Travelling from Los Angeles to Melbourne: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll catch your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are Los Angeles's main airports.
Come in for landing at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), the chief entry point to Melbourne.
The average time for a direct Los Angeles to Melbourne flight is 15 hours 55 minutes.
The timezone in Melbourne is UTC+11, which is 18 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to {"defaultCase":"Melbourne Tullamarine Airport","accusativeCase":"Melbourne Tullamarine Airport","nominativeCase":"Melbourne Tullamarine Airport","dativeCase":"Melbourne Tullamarine Airport"} (MEL) is the most popular route. When booking your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, you can choose from 12 weekly services between LAX and MEL.
To ensure you don't miss your Los Angeles to Melbourne flight, allow plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Peak months like July or high seasons such as spring break and Christmas will mean longer queues at check-in and security. Travelling then? Play it safe and head to the airport even earlier. Arriving two hours before domestic flights and four hours ahead of an international departure is a smart idea.
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)
Set out from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne. From LAX, you can fly directly into Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
Top airlines that offer direct Los Angeles to Melbourne plane tickets departing from LAX include:
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and perhaps even tour another city. When searching for Los Angeles to Melbourne flights departing from Los Angeles International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Auckland Airport (AKL)
LAX is about 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 55 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your journey? Stay near Los Angeles International Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are the answer:
81.05% of flights departing from Los Angeles International Airport reach their destination on schedule. With its dependable on-time performance, you're unlikely to be delayed when taking off from LAX.
The address for LAX is One World Way.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is approximately 19 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 30 minutes.
It typically takes 40 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you have a late flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these hotels near MEL:
Travel at your own speed with a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt and discover more of Melbourne and beyond.
Secure the lowest price by booking your vehicle from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport around four weeks before your departure date.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
The centre of Melbourne is approximately 48 kilometres from Avalon Airport (AVV). After your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne has touched down and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 50 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take about 2 hours 5 minutes on public transport.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with an Avalon Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental or yesaway car hire and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Reserving your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at AVV can land you a better rate.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Essendon Airport (MEB) is around 11 kilometres from central Melbourne. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the city centre in a car once you've stepped off your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne.
If you travel by public transport, the journey will take you about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Start your travels without stressing over how to get to your next stop with an Essendon Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with trusted companies here like East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar.
Booking at least a few weeks ahead of your flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne is a smart move. As well as better deals, you'll likely have a better variety of makes and models to choose from 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
Once you've booked your flight from Los Angeles 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 a couple of leading attractions to add to your Melbourne must-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Eureka Skydeck 88.
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.
