Flying from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY): What you need to know
Start planning your trip by checking out the most convenient departure point for your flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY). Explore your options for taking off from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) or Avalon Airport (AVV), the city's main airports.
Take a direct Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 20 minutes.
The timezone in Sunshine Coast is UTC+10, which is one hour behind Melbourne. Sunshine Coast Airport is located in Sunshine Coast.
The most popular route is from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY), with 42 direct services every week. If you're looking to take off without delay, the earliest flight from MEL to MCY is the 6am Virgin Australia Regional option. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 6:50pm with Jetstar.
To ensure you catch your flight from Melbourne to MCY, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Longer lines at security and check-in are more likely if you're heading away during high season, so allow some extra breathing room. The recommendation for peak times? Arrive up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) operate out of this terminal.
Top carriers that have direct flights from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport departing MEL include:
The airline with the highest booking numbers between MEL and MCY is Virgin Australia Regional.
Virgin Australia Regional is the top performer for punctuality on this route.
MEL is about 24 kilometres from central Melbourne. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 40 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just what you're after:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 67.71% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
AVV is around 56 kilometres from central Melbourne. It takes 50 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 2 hours 5 minutes.
Unwind before your Melbourne to MCY flight at a hotel close to Avalon Airport. Corio Bay Motel is one option where you can roll out of bed and arrive at the airport with time to spare.
Avalon Airport has a strong track record for reliability and timeliness. 80.09% of flights out of here make it to their final destination as planned.
About Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
Have a late flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport? Don't let it stretch your travel day into tomorrow. Check in to one of these hotels near MCY and shut your eyes sooner:
Follow your own route with a Sunshine Coast Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, Apex or East Coast and see more of Sunshine Coast and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, book your vehicle around one week ahead of your Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport flight.
Getting from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to central Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Airport to central Sunshine Coast is about 23 kilometres. If you're getting a cab or renting a car, do some research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times can vary based on traffic conditions and the time of day.
It typically takes 30 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport is Rs17,871. For a return flight on this route, the best price is Rs36,091. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares could change.
To snag cheap flights from Melbourne to MCY, book your flight ticket eight months ahead of your departure date.
Plan your trip for January. That's the best month for landing a great bargain on Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a better deal is available on flight tickets from Melbourne to MCY.
Filters make it easier to save some cash on your flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport. Pick the departure times, airlines and number of stops that look good to you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to bring up the lowest fares right away.
The best time to fly from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
It's time to figure out when to book your flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY). July is when most people visit Sunshine Coast. If you like things a bit more low-key, go in April.
Lock in a Melbourne to MCY flight ticket departing in January if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Sunshine Coast to range from 21ºC to 28ºC.
July has temperatures of between 11ºC and 20ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Sunshine Coast
Once you've booked your flight from Melbourne to Sunshine Coast Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Sunshine Coast:
Be sure to add Baroon Lookout to your itinerary. This is one of the top attractions to see when visiting Sunshine Coast.
Explore more of Australia
You've seen Sunshine Coast, now it's time to discover more of Australia. Journey around 97 kilometres south to Brisbane to tick off its popular sights. From Queensland Museum of Modern Art to Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park 4P and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Around 161 kilometres south of Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast is another favourite stop in Australia. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at SkyPoint Observation Deck, Pacific Airshow and Pacific Airshow Gold Coast.
