Route guide

Melbourne Sydney by bus

Compare overnight and daytime buses from Melbourne to Sydney. Greyhound, FlixBus and NSW TrainLink coaches all on one page. From $61.

See today's services865 km11h3 operatorsfrom $61

Answer first

Operators
Greyhound Australia, NSW TrainLink and FlixBus Australia
Cheapest known fare
From $61 with FlixBus Australia, seen when we last checked on 18 Oct. This operator prices by demand, so confirm it on their site.
Journey time
About 11h
Distance
865 km by road
Booking
Booking is direct with the operator, not through AusBus.

The route at a glance

The Melbourne–Sydney corridor.

Melbourne to Sydney is the busiest long-distance coach corridor in Australia, with multiple operators running daily services along the Hume Highway. The 880-kilometre journey takes 11 to 13 hours depending on stops, with most travellers choosing overnight services that depart Southern Cross late evening and arrive at Central Station before peak hour. The route follows the Hume through the Victorian high country, crosses the Murray at Albury, and traces the Southern Highlands into Sydney, a faster, more direct corridor than the older Princes Highway coastal alternative.

Typical calling points

  1. MelbourneVIC
  2. AlburyNSW
  3. CanberraACT
  4. SydneyNSW

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 luggage
    From
    $61
    Book

    Services

    DepartArriveRuns
    9:00 AM8:25 PMDaily
    9:00 AM8:50 PMDaily
    5:00 PM4:25 AM+1Daily
    5:00 PM4:50 AM+1Daily
    7:00 PM5:50 AM+1Daily
    7:00 PM6:10 AM+1Daily
    9:45 PM9:20 AM+1Daily
    9:45 PM9:45 AM+1Daily

  • Greyhound Australia

    Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingWheelchair accessEco-friendly40kg luggage
    From
    $90
    Book

    Services

    DepartArriveRuns
    10:00 PM10:00 AM+1Daily

  • NSW TrainLink

    ToiletWheelchair access40kg luggage
    From
    $99
    Book

    Services

    DepartArriveRuns
    7:30 AM7:40 PMMon, Sat–Sun
    7:50 AM7:50 PMMon, Sat–Sun
    6:30 PM6:40 AM+1Fri–Sun
    6:50 PM6:50 AM+1Fri–Sun

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.

Overnight services leaving Southern Cross between 7pm and 10pm are the best value if you can sleep on a coach: they save you a hotel night and put you in Sydney with the morning. Greyhound, FlixBus and NSW TrainLink all list overnight departures, and FlixBus and NSW TrainLink add daytime options for travellers who prefer to see the countryside. Book at least seven days ahead during school holidays, the Easter long weekend, and the Boxing Day–New Year period when Hume Highway services fill quickly. Bring a neck pillow and a refillable water bottle; rest stops between Wodonga and Goulburn are sparse and the on-board temperature can swing once you climb the Southern Highlands. Window seats on the left-hand side give you the best of the Murray crossing into NSW just after dawn on overnight services.

Worth timing your trip for

What's on in Sydney

All major Australian events

Route FAQs

Melbourne to Sydney, answered.

  • Most services take 11 to 13 hours, with overnight coaches at the lower end and daytime services with more rest stops at the upper end. Traffic on the Sydney approach in the morning peak can add another 30 to 45 minutes.

Travelling the other way? See the Sydney to Melbourne guide

Keep going

Onward from Sydney.

Continuing past Sydney? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.

Related routes

More through Melbourne and Sydney.