Traveling from Melbourne to Thredbo: A Budget-Friendly Route and Honest Reflections

Today, I want to share how I traveled from Melbourne to Thredbo. A few months ago, after a job interview, I was lucky enough to receive an offer to work in Thredbo, New South Wales. That’s when I decided that after wrapping up my time in Melbourne, Thredbo would be my next stop.

Some of you might remember I recently took a short holiday in Boracay. Well, right after returning to Melbourne, I stayed one night at a friend’s place and the very next day, I was off again, this time to Thredbo!

To save money and also experience long-distance bus travel in Australia, I decided to go overland. I booked a two-part journey:

• Melbourne to Canberra (AUD 145.14)
• Canberra to Thredbo (AUD 114)

In total, the trip took about 11 hours and 30 minutes (8 hours + 3.5 hours). I had originally considered taking the train, but I didn’t plan ahead (I bought my tickets less than 2 days before departure), only the bus option was available. Ironically, I realized both tickets I bought were from the same bus company!

On my last day in Melbourne, my friend accompanied me to Southern Cross Station. We chatted for over an hour at the station, and when it was time to board, she helped me load my luggage onto the bus. After a quick hug goodbye, I got on.

The bus platform at Southern Cross Station(Bay 55)

It was only when I sat down on that bus that it really hit me: I was leaving the city I had lived in for over seven months, a city where I had gone through so much and met so many people. A wave of emotion hit me, a mix of sadness, reflection, and excitement for what was ahead. I realized that this is what life is all about: constantly writing new stories, turning the page, and embracing all the unknowns, both the good and the bad — as part of the journey.

The bus left on time at 10 p.m., and I found the seat quite comfortable. I noticed that if you were a solo traveler like me, they didn’t assign another person beside you, which meant extra space! That’s always a win on long-distance trips, especially when you’re carrying bulky backpacks.

I prepared everything well for long distance trip(food,water,coat…)

Maybe because I was still adjusting from jet leg, I didn’t sleep very well during the 8-hour ride. Somewhere along the way, the bus stopped at Hungry Jack’s for a short break, but I stayed on board to enjoy the heater. At exactly 6 a.m., we arrived in Canberra.

the bus stopped at Hungry Jack’s for a short break

Just before we got off, the driver kindly reminded everyone, “It’s going to be cold outside, so dress warmly. Hats and gloves on!” At that moment, I thought to myself, “Come on, I survived Melbourne’s insane weather, how bad can it be?” Well… the moment I stepped off the bus, that cold wind hit me hard. I mentally apologized to the driver, he was right. It was freezing!

Thankfully, Jolimont Centre (the bus terminal) was already open. I went inside to wait for my next bus, which was scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m. Since there were many people coming and going, I didn’t dare fall asleep. I was worried I might miss my bus or lose track of my luggage.

Jolimont Centre (the bus terminal) in Canberra

To warm up, I bought a hot chocolate from a small bakery inside the station and paired it with a piece of bread I had brought from Melbourne. Simple, but comforting. Around 10 a.m., the next bus arrived early. I saw some passengers getting off and quickly asked the driver if this was the bus heading to Thredbo. He said yes, so I rushed to grab my luggage and got on board, not just out of excitement, but also for the warmth of the heater!

After enduring 8 hours of travel the night before, this final 3.5 hours stretch felt much easier. I spent most of the ride just gazing out the window. The scenery slowly shifted from urban landscapes to mountain views, and I loved it. Maybe that’s also why I chose the bus over a flight, there’s something beautiful about watching the scenery change, about being grounded in the journey.

the scenery in this trip(Canberra to Thredbo)

I know flights are faster and more convenient, but what I gained from this long bus ride — the people, the views, the emotions — are what make this experience memorable. You can’t get that at 30,000 feet.

The snow mountains are in Thredbo

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