Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane to the Gold Coast: fly, drive or take the train on a multi-city Australia trip

Most travellers fly from Sydney to Melbourne, which takes about 1.5 hours. Driving the inland Hume Highway takes about 9 hours, and the XPT train takes about 11. From Brisbane to the Gold Coast you can use Airtrain and the G:link tram without hiring a car.

Should you fly, drive or take the train from Sydney to Melbourne?

How do you get around once you reach Melbourne?

Melbourne has no train to Melbourne Airport (MEL) yet, so passengers take the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station, which averages about 30 minutes and runs every 10 to 15 minutes with no booking needed.

In 2026 trains, trams and buses on the myki network accept Visa or Mastercard cards, phones and watches, with fares matching myki, and trips entirely inside the CBD Free Tram Zone need no tap-on.

How do you get from Brisbane to the Gold Coast?

Passengers from Brisbane Airport (BNE) do not need a rental car, because Airtrain continues onto the Gold Coast line with a change at Helensvale.

1. 1Take Airtrain from Brisbane AirportAirtrain is run by a private operator and its fares are separate from Translink, so check the details on the Airtrain site.
2. 2Change at HelensvaleAt Helensvale, join the G:link light rail towards Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. A combined Airtrain and tram ticket is available.
3. 3Or fly into Gold Coast AirportGold Coast Airport (OOL) is at Coolangatta in the south, near the Queensland and New South Wales border.

How does contactless payment work on Translink in Queensland?

Translink states that Visa and Mastercard cards, including phone wallets, work on trains, trams, ferries and buses across South East Queensland.

• American Express has not been accepted since 15 December 2025.
• Tap on and off with the same card or device.
• The go card still works.
• Airtrain fares are separate, so check them before you travel.

What are sample multi-city routes in Australia?

What do you need before driving from Sydney to Melbourne?

Australia drives on the left as in Thailand, and speeds are in km/h. Visitors may use a current overseas licence, but New South Wales and Victoria require a licence not in English to be accompanied by an English translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP).

• Carry your physical Thai licence and check the rental company's own rules.
• Toll roads in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are fully electronic with no cash booths, so ask your rental company how tolls are paid.
• Take frequent breaks against fatigue, and watch for kangaroos at dawn, dusk and night.

How does mobile coverage affect long drives in Australia?

Cities are well covered, but remote areas, mountains and some stretches between towns can have no mobile signal on any network, so do not rely on mobile data alone for navigation.

• Download offline maps in Google Maps before leaving the city.
• Check that your phone supports VoLTE calls to 000, because an incompatible handset can be blocked.
• Tell someone your route and use the Emergency+ app to see your location in an emergency.

To plan mobile data for a multi-city trip, read “Internet for Australia: How to Choose an Australia eSIM” and check that a plan's country list includes Australia.

See Australia eSIM plans