Travelling from Los Angeles to Melbourne: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can fly out of in Los Angeles. Explore your options departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY) when booking your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne.
Hop off the plane at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), the primary gateway of Melbourne.
Around 15 hours 55 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct Los Angeles to Melbourne flight.
The timezone in Melbourne is UTC+11, which is 18 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
The most popular route for flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne is from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Take your pick of 12 services every week between these two airports. If you want to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from LAX to MEL is the 20:35 Qantas option. If you prefer to travel later, the latest available service is at 23:30 with Qantas.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your Los Angeles to Melbourne flight.
Travelling during a popular month like July? Major public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne
To snag cheap Los Angeles to Melbourne flights, book your journey five months before your planned departure.
August is the best month for nabbing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Los Angeles to Melbourne. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne.
Select your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Los Angeles to Melbourne flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Jet off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. From LAX, you can land directly at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
Top airlines that offer direct Los Angeles to Melbourne plane tickets departing from LAX include:
We make it a breeze to find a Los Angeles to Melbourne flight with a stopover. To see all your options departing from Los Angeles International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight with a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Auckland Airport (AKL)
The journey from central Los Angeles to LAX takes about 55 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want an easy start to your holiday? Stay near Los Angeles International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Los Angeles International Airport has an excellent on-time record, making delays less likely. Departures from LAX make it to their destination as scheduled 81.05% of the time.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is approximately 19 kilometres. It'll take you about 30 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It usually takes 40 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Check in to one of these accommodation options near MEL instead:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt to explore Melbourne and beyond.
Booking your vehicle from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport around four weeks ahead gives you the best shot at securing a great deal.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
As soon as your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne has landed, you can get to the city centre in around 50 minutes by car. Central Melbourne is approximately 48 kilometres from Avalon Airport (AVV).
The trip will take approximately 2 hours 5 minutes on public transport.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with an Avalon Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental or yesaway car hire and make a speedy getaway.
Secure your first choice, not your last resort. Reserving your ride from AVV three weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Essendon Airport (MEB) is around 11 kilometres from central Melbourne. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to the city centre by ride-share or cab once you've stepped off your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne.
The journey will take about 1 hour 15 minutes when travelling by public transport.
Begin your trip without worrying about how to get to your next stop with an Essendon Airport rental car. You can book a set of wheels from trusted names here like East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar.
Booking a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne is always a good idea. As well as better prices, you'll get a better selection of vehicle makes and models at MEB.
Best time to go to Melbourne
It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. January is the most popular month to visit Melbourne. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in April.
Book a Los Angeles to Melbourne ticket departing in January if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Melbourne to range from 12ºC to 29ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne in July when temperatures average between 4ºC and 13ºC.
More about Melbourne
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Melbourne right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne:
All great journeys should include some sightseeing. Federation Square, National Gallery of Victoria and Eureka Skydeck 88 are attractions you won't want to skip in Melbourne.
Explore more of Australia
Melbourne is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other corners of Australia waiting to be explored. About 467 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, a trip to Canberra will keep you on the go. Start with leading attractions like Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.
Geelong is another favourite destination in Australia and is around 64 kilometres south-west of Melbourne. No journey is complete without a visit to Ford Motor Company, Roraima Nursery and RTC Resource Centre.