How far is Sydney from Melbourne?

By road, Sydney is 878km from Melbourne. By air, Sydney Airport is 706km from Melbourne Airport.

Australia’s two largest cities look relatively close on a map. But maps can give a false impression of how big Australia is. Sydney and Melbourne are a long way apart, and it takes the best part of a day to drive between them.

By land, the distance from Sydney to Melbourne is a little longer than it is by air. That’s because the route between the two cities is not entirely straight. But it’s a decent enough approximation, and once you’re behind the wheel, you’re dealing with the Hume Highway rather than theoreticals.

14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne

Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.

Distance from Sydney to Melbourne by road

So just how far is Sydney from Melbourne? Well, by road, the Sydney to Melbourne drive is 878km long. That makes for a Sydney to Melbourne driving time of around nine hours and 11 minutes.

Almost all of this Sydney to Melbourne drive is along the Hume Highway. It passes through regional towns such as Bowral, Goulburn, Yass and Gundagai on the way to the Murray River at Albury.

The Murray River forms the border between New South Wales and Victoria. Once across it, the Hume Highway passes through Victorian towns such as Wangaratta, Benalla, Seymour and Tallarook.

If none of these towns sound particularly familiar, that’s because you really need to make detours off the quickest route to make the most of a Sydney to Melbourne road trip.

Ferries crossing in front of Sydney Opera House — How far is Sydney from Melbourne? Further than a map might suggest… Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

How far is Sydney from Melbourne by air?

This, of course, is why the vast majority of Australians choose to fly between Sydney and Melbourne. There are scores of domestic flights on the route every day, and the distance from Sydney Airport to Melbourne Airport is 706km. This is shorter than the road distance, as the path is straight. That said, it should also be noted that Sydney Airport is south of the city centre, while Melbourne Airport is north of Melbourne. You’ll need to add extra travel time on for taxis or public transport to the centre.

👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇

Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.

Why not BROWSE THE BEST DEALS – with instant confirmation and hassle-free, mobile-friendly tickets?

Arbory Afloat on the Yarra River in Melbourne. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Sydney to Melbourne flight time

Even so, flying is much quicker than driving here. The Sydney to Melbourne flight time is scheduled at one hour and 35 minutes.

There is also a twice daily Sydney to Melbourne train service. But it’s not any quicker than driving.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.