Weekend Trip from Gold Coast to Melbourne: Convenient Transport Options (Australia)

This was the very first time my wife and I took a short weekend trip from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. During our planning, the questions that popped up were:

  • How should we travel from home to Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport?
  • How should we travel from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Melbourne Central?

While Uber was the simple solution for many, we checked and realized it was rather costly. About $80-$100 for a one-way trip to the Gold Coast Airport (this was from our home in the Helensvale area, so your cost may vary depending on distance and timing) and about $60-$80 for a one-way trip from the Melbourne Airport to the city center.

Thankfully, we discovered that the following solutions were both practical and economical for us.

Gold Coast Airport Parking


Since many of us may own cars when living in the Gold Coast, driving your own car and parking it at the airport for a short-term trip is very convenient.

Don’t fret if all the pre-booking slots are sold out, especially during the weekend. We gave the airport a call, and they mentioned that there are always car parks reserved and available outside the bookable slots. We were directed to park at Southern Cross University, which is located beside the budget car park (costing $38 for 2 days and 1 night). It’s only about a 2-minute walk further to the airport, which was a convenient and cost-effective option for us.

Tip: The university parking option isn't officially promoted on the airport’s website, so it's a good idea to call ahead to confirm availability and ask for exact directions.

SkyBus - Melbourne


My wife and I were pleasantly surprised by the convenience of the SkyBus (it was our first time using this service). If your flight arrives at Terminal 4 (Domestic), the SkyBus pick-up point is just right outside the terminal exit. The best part is that this is the starting point for the bus, so it’s usually empty when you board. The bus makes stops at two other pick-up points within the airport, but by then, it may already be full.

A return ticket costs $40 per person, and each journey takes about 35 minutes. The SkyBus is an excellent alternative to more expensive transport options like Uber.

Overall, we found these transportation options to be both convenient and economical for our weekend trip from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. These tips might save you both time and money on your journey. Safe travels!

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