There’s no denying that the Skybus is definitely the easiest way to get from Melbourne airport to Melbourne CBD. However if you’re looking to save a bit of money, it is possible to get from Melbourne Airport to the CBD with your Myki card for just $4.40. Here’s how.
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Getting from Melbourne airport to the CBD with your Myki card
The first leg of your journey involves catching the route 901 Smart bus from the stop outside terminal 4 to Broadmeadows station. The bus leaves every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends with the journey taking around 20 mins dependent on traffic.
From Broadmeadows station all you have to do is hop on a train heading to the city and jump off at Southern Cross station. This journey takes 30 minutes and trains depart every 20 minutes every day of the week.
Although the overall journey takes a little longer than the Skybus, averaging at just over an hour end to end, you’ll save you $13.60 by doing so. Remember that’s equal to around three of Melbourne’s amazing coffees!
Is it worth it?
Travelling from Melbourne Airport to the CBD with your Myki card is particularly useful if you already have a weekly pass or if you’re leaving the city and still have some credit to use up on your card.
However there are a couple of things to be aware of if deciding to travel on this route. The former being that the Smart Bus only runs until 9 pm so isn’t an option for night time arrivals. And the latter being that you can only catch the bus from terminal 4, about a 10 – 15 minute walk from terminals 1 – 3. Not ideal if you have heavy cases to trundle around.
When deciding if using your Myki card to get to and from Tullamarine is worth it, it really comes down to whether cost or convenience is more important to you.
You can find out more about the Route 901 Smart Bus here.
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Ola and Bolt taxi apps
Another great option to get from Melbourne airport to CBD other than the Skybus is by taxi – particularly if you’re in a group of three or more. Ride hailing apps such as Ola and Bolt offer really competitive rates and often have promotions and discounts off your ride if you’re heading to or from the airport.
You can download the Ola app here and the Bolt app here.