Sydney to Melbourne flight path: SYD to MEL

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sydney to Melbourne. The left side strings together the only genuinely scenic elements of this short flight: the Sydney coastline and Royal National Park cliffs at takeoff, a distant look at the Australian Alps foothills during cruise, and Port Phillip Bay with the Melbourne skyline on arrival. The right side offers mostly flat, undistinguished farmland and suburban sprawl for the whole flight.

During takeoff from Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the more common southerly departure out of Sydney, the climb-out tracks directly over Botany Bay and then down the Pacific coast past Cronulla and the sandstone cliffs of Royal National Park before the aircraft turns inland toward Melbourne. The right side only sees Sydney's flat western suburbs with no coastline or landmarks. Notable sights include: Botany Bay and Sydney Airport's runways, Cronulla beaches, Royal National Park coastal cliffs, Pacific Ocean horizon.

When landing at Melbourne International (MEL), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into Melbourne, the aircraft typically tracks in from the northeast and turns onto final for the north-south runway, putting Port Phillip Bay, the Melbourne CBD skyline, and the Yarra River mouth on the left side of the cabin. The right side during this turn mostly faces flat outer suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne CBD skyline, Yarra River mouth, Mornington Peninsula in the distance.

The flight from Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Melbourne International (MEL) takes 1h25m.

The flight path clips the eastern foothills of the Australian Alps (Snowy Mountains) near the NSW-Victoria border before crossing the forested Gippsland region on the descent toward Melbourne.