There are 3 ways to get from Melbourne to Tawau by plane or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Tawau Airport
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Tawau Airport (TWU)plane MEL - TWU
15h 21mRM 1,428–3,443Fly to Kota Kinabalu Airport, bus
cheapest- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane MEL - BKI
- Take the bus from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau Terminal Bus Sri Indahbus
26h 24mRM 1,195–2,325Fly to Sandakan Airport, bus
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane MEL - SDK
- Take the bus from Stesen Bas Sandakan to Stesen Bas Express Tawaubus
22h 47mRM 1,538–2,456
Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Tawau Airport (TWU) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Tawau is to fly and bus which costs RM 1100 - RM 2400 and takes 26h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Tawau is to fly which takes 15h 21m and costs RM 1400 - RM 3500.
The distance between Melbourne and Tawau is 5475 km.
It takes approximately 15h 21m to get from Melbourne to Tawau, including transfers.
Tawau is 3h behind Melbourne. It is currently 6:57 AM in Melbourne and 3:57 AM in Tawau.
There are 111+ hotels available in Tawau.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Tawau, Malaysia?
Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and three other airlines fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Tawau Airport (TWU) 3 times a day.
- Website
- malaysiaairlines.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Tawau Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 1,300–4,900
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 1,200–4,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 1,100–4,300
- Website
- singaporeair.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Tawau Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- When
- Monday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,300–3,300
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 37m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,000–6,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Sandakan Airport via Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 55m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,300–6,500
- Website
- malindoair.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Tawau Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 18h
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,400–3,600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 37m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,100–3,100
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Tawau Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 10m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,400–3,600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 1,300–4,300
- Website
- flyscoot.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,000–2,200
- Phone
- +60 88-440 337
- Website
- transtedar.com
Bus from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau Terminal Bus Sri Indah
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 8m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- RM 95–120
- Schedules at
- transtedar.com
- Book at
- easybook.com
- Phone
- +60 198072570
- Website
- redbus.my
Bus from Stesen Bas Sandakan to Stesen Bas Express Tawau
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 21m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- RM 45–60
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Want to know more about travelling around Malaysia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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