Compare: Sydney→Melbourne (713 km) vs Sydney→Brisbane (732 km). Sydney → Melbourne wins by 19 km (3%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
713 km
443 miles · Flight: ~1h 23min · Drive: ~11h 35min
✓ Shorter route
732 km
455 miles · Flight: ~1h 25min · Drive: ~11h 54min
Difference: 19 km (3%) · Flight time difference: ~2 min
Verdict
Sydney → Melbourne is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 19 km (3%) shorter, saves about 2 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 5 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Sydney → Brisbane only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Sydney → Melbourne is the shorter route at 713 km, which is 19 km (3%) shorter than Sydney → Brisbane. You would save approximately 2 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Sydney → Melbourne | Sydney → Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 713 | 732 |
| Distance (miles) | 443 | 455 |
| Flight time | ~1h 23min | ~1h 25min |
| Driving time | ~11h 35min | ~11h 54min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~927 km | ~952 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 230° (SW) | 14° (NNE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~182 kg | ~187 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~159 kg | ~163 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$93 USD | ~$95 USD |
Flying from Sydney to Melbourne produces roughly 182 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Sydney → Brisbane flight emits about 187 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 5 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 0 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 159 kg and 163 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Sydney to Melbourne route covers 713 km (443 miles), staying within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is located in New South Wales, Australia, while Melbourne (population: 5,078,193) is in Victoria, Australia.
The Sydney to Brisbane route covers 732 km (455 miles), remaining within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia, and Brisbane (population: 2,560,720) is in Queensland, Australia.
Flying from Sydney to Melbourne takes approximately 1h 23min, while Sydney to Brisbane takes 1h 25min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 11h 35min for the first route and 11h 54min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Sydney, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Melbourne and Brisbane as a destination.
The 19 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 927 km and 952 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 25 km of driving.
Melbourne (Australia) has a population of 5,078,193 and is located in the Victoria region of Oceania. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Brisbane (Australia) has a population of 2,560,720 and is situated in Queensland, Oceania. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Melbourne (Australia) — a city of 5,078,193 in the Victoria region of Oceania. It is also the shorter option at 713 km, which translates to a 2 min flight-time saving and roughly 5 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 927 km of road and a fuel cost band around $93 USD. The initial bearing is 230° (SW), so a great-circle flight leaves Sydney heading roughly SW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Brisbane (Australia) — a city of 2,560,720 in the Queensland region of Oceania. Even though it is the longer route at 732 km, it remains the obvious pick when Brisbane is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Sydney are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 952 km of road and a fuel cost in the $95 USD range. Departing Sydney, the great-circle bearing toward Brisbane is 14° (NNE).
Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Melbourne (-37.81°, 144.96°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Brisbane (-27.47°, 153.03°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Melbourne is closer at 713 km, which is 19 km (3%) shorter.
713 km (443 miles). Flight: ~1h 23min.
732 km (455 miles). Flight: ~1h 25min.
Flying to Melbourne is faster at ~1h 23min, saving about 2 min compared to Brisbane.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.