Travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane
Equal parts country, city and coast, Brisbane has everything travellers need to craft the perfect getaway. Kickstart your holiday in the Sunshine State when you book flights from Melbourne to Brisbane with Virgin Australia.
Ready to explore? Book Melbourne to Brisbane flights with Virgin Australia now or read on for more information about flying to this blossoming destination.
Arriving at Brisbane Airport
Brisbane City is approximately 12 kilometres from Brisbane Airport. The easiest and most value friendly commute option to Brisbane CBD is via Airtrain, a 20-minute journey. You can either use a Queensland Translink go card (if you have one), or pre-book your Airtrain ticket online. Other options include taxi, rideshare, and rental car.
You will arrive into Brisbane’s Domestic Airport, from there make your way outside the terminal to the various transport services.
Transfer times and cost guide (to Brisbane City)
- Taxi and rideshare: 20mins – approx. $45-$55
- Shuttle bus: 20mins – approx. $15
- Airtrain: 20mins – approx. $15-$19.50 per adult (children 5-14 years inclusive travel free to the CBD with a paying adult)
Read more in our Brisbane Airport Guide.
Departing from Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport, located 23 kilometres from central Melbourne, is best accessed by Skybus service. Skybus runs 24-hours a day, with regular services from various central city locations including Southern Cross Station.
Alternatively, another option is to commute to Melbourne Airport via taxi and rideshare services - or self-drive and utilise the airport parking options.
The drive is approximately 25-minutes from central Melbourne in non-peak hour, however allow plenty of time during peak times, as the journey may potentially take up to an hour.
Virgin Australia operates from Terminal 3 (T3) for your Virgin Australia Domestic flight to Brisbane.
What time do you need to arrive at Melbourne Airport?
If you’re planning to check in luggage we recommend that you arrive at the airport 60 minutes prior to your flight time, as check-in is 45 minutes prior departure. This should allow you enough spare time to grab a coffee or snack on your way to the departure gate, without feeling rushed.
Read more in our Melbourne Airport Guide.
Brisbane Itinerary – What to do in a day?
Only have 24 hours in Brisbane? Here’s a handy guide so you can squeeze in lots of key attractions and things to do, without feeling like you’re a contender on The Amazing Race.
8.30am – City-Bound
Jump on the handy Airtrain service at Brisbane Airport, through to Central Station, and once you’ve dropped off your bags at your hotel (we love W Hotel), make your way to Brew Café & Wine Bar in Lower Burnett Lane, for a morning coffee, followed by a quick retail fix in the high end and street-wear fashion shops.
10.00am – Museum of Brisbane and City Hall
Next up, you’re off to Museum of Brisbane (MoB) located centrally in Brisbane City Hall. This fascinating museum brings Brisbane’s history, vibrant culture, and art to life through their creative exhibitions and special events. Don’t miss the fun (and free) Clock Tower Tour.
11.30am – Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA
Staying on the culture trail we’re off next to Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. QAGOMA is home to over 1,700 works from art from around the world. View the permanent collections and catch the latest changing exhibitions. If you’re here over Summer look out for the “Up Late” events.
12.30pm – Chu the Phat in South Brisbane
It’s lunch time and today’s culinary treat is Chu the Phat, an Asian getaway located in the funky nearby street-art lined Fish Lane Arts Precinct.
2pm - City Sights Walk
After a quick look at The Wheel of Brisbane and Southbank Parklands, you’ll walk across Victoria Bridge back into the City, where you’ll enjoy a leisurely walk through City Botanic Gardens.
3pm - Story Bridge Climb
Time for your next Brisbane adventure, you’re booked in for the 2-hour Story Bridge Adventure Climb starting at 3.20pm. Based at Kangaroo Point this can be accessed by foot from the Botanic Gardens (or by uber if you’re running out of leg power).
5.30pm – Sunset and then dinner at the Wharves
It’s officially cocktail hour, and you’re only a 2-minute walk to Brisbane’s hot-spot, Howard Smith Wharves, where drinks and dinner are planned. This once shipyard site now showcases warehouses back to life, grassy lawns on the riverfront, and stunning sunset views of Story Bridge and Brisbane City. We have a table reserved for you at Mr Percivals for your pre-drinks.
