Myki holders pay from about $5.30 on Public Bus Route 901
Public Bus Route 901 runs 24/7 between Melbourne Airport and the outer suburbs, linking straight into the suburban train network at Broadmeadows Station and other orbital stops. The stop sits outside T1, T2 and T3 on the forecourt, with clear "901 Frankston" signage. This is the cheapest Myki option off the forecourt if you’re heading toward Broadmeadows, Epping, Greensborough or all the way to Frankston.
A standard Zone 1+2 two-hour Myki fare currently sits around $5.30 for full-fare adults and about half that for concessions, and the 901 falls under that cap. Buses generally run every 15–30 minutes in daytime, stretching to roughly every 30–60 minutes late at night. Tap on at the front door reader as you board and tap off when you exit, just like any other PTV service across Melbourne.
The 901 stop is on the same side of the forecourt as SkyBus, roughly a two-minute walk from T2’s international arrivals exit if you follow the green "Buses" signs. From the airport, Broadmeadows Station sits about 20–25 minutes down the route in normal traffic, and you can then transfer to a Craigieburn line train into the CBD in around 30 minutes. That puts airport-to-city travel at roughly 55 minutes for less than $6 on a weekday.
Public Bus Route 901 runs through a long list of suburbs, including Roxburgh Park, Epping, South Morang, Greensborough, Doncaster and Dandenong before reaching Frankston Station at the other end. If you’re commuting to work near any of these orbital hubs, this bus often beats doubling back through Southern Cross by train. The full end-to-end route takes well over two hours, so check the PTV Journey Planner or app with your exact stop name and time.
Here’s how to use Public Bus Route 901 from MEL step by step:
- 1. Buy or top up a Myki card at the SkyBus ticket counters in T2 arrivals or at the WHSmith and Relay shops that advertise Myki, aiming for at least $10 credit.
- 2. Exit your terminal (T1, T2 or T3), follow the overhead "Buses" signs for about 150–200 meters, and look for the green Public Transport Victoria totems marked "901 Frankston".
- 3. Queue at the 901 stop and check the digital display showing the next departure time in minutes, then confirm the destination sign on the front of the bus reads "901 Frankston" before boarding.
- 4. Tap on with Myki at the front door validator when you board, then grab a seat toward the front if you’re getting off soon at Broadmeadows, usually about 7–10 stops from the airport.
- 5. Watch for your stop using the on-board screens that list the next stop name, or track the bus in the PTV app, and press the stop button one stop before Broadmeadows or your chosen interchange.
- 6. Tap off on exit at the rear or front validator so your fare calculates correctly, then follow station signs to the Craigieburn line platforms at Broadmeadows or the relevant train or bus bay at other hubs.
One practical tip: build a 15–20 minute buffer when pairing the 901 with train timetables at Broadmeadows, especially in the weekday peak between 7:00–9:00 and 16:30–18:30, when Mickleham Road and Pascoe Vale Road can slow the bus by a full cycle.