Cheap Flights from Adelaide to Melbourne

This information is correct as of March 2016

Airlines that fly from Adelaide to Melbourne

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Tiger Airways and Jetstar all provide direct flights from Adelaide to Melbourne. All of these airlines fly to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and Jetstar also offer a flight to Melbourne Avalon Airport.

Terminal Information

Adelaide Airport

Adelaide Airport is home to just one terminal. Check-in desks are located on Level 2 of the terminal building and passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight. The airport requests that passengers are within the vicinity of their departure gate at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure time.

There is a variety of facilities and services available for passengers in the departure lounge. There’s a free and unlimited Wi-Fi connection, cash machines, a children’s play area and a pharmacy. You’ll also find a great range of food outlets including Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Hungry Jacks for fast food or the 1862 Bar, Billie Chu or Coopers Ale House for more substantial fare. Shops based in the departure lounge include WHSmith, Tech2Go, Rip Curl and Victoria’s Secret as well as a duty free store. 

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport is located 23 kilometres from Melbourne city centre and is home to four terminal buildings. Qantas flights from Adelaide arrive to Terminal 1, Virgin Australia flights arrive to Terminal 3 and both Tiger Airways and Jetstar flights arrive to Terminal 4.

Onward travel options from the airport include car hire, bus and taxi. Car hire companies can be found on the ground floor of the T1, T2 and T3 car parks and there are also information desks in the arrivals hall of each terminal building. Companies based at the airport include Thrifty, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Hertz and Redspot.

If you’re planning on taking a local bus from the airport to your final destination, you’ll find bus stops outside Terminal 1. Alternatively, you can take the Skybus into Melbourne city centre. The Skybus is an express shuttle service which departs from the airport every 10 minutes. Tickets cost around A$18.00 for a one way journey and can be bought either online or at the bus stop.

Melbourne Avalon Airport

Melbourne Avalon Airport is smaller than Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. It’s located 50 kilometres southwest of Melbourne and has just one terminal. Once you’re through passport control and baggage reclaim, you’ll find a tourist information desk, a pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi connection and onward travel options in the arrivals hall.

There are car hire desks for companies including Budget, Avis and Europcar, and bus ticket offices too. Passengers will find two shuttle bus routes operating from the airport, one to Geelong and the Surf Coast and one to Melbourne city centre.

Practical Information

If you’re a British national, you need to apply for a visa before travelling to Australia. There are two types of visa available – an electronic eVisitor visa available from the Department of Immigration & Border Protection and an Electronic Travel Authority Visa (ETA) available from your travel agent or airline. The eVisitor visa is free but the ETA costs A$20.00.

What to Expect in Melbourne

Melbourne enjoys warm summers and mild winters, with temperatures usually a degree or two cooler than in Adelaide. The city tends to get average summer temperatures of around 26°c and winter lows of around 5°c. 

Prices in Adelaide and Melbourne are more or less the same. You can expect to pay A$80.00 for a mid-range three course meal for two, A$8.00 for a bottle of beer and A$3.75 for a one way journey on public transport. If you’re travelling by taxi, you may find that journeys in Melbourne work out a little cheaper.

Melbourne, Victoria is 30 minutes ahead of Adelaide, South Australia.