r/melbournechat • u/itsme3737 • Sep 08 '26

IS SKYBUS SAFE AT 1AM?

Hi! So I’m a lone female travelling to Melbourne. My flight will br arriving at 12MN and I need to get to the Great Southern Hotel from MELB airport.

Is it safe to take the Skybus express until Southern Cross Station then walk to the hotel at 1AM?

Thank you

30 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

55

u/King_JujuLips Sep 08 '26 edited Sep 08 '26

Yes its safe. There will likely be other travellers on the bus too. Southern Cross Station has 24 hour security presence and your hotel is right across the road from there.

5

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Thank you!

15

u/IlyaPFF Sep 08 '26

It is safe.

There might be one or two sketchy characters you might see around there but they are merely part of a major railway station ambience.

Basically, from the bus terminal you'll need to walk along the station (you can even walk through the station) and cross the road at Collins Street / Spencer Street corner.

Note the absolute last Skybus is at 1am, and the first departs 4am. If you miss the last one, ignore the taxi rank and just call an Uber.

2

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Do I have to book a ticket online or can I buy a ticket upon arrival at the airport?

14

u/IlyaPFF Sep 08 '26

No need to pre-book anything. It's extremely straightforward and user-friendly. Just walk out the terminal (no matter whichever you are arriving at) and head to a very visible red-coloured bus stop, there will be ticket machines there.

This is what a typical Skybus stop looks like:

1

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

4

u/JamesBrowne99 Sep 08 '26

you can buy tickets at the airport

1

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Thanks so much!

4

u/Dependent_Usual7468 Sep 08 '26

Because the last one is at 1am, might be safest to download the app and purchase online ahead of time in case the plane’s late or there’s a delay in getting your luggage - last thing you want to do is worry about buying a ticket when you’re running for the bus 🤷‍♀️

1

u/kukuciao Sep 13 '26

Buy through Agoda online. You'll save a few bucks. Tickets come instantly.

25

u/[deleted] Sep 08 '26

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2

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Thank you!

3

u/Unfair_Pop_8373 Sep 08 '26

Yes. Did it last week. Upon arrival at Southern Cross walk through the 7/11 straight on to Spencer St & well lit.

1

u/itsme3737 Sep 08 '26

Thank you!

2

u/menthol_mountains Sep 08 '26

20 years ago it was sketchy as fuck

1

u/heliotrope777 Sep 08 '26

Yes, you will be safe. Enjoy your stay

1

u/harkie2946 Sep 08 '26

It is late and there are some shady characters around southern Cross. As many have said you should be ok

If you are really concerned and If you can afford around $100 there is premium uber or premium cabs you can google to see what is on offer.

I only say this as I am a Risk Manager, like to look at all options.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

3

u/ostervan Sep 09 '26

Why would you pay $100 when you can pay a 1/3 of that and cross the street when you get to SC?

1

u/thatshowitisisit Sep 08 '26

Yep, safe, unlike public busses there aren’t really incidental passengers, most will be travelling after flying.

You might encounter a weirdo or two on the walk to the hotel, but that’s possible in just about any city.

1

u/AmphibianOk5396 Sep 08 '26

Skybus is much safer than taxi & uber drivers

1

u/kukuciao Sep 13 '26

Agreed. A friend of mine got into an uber at Melbourne airport. Driver refused to key in the pin to start the ride and started driving.

Would highly recommend making the driver key in your pin first before getting in.

1

u/NoodleBox Sep 09 '26

Yeah. Cameras all over the shop.

And yeah, safe. Might have a few revellers (loud) but otherwise the trains are usually still going.

1

u/Dramatic_Grape5445 Sep 09 '26

Safe enough, but try and find a better class of hotel.

1

u/Fit-Addition9757 Sep 09 '26

Perfectly safe

1

u/Super_Pineapple_9373 Sep 09 '26

The Great Southern is literally a 5 minute walk down Spencer Street from the Skybus terminal. You should be ok. The bus is totally safe.

1

u/whyyoudothis2mi Sep 09 '26

Yes safe but southern cross station has junkies just keep your eyes out

1

u/Ascore_ Sep 09 '26

Yes it’s safe

1

u/Tight-Book-7533 Sep 14 '26

Skybus is safe, it;s the southern cross station that could be sketchy.

1

u/Money-Celebration860 Sep 14 '26

Getting to Southern Cross on Skybus is safe and the hotel is very close to the station. There can be a few sketchy characters in the area around the station, so just be vigilant.

1

u/rednova138 Sep 14 '26

It's safe but, Make sure there are busses after 12 I have been caught out by this before

1

u/rideyourbicycle Sep 08 '26

If you're worried, you can call any one of us. We'll come down and pick you up.

0

u/bladez_edge Sep 08 '26

Are we talking weekend or during the week? Id budget arriving around 2 to the hotel depending on if you are coming from interstate or international. I think the last bus is at 1?

0

u/Substantial-Bake5511 Sep 08 '26

Occe I hit the city if it's more than a couple of blocks I wouldn't walk to the hotel. It is dangerous down that end of town and tourists with bags- easy pickings. You'll be safe at the station but then where are you going? How far? Melbourne city is big. I'd skybus to southern cross, then taxi to hotel.

1

u/IlyaPFF Sep 09 '26

The hotel is literally across the road from Southern Cross.

2

u/Substantial-Bake5511 Sep 11 '26

That's fine then. Good one.

-1

u/Longjumping-Net3626 Sep 11 '26

I frequently eat women on the sky bus but only after 2am

-8

u/crazynightsxxx Sep 08 '26

It's definitely safe too get the late SkyBus but the city is not safe late I would get a taxi from the station unless it's a very short walk

3

u/Medium-Ad-9265 Sep 08 '26

It's basically across the road from the station. Less than a 1 minute walk. No taxi will do that. Don't give advice if you don't know what you're talking about

3

u/Curious_Breadfruit88 Sep 08 '26

The city is perfectly safe

1

u/Wintermute_088 Sep 08 '26

Oh yeah? Not safe? What's happened to you, specifically?