The route at a glance
The Canberra–Melbourne corridor.
Canberra to Melbourne is roughly 660 kilometres along the Hume Highway, with most services taking 7.5 to 8.5 hours including a meal stop at Wodonga or Albury. Greyhound, Murrays and FlixBus all run the corridor, with morning and evening departures from Jolimont Centre. Through-services skip Sydney entirely (useful for travellers heading directly south) but the Canberra–Melbourne pair sees lower daily volume than either capital's Sydney connection, so check the timetable carefully.
Typical calling points
- CanberraACT
- AlburyNSW
- MelbourneVIC
Typical stops on this corridor. Actual calling points vary by operator and service.
Journey essentials
- Onboard
- Wi-Fi · Toilet · USB charging · Wheelchair access
- Luggage
- 1 × 40kg checked bag
Compare operators
Who runs this route.
FlixBus Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon FlixBus AustraliaFrom$61Services
Depart Arrive Runs 3:45 AM 11:50 AM Daily 2:25 PM 10:35 PM Daily Greyhound Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingWheelchair accessEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon Greyhound AustraliaFrom$123Services
Depart Arrive Runs 9:30 PM 5:30 AM+1 Daily
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.
Direct Canberra–Melbourne services are less frequent than via-Sydney connections, so book ahead: there are typically only two or three options per day. Morning departures are more reliable than evening ones because they avoid the run into Melbourne in peak hour. The route crosses the Murray at Albury-Wodonga, which is the only meaningful meal stop on the corridor; meals on the coach are not provided. If you are travelling around Floriade (September) or Australian Open (January), book a week earlier than you would normally; these two events spike Canberra–Melbourne demand significantly.
Worth timing your trip for
What's on in Melbourne
SeptemberMelbourne, VICRoyal Melbourne ShowLast week of September into early October (11 days)
SeptemberMelbourne, VICAFL Grand FinalLast Saturday of September (typically)
OctoberMelbourne, VICMelbourne FringeEarly-to-mid October (approx. 18 days)
Route FAQs
Canberra to Melbourne, answered.
- About 7.5 to 8.5 hours including a meal stop at Wodonga or Albury. Direct services with fewer stops are at the lower end of the range.
- Yes. Greyhound, Murrays and FlixBus all run direct services without requiring a Sydney transfer. Frequency is lower than the Canberra–Sydney corridor, with two to three departures per day.
- Fares start from around $61 one-way booked a week ahead. Same-day bookings usually run $89 to $129.
- Southern Cross Coach Terminal on Spencer Street, with direct access to the Melbourne Metro train network, the city tram loop and the Skybus to Melbourne Airport.
- There is no direct train; the rail connection requires a transfer at Sydney and takes more than 12 hours. The bus is faster and significantly cheaper for this corridor.
Keep going
Onward from Melbourne.
Continuing past Melbourne? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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