Cheap ways to get to the airport from five major Australian cities

Going on a holiday feels great but often we forget all about getting to and from the airport. At the last minute, we’ll grab a cab and end up spending a bucket-load – not a nice start to a getaway.

Otherwise, we’ll go on the airport trains or buses and end up spending $20 each way, coerce by a seemingly good deal.

However, there are other, much cheaper ways to get to the airport if you want to save money and have a bit of time spare. Travel at 60 has done the hard work for you and found the cheapest way to get to every major airport in Australia.

We’ll start in the CBD otherwise we’ll be here all day!

1. Melbourne

Where: CBD to the Tullamarine Airport

What you usually pay: Around $50 for taxi or $18 for the SkyBus

The cheapest way: Starting in the CBD, take the Craigieburn line train and get off at Broadmeadows, then catch the 901 bus to the airport. It terminates next to Terminal 1 (used by Qantas and Jetstar), and you can walk to the international and other domestic terminals.

How long it takes: Around 50 minutes from the city

Cost: Around $4 for concession card holders, and $6 for adults  *need Myki card*

2. Sydney

Where: CBD to Sydney Airport

What you usually pay: Around $50 for a taxi or $17 (adult)/$13.60 (concession) for the airport train

The cheapest way: Catch an Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line train from Central, Town Hall or Martin Place stations and get off at Bondi Junction. From the Bondi Junction Interchange take a route 400 bus towards Burwood. This bus stop at both the Domestic and International terminals at Sydney Airport.

How long it takes: Approximately 1 hour and 15 mins

Cost: $2.93 for concession card holders, and $5.86 for adults *need Opal card

3. Brisbane

Where: CBD to Brisbane Airport

What you usually pay: Around $45 for a taxi and $17 for the Airtrain

The cheapest way: Take a train from Central Station to Toombul station, on the Shorncliffe and Caboolture lines. Walk across to the shopping centre bus interchange, and board the 590 bus towards Garden City. Get off at Skygate shopping centre and take the free orange TBus shuttles to the Domestic and International Terminals.

How long it takes: Approximately an hour

Cost: $2.33 concession go card peak/$1.86 off peak or adult $4.66 go card peak/$3.72 off peak – single paper tickets are $6.70 for adults and $3.30 for concession card holders

4. Adelaide

Where: CBD to Adelaide Airport

What you usually pay: around $20 for a taxi and $10 for the shuttle bus

The cheapest way: Catch the J1 or J2 bus from any bus stop on the south side of Grenfell and Currie Streets and it will take you straight to the airport.

How long it takes: Around half an hour

Cost: $2.60 paper ticket/$1.67 on the Metro Card for concession or $5.10 paper ticket/$3.39 on the Metro Card for adults

5. Perth

Where: CBD to Perth Airport

What you usually pay: Around $40 for a taxi and $15 for the shuttle bus

The cheapest way: There’s two – either take the route 40 bus from the Esplanade Busport, or a route 37 bus from stop 10121 near the corner of St Georges Terrace and William Street. Both terminate at the Domestic Terminal and you can catch the regular free shuttle bus to the International Terminal if you need to.

How long it takes: Around an hour and a half

Cost: $4.40, or $3.74 using Transperth’s SmartRider card.

Hobart, Darwin and Canberra travellers, your cheapskate options were really complicated, but there are cheap (around $10) shuttle buses that can be caught from the city to the airport.

Do you have any tips on cheaper ways to get to the airport? Post your comments below.

This article was originally published as The cheapest ways to get to the airport in Australia…without catching a cab.