Travelling from New York to Melbourne: what you need to know
When searching for your flight from New York to Melbourne, there's a good selection of airports you can jet off from. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) are among New York's main options.
Disembark at Melbourne's chief entry point, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
Melbourne is 15 hours ahead of New York and follows the UTC+11 timezone.
To ensure you get on your New York to Melbourne flight, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule to follow.
Flying over a peak time like July? Public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to Melbourne
To find cheap New York to Melbourne flights, book in advance. Airlines typically offer the most competitive fares when flights first go on sale.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from New York to Melbourne across the month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Snapping up a cheap flight from New York to Melbourne couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a better deal.
Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your New York to Melbourne flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
We make it easy to book a New York to Melbourne flight with a stopover. To see all your options leaving from John F. Kennedy International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply pick a flight with a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Major stopovers include:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Located around 19 kilometres from the centre of New York, JFK can be reached in about 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
In search of a convenient hotel close to John F. Kennedy International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from New York to Melbourne, these accommodation options will have you moments from check-in:
Of the departures from John F. Kennedy International Airport, 74.1% arrive on time at their destination.
JFK is located at JFK Airport.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Break up your New York to Melbourne flight with a stop so you can recharge or cross another place off your list. Popular stopovers between Newark Liberty International Airport and Melbourne are:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
You can reach EWR from central New York in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to travel the 14 kilometres or so.
It's your holiday, so why not book an extra night away? Consider kicking back in one of these hotels near Newark Liberty International Airport the day before your flight from New York to Melbourne:
73% of flights leaving Newark Liberty International Airport arrive according to schedule.
The street address for EWR is Building 1, Conrad Road.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
You can reserve a ticket from New York to Melbourne out of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with a stopover. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a popular connection point.
LGA is roughly 13 kilometres from central New York. The drive from the city centre to the airport takes about 25 minutes. If you're planning to use public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay close to LaGuardia Airport and know you'll make it to your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early New York to Melbourne flight:
LGA has an on-time performance rate of 80.0%. This means the majority of its flights land on schedule and your plans stay right on track.
LaGuardia Airport is located at Hangar 7 Centre.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is roughly 19 kilometres. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 40 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from New York to Melbourne, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these accommodation options near MEL:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt and venture far and wide through Melbourne and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport around four weeks ahead of your departure.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
Avalon Airport (AVV) is roughly 48 kilometres from central Melbourne. Following your flight from New York to Melbourne, it takes approximately 50 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 2 hours 5 minutes or so.
No time to waste? The fastest way to get to where you're going is with an Avalon Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental or yesaway car hire and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Avoid last-minute price surges. Securing your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at AVV can get you a lower rate.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Hop off your flight from New York to Melbourne and go directly to your hotel or jump right into sightseeing. The centre of Melbourne is around 11 kilometres from Essendon Airport (MEB) and takes roughly 25 minutes to reach driving.
Public transport will take you there in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
Begin your trip without stressing about how to reach your next stop with an Essendon Airport rental car. Book your wheels with reliable companies here like East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar.
Rental agencies sometimes offer deals for early bookings, so reserve your vehicle from MEB a few weeks ahead of your flight from New York to Melbourne. Plan ahead and your wallet will thank you.
Best time to go to Melbourne
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from New York to Melbourne. January is the most popular month to travel to Melbourne. If you want a more low-key vibe, go in April.
The warmest month in Melbourne is January, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Lock in your New York to Melbourne ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from New York to Melbourne in July when temperatures average between 4ºC (39ºF) and 13ºC (55ºF).
More about Melbourne
Once you've booked your flight from New York to Melbourne, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Melbourne:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to begin. Federation Square, National Gallery of Victoria and Eureka Skydeck 88 are top sights which should be on every Melbourne itinerary.
Explore more of Australia
Canberra is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be discovered once you've seen Melbourne. Around 467 kilometres to the north-east, check out popular attractions including Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.
Around 64 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, Geelong is another favourite stop in Australia. Start your sightseeing at Ford Motor Company, Roraima Nursery and RTC Resource Centre.