If you can peel yourself away from the cocktails, make your way to dinner. Option A is Yoko Dining, exquisite Japanese or Option B - Greca Restaurant – a contemporary Greek taverna.
9.30pm – A nightcap in Fortitude Valley
The last stop for your Brisbane adventure is a nightcap at Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar in nearby Fortitude Valley - Brisbane’s wine, dine and club hub. Step through a retro fridge (the door) to a fun Hawaiian-themed retro bar full of vintage posters and collectables. Reminisce over the fun day you just had in Brisvegas.
Where to stay in Brisbane?
Brisbane offers a diverse range of accommodation to suit all budgets and styles, throughout the city, winding around its River, and the inner-city precincts – each with their own character.
Brisbane CBD
Brisbane CBD is a handy area to stay in with key attractions all within easy reach. Enjoy being close to City Botanical Gardens, Museum of Brisbane (MoB), plus a great range of luxury and street-wear shopping. You’ll find an extensive and diverse range of accommodation options in the City.
Fortitude Valley
For an outstanding designer boutique, café, dining and bar scene you can’t go past a stay in Fortitude Valley (bordered by neighbouring Newstead, New Farm, and Teneriffe). From hole-in-the-wall coffee joints to mega clubs, gin bars to breweries, cinemas to Brisbane Powerhouse– this area is the happening place to stay with plenty of accommodation options.
Southbank
If you want to stay in the cultural heart of Brisbane, book a stay in Southbank. With Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Queensland Museum, and Queensland Performing Arts Complex (QPAC) all at your doorstep, Southbank is also home to The Wheel of Brisbane and Southbank Parklands, dining, cafes and premier accommodation including Emporium Hotel South Bank.
West End
For a vibrant community vibe with plenty of activity, we recommend a stay in inner-city West End, just over 1.5 kilometres from the City. A much smaller scale of Melbourne’s Fitzroy, this is a community and arts neighbourhood with a great café and dining scene (particularly organic) and the fabulous fresh farmers markets, Davies Park Market, held every Saturday. It’s also home to Brisbane Distillery - join the ‘gin school’ or stop by for a G&T at the funky bar. There are fewer accommodation options in this area, so be sure to book in advance if you wish to stay here.
When to visit Brisbane?
Brisbane offers a mild sub-tropical climate all year with over 260 sunny days a year, making it the ultimate year-round destination to visit from Melbourne.
Travelling to Brisbane from Melbourne during March to May (Autumn) is the most ideal as the season brings comfortable, sunny weather, and there is little rainfall.
Winter is spectacular in Brisbane. Lap up the clear blue-sky days, and despite the fact locals eagerly don jackets and boots, you’ll experience a most pleasant winter featuring 22 degrees during the day.
The summer months (December to February) can be humid, however most venues are air conditioned – and besides, it’s perfect weather if you’re travelling to Brisbane for a beach holiday at nearby Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. That said, you will find this a very different summer feel that the dry summer you’re accustomed to in Melbourne.
What to pack for your trip to Brisbane?
Brisbane enjoys a warm sub-tropical temperature year-round, so pack light, breathable clothes. Brisbane is reasonably casual, so a mix of shorts, long pants, dresses and a light jacket should suffice for most of the year.
Bring comfortable shoes for your urban adventures, swimwear if planning on a beach day, and of course, sunscreen.
Naturally if you’re a fashionista be sure to pack your hip outfits too, surprising to Melbourne folk Brisbane has stepped up the ante in the fashion stakes.
Must Packs
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- Summer: lightweight clothes, sunscreen, comfortable dresses for women, short- sleeved shirts for the men
- Autumn: a light jacket
- Winter: jeans, boots, short and long-sleeved tops, light to medium weight jacket
- Spring: a light jacket for cooler evenings
Frequently asked questions
The average time for your flight from Melbourne to Brisbane is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
*Note: flight times should be used as a guide only. Carefully consider your requirements before travelling and always allow extra time to arrive at your destination.
You will travel over 1300 kilometres on your flight from Melbourne to Brisbane.
During peak periods, Virgin Australia flies up to 12 direct flights a day from Melbourne to Brisbane (plus an additional 40 flights that include a stopover), operating regularly scheduled flights from 6.00am to 8.30pm.
Virgin Australia flies our Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 on the Melbourne to Brisbane route. Find more information on our fleet here.