Flying from San Diego to Melbourne: what you need to know
San Diego's main base, San Diego International Airport (SAN), is where many unforgettable trips begin. Explore your departure options from here for your flight from San Diego to Melbourne.
Come in for landing at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), the chief entry point to Melbourne.
Melbourne's timezone is UTC+11, which makes Melbourne 18 hours ahead of San Diego.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your San Diego to Melbourne flight.
Travelling during a peak time like July? High seasons (like Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year and spring break) can easily add an hour at check-in and security. Be extra safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Melbourne
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap San Diego to Melbourne flights if you book early. Airlines often offer some amazing early bird discounts.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from San Diego to Melbourne across the entire month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your dates are flexible.
Locking in a cheap flight from San Diego to Melbourne is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.
Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your San Diego to Melbourne flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for San Diego to Melbourne flights departing from San Diego International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Located around 3 kilometres from the centre of San Diego, SAN can be reached in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 20 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel near San Diego International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from San Diego to Melbourne, these accommodation options will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
Of all flights leaving San Diego International Airport, 71.38% land on schedule at their destination.
You'll find SAN at N Harbour Dr.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is approximately 19 kilometres. It takes around 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 40 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from San Diego to Melbourne. Reserve one of these accommodation options near MEL instead:
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.
Get the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport about four weeks before your trip.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
Avalon Airport (AVV) is roughly 48 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. Once you've disembarked your flight from San Diego to Melbourne, it'll take you approximately 50 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
The journey will take approximately 2 hours 5 minutes on public transport.
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or cab lines. Pick up an Avalon Airport rental car and take your journey in whatever direction you like. Compare offers from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental and yesaway car hire.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from AVV three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Essendon Airport (MEB) is around 11 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to the city centre in a ride-share or cab after your flight from San Diego to Melbourne.
If you travel by public transport, expect a journey of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Whether you'd like an economy for a solo trip or a roomy SUV to transport your group, you'll find the ideal Essendon Airport rental car for your needs. Browse wheels available here from suppliers such as East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar.
Rental providers sometimes offer deals for early bookings, so reserve your vehicle from MEB a few weeks in advance of your flight from San Diego to Melbourne. A little prep work can make a big difference in cost.
Best time to go to Melbourne
It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from San Diego to Melbourne. January is the busiest month for a trip 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 San Diego to Melbourne ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap flights from San Diego to Melbourne in July if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 4ºC (39ºF) and 13ºC (55ºF) on average.
More about Melbourne
After booking your flight from San Diego to Melbourne, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Melbourne:
Federation Square and National Gallery of Victoria are just the start of the leading attractions to add to your Melbourne to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Eureka Skydeck 88.
Explore more of Australia
Melbourne has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Australia waiting to be discovered. About 467 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, a trip to Canberra will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.
Geelong is another must-experience destination in Australia and is around 64 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. No trip is complete without dropping by Ford Motor Company, Roraima Nursery and RTC Resource Centre.