About Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Australia's second international gateway and the launchpad for Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania. Single-building layout with four terminal zones.
Getting There
By bus
SkyBus runs every 10 minutes 24/7 between the airport and Southern Cross Station in the CBD. 30 minutes, $24 one-way (cheaper return). Avoids the often-grim Tullamarine Freeway traffic. Children under 16 free with paying adult.
By car
Tullamarine Freeway connects directly from CBD (22 km, 30 minutes off-peak). Heavy peak-hour congestion. Drop-off zones at all terminals.
By taxi & rideshare
Taxi to CBD: $65–$80, 25–60 minutes depending on traffic. Uber, DiDi, Ola available — designated pickup zones outside arrivals at all terminals.
By train (under construction)
Melbourne Airport Rail Link is under construction with a planned opening date. Until then, SkyBus or taxi are the only reliable options.
Coach to regional
V/Line coach services from Tullamarine to regional Victoria (Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat) connect via Southern Cross Station.
Transfers
Parking
Visitor Tips
- •All four terminals (T1-T4) share one building — short walks between zones
- •T4 (Jetstar/Rex/Bonza) is consistently the slowest screening point — leave 90 min
- •No overnight curfew means cheap red-eye long-haul flights from Asia
- •SkyBus to Southern Cross Station ($24, 30 min) avoids notorious Tullamarine Freeway traffic
- •Phylloxera quarantine: don't bring grapevine cuttings or vineyard soil from interstate
Airport Layout
Runway configuration and terminal area for Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
Runways
2 runways • longest 3,657m • total 5,943m • Wide-body capable (e.g. Boeing 777, Boeing 787)
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Headings | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 3,657 m | 60 m | Asphalt | 171° / 351° | Yes |
| 09/27 | 2,286 m | 45 m | Asphalt | 94° / 274° | Yes |
Security & screening at Australian airports
Recommended arrival times
- Domestic flights: arrive 60 minutes before departure
- International flights: arrive 2–3 hours before departure (longer for first-time international travellers)
What you can carry on
- Liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs): containers up to 100ml for international flights, all in a single transparent 1L resealable bag. Domestic flights have no LAG restrictions on most airlines.
- Lithium batteries (in personal devices): allowed in carry-on only. Spare batteries up to 100Wh permitted in carry-on; batteries over 160Wh prohibited.
- Sharp items including scissors with blades over 6cm, knives, and tools must be packed in checked baggage.
Prohibited items
- Firearms (require declaration and approval)
- Explosives, flammable liquids, compressed gases
- Pepper spray, mace, tear gas
- Self-defence weapons including knuckle dusters
Full list: ABF prohibited items
International arrivals — biosecurity
Australia has strict biosecurity laws. Declare all food, plant material, animal products, soil, wooden items, and outdoor equipment on your Incoming Passenger Card. Fines start at AUD $626 and undeclared prohibited items can result in penalties up to $660,000 or visa cancellation. When in doubt, declare it.
Useful links
- Smart Traveller (DFAT) — travel advisories
- Australian Border Force — customs and biosecurity
- Aviation Security (Department of Infrastructure)
Specific to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Melbourne is Australia's second-busiest international gateway and a launchpad for Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Tasmania-bound travellers. Single-building layout makes it more straightforward than Sydney or Brisbane.
One terminal, four screening zones
T1 (Qantas domestic), T2 (international), T3 (Virgin domestic), T4 (Jetstar/Rex/Bonza) are all in the same building — short walks between zones. Tip: T4 is consistently the slowest screening point at peak — leave 90 minutes if flying Jetstar.
SmartGate at T2
Standard SmartGate operation for eligible ePassport holders 16+ from the usual list (NZ, USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, EU, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China, etc).
No overnight curfew
Unlike Sydney and Adelaide, Melbourne accepts flights 24/7. This is why low-cost long-haul carriers (AirAsia X, Scoot, Cebu Pacific) cluster departures at 23:00–01:00 — cheaper but means you arrive at off-peak hours when public transport is reduced.
Best landing approach for views
Approaches from the south on a clear day offer left-side window views of Port Phillip Bay, the city skyline, and the Dandenong Ranges. Right-side gets farmland and the You Yangs.
Bringing outdoor or wine-touring gear
Victorian biosecurity targets plant and grapevine material (phylloxera quarantine). Wine-touring travellers buying souvenirs interstate later should know Victoria-grown grapevine cuttings cannot leave the state. Camping/hiking gear from overseas: declare, get inspected, usually cleared without issue.
Getting to the city
SkyBus to Southern Cross Station: 30 min, $24 one-way. Avoids the often-grim Tullamarine Freeway traffic. Taxi: $65–80, 25–60 min depending on traffic. The new Melbourne Airport Rail link is under construction — check current status.
Nearby Attractions
Quick Facts
Stay connected on arrival — Airalo eSIM
Skip airport SIM kiosks — install Airalo before you fly and activate the moment you land.
Scan to install on your phone
Quick Stats
- Class
- international
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 3,657 m
- Max aircraft
- Wide-body capable
- Elevation
- 132 m
- Annual passengers
- 25.7M(2022)
- Opened
- 1964
- Owner
- Australia Pacific Airports Corporation
At a Glance
Airport Codes
- IATA
- MEL
- ICAO
- YMML
Location
- City
- Melbourne
- State
- Victoria
- Timezone
- Melbourne
Plan Your Visit
- Best Time
- Year-round operation. Spring (Sep-Nov) and autumn (Mar-May) are peak tourist times for Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. Summer brings school-holiday crowds.
Good to Know
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Nearby
Campsites(5)
Trails(3)
Attractions(3)
Toilets(3)
Groceries(5)
Fuel(5)
Dump Points(2)
Sunbury Recreation Reserve 2
Free · 15.5km
Mount Waverley Reserve
Free · 33.8km