Sydney and Melbourne are roughly 700–900 km apart, depending on whether you measure straight-line or driving distance.

Quick Scoop

  • In a straight line (city to city), the distance is about 710–715 km (around 440–445 miles).
  • Typical flight paths between Sydney and Melbourne airports are about 705–715 km , with direct flights taking around 1 hour 25 minutes in the air.
  • By road, the drive is roughly 840–900 km , usually 9–10 hours depending on route and traffic.

Different ways to measure

  • Straight-line (“as the crow flies”) : Often quoted around 714 km / 444 miles between the two cities.
  • Flight distance (airport to airport) : Around 705–706 km / 438–439 miles between Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL).
  • Driving distance : Common highway routes come out near 843–880 km , with driving times just under 10 hours in normal conditions.

Travel time at a glance

  • Direct flight : About 1.5 hours gate-to-gate, with actual airborne time near 1 hour 25 minutes.
  • Car : Plan on a full day’s drive including rest stops, typically 9–10 hours.
  • Bus/train : Usually slower than driving, often around 11–12 hours depending on service.

Simple rule of thumb

  • Think of Sydney–Melbourne as about 700 km by air and about 900 km by road —close enough for a quick flight, but long enough that the drive is a solid road trip.

Information gathered from public data available on the internet and portrayed here.