Answer first
- Operators
- V/Line
- Cheapest known fare
- $32 with V/Line, the operator's published fare for this corridor.
- Journey time
- About 10h 31m
- Distance
- 726 km by road
- Booking
- Booking is direct with the operator, not through AusBus.
The route at a glance
The Adelaide–Melbourne corridor.
Adelaide to Melbourne is roughly 730 kilometres via the Western Highway and 10 hours by coach. V/Line sells the trip as a connection that is bookable online. Travellers with more time often take the slower coastal route via Mount Gambier and the Great Ocean Road, though scheduled coach services on that corridor are limited to V/Line connections.
Journey essentials
- Onboard
- Toilet · Wheelchair access
- Luggage
- 1 × 32kg checked bag
Compare operators
Who runs this route.
V/Line
ToiletWheelchair access32kg luggageBookon V/LineFrom$32
Fares are indicative. Live pricing may vary by date and availability. AusBus earns a small commission on some bookings at no extra cost to you.
Spotted an error or a missing operator on this route? Let us know.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
V/Line's connection is the scheduled option we currently list, so check its departure and arrival times when you book. The Western Highway crosses the Big Desert and the Wimmera, which means long stretches without phone reception; download offline maps and entertainment before you board. If you have a free day, the slower coastal route via Mount Gambier is one of the most scenic coach journeys in Australia, but you will need to chain V/Line services and stay overnight at Mount Gambier or Warrnambool. Book a window seat on the right-hand side for the Murray crossing at Bordertown.
Worth timing your trip for
What's on in Melbourne
OctoberMelbourne, VICMelbourne FringeEarly-to-mid October (approx. 18 days)
OctoberMelbourne, VICMelbourne Cup CarnivalLate October or early November: four race days from the Saturday before the first Tuesday of November (Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day, Stakes Day)
DecemberMelbourne, VICBoxing Day Test26-30 December
Route FAQs
Adelaide to Melbourne, answered.
- About 10 hours via the Western Highway, the standard route used by overnight services. The slower coastal route via Mount Gambier and the Great Ocean Road takes two days with an overnight stop in between.
- V/Line sells the Adelaide to Melbourne trip from around $32 one-way. For a train alternative, the Overland runs twice a week from around $99 one-way.
- The bus is significantly cheaper. The Overland train runs only twice a week and starts from around $99 one-way. Coaches run daily and start from $32.
- Southern Cross Coach Terminal at Spencer Street, with direct connections to the Melbourne Metro train network and the city tram loop.
- We don't currently list an overnight coach on this corridor. Check the V/Line connection times on V/Line's site when you book.
Keep going
Onward from Melbourne.
Continuing past Melbourne? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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