Airfare to Melbourne, Australia

Please note that these fares do not include applicable taxes and fees. For more information about these taxes and fees, click here.

See more departure cities on our Melbourne airfare specials page

Melbourne is Australia's second city, sitting in the shadow of its more well-known sister f Sydney, an 8-hour drive away. However, Victoria's capital often receives higher praise in the fields of art, culture, music and fashion, and offers a number of direct international flights in and out of the country as well.

Airfare to Melbourne will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday. Mondays are popular with business travellers and weekends are key dates for holidaymakers wanting the longest trips possible - avoid these dates.

Also consider flights into Sydney. To get between the cities, you can grab a spot on a train, bus or flight. Look for cheap flights on no frills airlines. Jetstar Airways and Virgin Blue fly to Melbourne. Although it will take longer to reach your destination, a bus or train could save you enough cash to make it worth your while.

Another possible money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through Sydney or Melbourne, Australia, or another major gateway city instead of flying direct. Because there are more flights - and competition - from these cities on low budget airlines, you can save some cash over flying non-stop to your destination. It is very common to layover in one of these main cities.

Finally, consider traveling on a lesser-known carrier. Qantas is the national airline. However, Malaysia Airlines, United Airlines, Air China and other airlines also stop in Melbourne.

The most expensive air tickets to Melbourne are found during peak holiday travel times, such as the New Year. Also be aware of national events or festivals, which can also cause ticket prices to rise.

Summary of Money Saving Tips:

• Fly mid-week
• Book your holiday during the off-peak season
• Consider flying into Sydney and traveling overland to Melbourne via train or bus
• Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights
• Check out carriers besides the national airline - they may undercut the monopolistic competition

For more information on Melbourne, check out BootsnAll's Melbourne Travel Guide.