybus? Because there are Metlink buses (public transit) that go between the airport and Southern Cross station, for a fraction of the cost of Skybus. I find it strange you neglected to mention that, and made it sound like the ONLY options are taxi or Skybus.

  9. Richard

    Jojo, It’s $17 on way from the airport to Southern Cross station not too far from where you’re staying ( I think ). I think the only cheaper way will be to hitchhike

  10. Harry

    Tghe Skybus may be a lot cheaper than a cab but its ridiculous that a capital city such as Melbourne has no rail link! The skybus only looks “cheap” because the cab fare is so high and a rail fare could be much cheaper than the current limited alternative. With both options you can be stuck in traffic and possibly miss you flight.

  11. Don

    best way go to air port, cheeper then parking

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