If this is your first time landing at Melbourne Airport, some of what you're about to encounter won't match your expectations from other cities. Taxis here are regulated differently from a New York yellow cab. The touts in arrivals look different from Delhi touts. Tipping isn't a thing. And the Uber pickup system has a quirk nobody in your home country probably warned you about.
This is the quick orientation for international arrivals at Tullamarine. What to expect, what to avoid, and the cultural things that trip people up.
The basics, in the order you'll encounter them
You'll land at Terminal 2 (if international). Clear customs — it usually takes 20 to 40 minutes after a long-haul flight. Collect your bags from the international baggage hall. Walk out the sliding doors into the main arrivals area.
Someone may approach you. This is the tout problem. I've written about it extensively. The short version: anyone offering you a ride while you're still inside the terminal is breaking the law. Say "no thanks, I've booked" and keep walking.
The real taxi rank is outside. Kerbside, straight ahead as you exit arrivals. There's usually a rank supervisor in a high-vis vest during the day. You join the queue.
Uber has its own pickup zone, signposted separately from the taxi rank. If you've booked an Uber, follow the pickup signs, not the taxi signs.
What Melbourne taxis actually look like
This might be the biggest surprise for first-time visitors.
Most Melbourne taxis are regular-looking sedans with yellow roofs — Toyota Camrys, Holden Commodores, Hyundai i30s. Some SUVs. Nothing distinctive beyond the roof colour, the rooftop sign showing the taxi number, and the regulated plates.
They don't look like London black cabs. They don't look like Tokyo crown-shaped taxis. They don't look like New York Crown Victoria yellow cabs. They look like family cars with a light on top.
See your exact fare — enter your suburb
Fixed price, all tolls and GST included. No card required.
That's normal. Don't let the ordinariness fool you — these are the registered cabs.
What it costs
Airport to Melbourne CBD: about A$65 to A$95 depending on time of day, route, and traffic. Full breakdown here.
In international comparison:
- Cheaper than London (Heathrow → central London is £50–£100+)
- Cheaper than New York (JFK → Manhattan is $70–$90 plus $12+ tolls plus 20%+ tip)
- Similar to Sydney (Sydney Airport → CBD is A$50–70)
- More expensive than most Asian cities (Singapore, KL, Bangkok all run cheaper)
The A$4.78 airport access fee is tiny compared to some other airports (Heathrow charges £7+ in various forms, JFK charges $8+).
Payment
Australian dollars. Not USD, GBP, EUR, or anything else. Exchange currency at the airport kiosks in arrivals before leaving the terminal, or use a foreign card.
Foreign cards work. Every Melbourne taxi accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Amex through the EFTPOS terminal. Your home bank will add an international transaction fee (usually 1–3%) on top of the local 4% card surcharge. Still easier than converting cash.
Chip and PIN, not tap. Detailed in the scams post. Insert your card, type your PIN. Skip the contactless tap because of a localised card-skimming issue.
Apple Pay and Google Pay work and are safe, because they use tokenised device codes rather than your real card number.
Tipping
Don't tip. Round up, maybe.
Australia doesn't have a tipping culture. Unlike the US, your driver's income isn't dependent on gratuities. The fare is the fare, and tipping is not expected.
Some travellers round up to the nearest $5 or $10 as a small courtesy. $4 tip on an $82 fare is the local maximum people might feel inclined to add. Zero tip is completely normal and doesn't cause offence.
Do not tip 15 to 20% unless you really, genuinely want to. It makes the Aussie driver uncomfortable.
The Uber difference
Uber is widely available in Melbourne, including at the airport. But the airport pickup is different from most other cities.
Melbourne Airport runs a 6-digit PIN system for Uber pickups. When you book, the app shows a 6-digit code. You read it to the driver, and they enter it to confirm the match. Only then does the trip start.
Why this matters:
- Defends against Uber impersonation at arrivals. Touts in Melbourne have been known to hold handwritten name cards pretending to be someone's Uber. The PIN kills this scam.
- Your actual Uber driver will ask for the PIN, always. If a "driver" doesn't ask for a PIN at the airport, they're not your Uber.
The Uber pickup zone is separate from the taxi rank. Signs direct you. The walk from international arrivals takes about 5 to 7 minutes.
What the drivers are like
English is the default language. Almost all Melbourne taxi drivers speak enough English to handle a fare. Many are first- or second-generation Australians, often from South Asian or Middle Eastern backgrounds. They know the city well.
Most drivers are friendly, professional, and honest. A small percentage are less so — the same distribution as any other industry. If you suspect anything off, the complaint system exists and is used.
Don't expect the stereotype of "chatty cabbie telling stories". Some drivers do, others are quiet. Match the energy they set.
Distance and time expectations
Melbourne is bigger than you might expect. The airport is 22 km from the CBD, which is a significant drive — not a 10-minute hop like Sydney Airport to the Sydney CBD.
Typical times from the airport:
- CBD: 25 to 45 minutes
- Inner suburbs (Carlton, Fitzroy): similar, 25 to 40 minutes
- Outer suburbs (Brighton, Box Hill): 40 to 60 minutes
- Geelong: 70 to 80 minutes
- Avalon Airport: 55 to 65 minutes
In peak hours (4pm to 7pm weekdays, or Friday/Sunday evenings), add 15 to 25 minutes.
Cultural pointers
A few things that might not be obvious.
- Seating: Australian default is the back seat for solo passengers. The front is fine for groups or if the driver gestures to it.
- Safety belts: mandatory, every seat, every trip. The driver won't move until you're buckled in.
- Drinking water in the cab: fine. Eating a full meal: not fine.
- Asking "are you from here?" is a standard friendly opener. Asking personal questions about family or home country is common and usually genuine curiosity, not probing.
- "G'day" is a real greeting. Some drivers use it. Don't cringe.
What not to do
- Don't accept a ride from someone inside the terminal. They're not a legitimate taxi.
- Don't agree to "flat rate" quotes from random drivers. Use the meter or a pre-booked fixed fare.
- Don't pay in US dollars. Australian dollars or card.
- Don't tip 20%. Rounding up is the most it will feel normal.
- Don't leave your bag unattended with a stranger claiming to be "helping you find a taxi". This has happened — drop-and-go scams exist.
The simple version
Walk out of arrivals. Ignore anyone who talks to you inside. Go to the outdoor taxi rank or the Uber pickup zone. Confirm the meter is on (rank) or read the 6-digit PIN (Uber). Pay with card (chip-and-PIN) or Australian cash. Get dropped at your hotel. Don't tip more than a few dollars.
That's it. Melbourne taxis are regulated, generally safe, and similar in price to most Western cities. The three things that catch visitors out are the indoor touts, the no-tipping culture, and the card-skimming risk — and all three have simple workarounds.
Welcome to Melbourne.