Find Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Townsville – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Melbourne to Townsville:

• Earliest: departs at 11:30 and lands at 14:30
• Latest: departs at 17:25 and lands at 20:25.

The flight takes about 3h.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Melbourne to Townsville:

• Economy class
• Business Class

A direct flight from Melbourne to Townsville takes 3h, covering 3,331 km.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Melbourne to Townsville range from $301 to $503, with an average of $383 over the past 12 months. Anything below $301 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 34% above the $383 route average. Book 9 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average $337 return, compared with $556 via a stopover through Brisbane (BNE).

Jetstar is the only airline operating Melbourne to Townsville flights. 65% of its flights are on time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $35–$110 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Melbourne to Townsville flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 50%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

Townsville Airport (TSV) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $36 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Bargain Car Rentals
• Budget
• Thrifty
• Europcar
• Avis

Flights from Melbourne to Townsville may depart from several airports in Melbourne area, including Melbourne Avalon (AVV), Melbourne Moorabbin (MBW), Melbourne Essendon (MEB) and Melbourne (MEL). Flights usually arrive at Townsville (TSV).

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Melbourne to Townsville route, 35% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 41m.

Connecting flights from Melbourne to Townsville most commonly pass through:

• Brisbane (BNE) – 99% of one-stop connections
• Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) – 1% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 18% on flights from Melbourne to Townsville. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $353 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $428, a difference of $75.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

2 airlines operate flights between Melbourne and Townsville. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Jetstar
• Qantas Airways

Flying via Brisbane (BNE) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 5h 50m, compared to 6h 02m via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD).

Townsville is 1 hour behind Melbourne (Eastern Australia Time vs Eastern Australia Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Jetstar: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.