PerkJolt
Should I visit Melbourne or Sydney first?
Either order works. The hop between the two is short, so let the fare, not the map, decide where you land. If the fares are close, we'd start in Sydney and finish in Melbourne. That puts the Great Ocean Road, the part that needs a rental car and a clear head, at the end of the trip.
The average Sydney–Melbourne flight takes about 1 hour 35 minutes (checked Oct 12, 2026). Direction matters far less than which city is cheaper to fly into and which one you want to finish on.
Who it's for (and who should skip it)
This page is for you if you have roughly one to two weeks in Australia, you're flying in from overseas, and you want to see both cities plus the Great Ocean Road.
Start in Sydney if:
- Sydney is the cheaper or better-timed international arrival. It is typically the busier long-haul gateway, but check your own routes.
- You want the big postcard moment (harbour, bridge, beaches) while you're fresh.
- You'd rather end the trip with a road trip and a slower pace.
Start in Melbourne if:
- Melbourne gives you the better fare or flight times.
- You'd like a gentler first few days (cafés, laneways, museums) before a road trip.
- You'll collect a rental car in the first few days anyway and want to head straight to the coast.
Skip the two-city plan if: you only have four or five days. Pick one city and add the Great Ocean Road as an overnight, or skip the road and stay put. Two cities, two airports and a flight eat most of a day each.
The short math: how many days each place deserves
These are our editorial recommendations, not official figures. We'd adjust them to your pace.
| Stop | Our suggested nights | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 3–4 | Harbour, ferries, coastal walks and a day for a Blue Mountains or beach detour |
| Melbourne city | 3 | Neighbourhoods, food, galleries and a flexible day |
| Great Ocean Road | 1–2 | The drive is long enough that a rushed day trip is a poor trade |
| Travel day between cities | 0 (use a morning or evening flight) | The flight itself is short |
If you have 10 nights, something like 4 in Sydney, 3 in Melbourne and 2 on the Great Ocean Road leaves a spare night for slack or a tough jet-lag day.
Why the Great Ocean Road should not be on day one
The distances are the reason. The 12 Apostles are 275 kilometres west of Melbourne, roughly a four-hour drive along the Great Ocean Road (checked Oct 12, 2026). Tourism Australia describes a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne (checked Oct 12, 2026). That's why we say "roughly four hours, plus stops" and not a fixed number.
The regional tourism body is blunt about day trips. It describes a rushed eight-hour round trip, not including breaks and sightseeing stops, and suggests slowing down and staying longer (checked Oct 12, 2026).
The drive is winding and Australians drive on the left. If you land after a very long flight, that's a bad combination for day one or two. Let your body clock settle in a city first.
Once you're there, the main viewing area is an easy outing. The walk is 600 m to 1.2 km return and takes about 45 minutes (checked Oct 12, 2026). Gog and Magog, two offshore stacks, are a short 1 km walk south at the Gibson Steps (checked Oct 12, 2026). The nearby scenic stops are all within a 30-minute drive of each other (checked Oct 12, 2026). Viewing-area access, parking and any closures vary, so check the Visit Great Ocean Road page above before you go.
If you'd rather not drive, a guided tour makes sense, especially if you want to see the Apostles but not manage the road yourself. An overnight is still better than a single long day.
Getting into town from each airport
Sydney. The airport train is quick, but it comes with a surcharge. Transport for NSW lists the adult station access fee at $17.92 with an Opal card or contactless payment, with a weekly cap of $36.36 (checked Oct 12, 2026). That fee is on top of the normal train fare. It is also not included in your Opal daily or weekly travel cap (checked Oct 12, 2026). For two or three travelers with luggage, compare it against a rideshare. Fees change, so check the Transport for NSW page for the current figure.
Melbourne. SkyBus runs between Tullamarine and Southern Cross Station in the city. It runs "turn up and go" services from 4:00am to 1:00am, seven days a week (checked Oct 12, 2026). Check skybus.com.au for the current fare, since resellers show varying prices. Hours can change, and late arrivals are the case to double-check.
Entry requirements to sort out before you book
Most short-stay visitors need a visa or electronic authority before boarding. Many travelers use the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). There is no visa application charge, but there is a AUD 20 service fee, and applications go through the free Australian ETA app (checked Oct 12, 2026). An ETA allows multiple entries for up to a year, or until passport expiry if sooner, with stays of up to three months per visit (checked Oct 12, 2026).
Apply early. The same page recommends lodging at least four weeks in advance (checked Oct 12, 2026). European passport holders may be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) instead (checked Oct 12, 2026). The embassy also warns about third-party websites charging exorbitant fees to lodge ETAs (checked Oct 12, 2026). Eligibility depends on your passport, so confirm on the Department of Home Affairs site.
Points and miles angle
Flights into Australia are a classic use of transferable points, and open-jaw routings (into one city, out of the other) are often priced like a simple round trip. Check both directions in your search.
