Typical Southbank taxi fares range from $12 to $87, depending on your destination and the time of day. See the exact figure for your trip below, or use the calculator for a specific address.
| Destination | Typical Fare | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD | $12-$16 | 3-4km |
| Melbourne Airport | $61-$87 | 29-33km |
| St Kilda | $17-$24 | 6-7km |
Fare estimates last updated: September 2026
Enter your actual pickup and drop-off addresses for a rough fare estimate based on distance. Actual fares depend on traffic, tariff timing, tolls and route taken — this is a guide only, not a guaranteed price.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Why Southbank Generates Taxi Demand
Southbank sits across the Yarra River from Melbourne’s CBD and draws a steady mix of arts patrons, business visitors and casino guests, each with different taxi needs depending on the time of day and what they are carrying with them.
Arts and Entertainment Crowds
Arts Centre Melbourne and the Melbourne Recital Centre programme performances that let out at set times, sending large numbers of people onto the street at once looking for a way home. Unlike a scheduled tram, a taxi can be called or hailed right when a show finishes, which matters most on cold nights or when a performance runs late and connecting transport has thinned out.
Casino and Business Traffic
Crown Casino operates around the clock, and its visitors do not keep the same hours as public transport. Taxis are the practical option for guests arriving or leaving in the early hours, as well as for business travellers moving between meetings, hotels and the CBD with luggage or on a tight schedule. Between the entertainment precinct and the casino, Southbank produces demand that is spread across the day rather than concentrated in a single commuter peak.
Getting To and From Southbank by Taxi
Southbank is immediately adjacent to Flinders Street Station across the Yarra River, and the area is also served by trams, which together cover the short trip into central Melbourne well for most of the day.
Where Public Transport Works Well
For a straightforward trip into the CBD, walking across to Flinders Street Station or picking up a tram is often the quickest and cheapest option, particularly during the day when services run frequently and the walk is short.
Where a Taxi Makes More Sense
The gaps appear late at night, when carrying luggage or event equipment, or when travelling somewhere trams and trains do not reach directly, such as Melbourne Airport or a St Kilda address away from the tram line. There is no verified toll detail specific to the Southbank–CBD corridor beyond what individual route pages state, so travellers should check the relevant route page for that trip. A taxi from a kerb outside the Arts Centre or Crown Casino also avoids the walk to the station, which matters after a late show or in poor weather.
Taxi vs Train from Southbank
For the short hop into Melbourne CBD, the train from the adjacent Flinders Street Station or a tram will usually beat a taxi on cost, and a taxi fare of $12-$16 for that same 3-4km trip is really a convenience purchase rather than a necessity. Rideshare via Uber or DiDi sits in a similar range on non-surge pricing, roughly $17-$63 depending on distance, so it is worth comparing both before booking. Where a taxi earns its cost is on trips the rail network does not serve directly, such as Melbourne Airport at $61-$87 for 29-33km, or St Kilda at $17-$24 for 6-7km, particularly with luggage, in a group, or late at night when waiting for connections adds real time and hassle to the journey.