For the domestic hop, Qantas is an option, and it's a partner for Capital One and Citi points at 1:1; see our transfer partners chart for the full list. We can't promise award space on any route, so look at live availability before moving points. Transfers are generally one-way and irreversible.
Tips and tricks
- Price it both ways. Search Sydney-in/Melbourne-out and Melbourne-in/Sydney-out. The cheaper one wins, and the 1h35 hop is flexible either way.
- Book the domestic flight separately unless it's on your long-haul ticket. Fares vary widely on this route, so check airline sites directly.
- Pick up the rental car in Melbourne city, not the airport, if you're staying in town first. You avoid paying for days the car sits parked.
- Do the Great Ocean Road as a loop, not a straight out-and-back. The regional tourism body suggests slowing down and staying longer, so plan an overnight.
- Start early on the road. The drive is long and winding, and you don't want to finish it after dark on unfamiliar roads.
- Apply for your ETA first, before buying nonrefundable flights. The official page recommends allowing at least four weeks.
- Use the official channels. The ETA app is the legitimate route, and anything charging far more than the stated service fee is a red flag.
- Leave a buffer before your flight home. If you finish on the Great Ocean Road, return to Melbourne the day before departing.
Worked example (illustrative)
A hypothetical 11-night trip for two travelers flying in from North America:
- Nights 1–4: Sydney. Land, take the train or a rideshare to your hotel (compare the airport station access fee against a shared ride), and spend four unhurried days on harbour sights, ferries and coastal walks.
- Day 5: fly to Melbourne. Take a morning flight and use the afternoon to settle in. Take SkyBus to Southern Cross Station.
- Nights 5–7: Melbourne. Three nights for neighbourhoods, food and museums. Pick up the rental car on the last morning.
- Nights 8–9: Great Ocean Road. Drive along the coast to the Apostles area, stay near Port Campbell or elsewhere along the route, and take the 45-minute walk at the main viewing area. Day two: return inland or along the coast.
- Nights 10–11: Melbourne again. Return the car, leave a buffer, then fly home.
Why this order works: you reach the demanding drive when you're rested, you finish where you drop the car, and nothing is rushed.
FAQ
Is it better to fly into Sydney or Melbourne first?
Whichever has the better fare and schedule. The flight between them is about 1 hour 35 minutes, so direction barely changes the trip. If it's a tie, start in Sydney and finish in Melbourne with the Great Ocean Road. Always price an open-jaw ticket.
How many days do I need in Melbourne and Sydney?
We suggest three to four nights in Sydney and about three in Melbourne, plus one or two nights for the Great Ocean Road. That's our own pacing, not an official figure. With fewer than seven days, consider one city only.
Can I do the Great Ocean Road as a day trip from Melbourne?
You can, but we wouldn't. The Visit Great Ocean Road site calls it a rushed eight-hour round trip, not counting breaks or stops. If time is tight, book a guided tour so you aren't driving back late. Otherwise, add an overnight.
Do I need a visa for Australia?
Most short-stay visitors need an authority or visa before departure. Many use the ETA, which has a AUD 20 service fee and is applied for through the official app. Eligibility depends on your passport, so check the Department of Home Affairs and your nearest Australian embassy.
Is the Sydney airport train worth it?
For one or two people, usually yes, because it's fast and avoids traffic. But the station access fee on top of the normal fare is significant, and it adds up for groups. Compare against a rideshare, and check the current fee on the Transport for NSW page.
Can I use points for flights between Melbourne and Sydney?
Possibly. Qantas accepts transfers from Capital One and Citi at 1:1, but award space varies by day and fare class. Check live availability before transferring, as transfers can't be reversed. See our transfer partners page for details.
Want the whole trip planned? The PerkJolt Melbourne + Great Ocean Road guide puts the routes, timing and points strategy in one place. Get the Melbourne + Great Ocean Road guide
More questions about Melbourne + Great Ocean Road
- How many days should I spend in Melbourne?
- How many days do I need for the Great Ocean Road?
- How much does a Great Ocean Road day trip cost?
- What is the best time of year to visit Melbourne?
- Is the Phillip Island penguin parade worth it?
See every question about Melbourne + Great Ocean Road → /answers/melbourne/
Last verified: 2026-10-12. The most likely things to change are airport train fees, SkyBus fares and ETA fees; check transportnsw.info, skybus.com.au and the Department of Home Affairs.
Good to know before you go
. Confirm hours, fees, schedules and road or trail status on the official page before you book or go.
Sources
- https://www.virginaustralia.com/en-au/flights-from-sydney-to-melbourne
- https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/great-ocean-road/see-and-do/nature-and-wildlife/beaches-and-coastlines/12-apostles
- https://www.australia.com/en/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-12-apostles.html
- https://visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/visit12apostles/the-12-apostles/
- https://transportnsw.info/tickets-fares/getting-to-from-sydney-airport
- https://www.skybus.com.au/
- https://usa.embassy.gov.au/visas-and-migration
- https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/ETA.html