Sydney and Melbourne are in southeastern Australia and are fairly close by national standards. The distance depends on whether you mean by air or by road.
Distance overview
By air, the straight-line distance between Sydney and Melbourne is roughly 700–715 kilometers, which is about 435–445 miles. By road on the main inland highway (Hume Highway/Freeway), the driving distance is about 840–880 kilometers, or roughly 520–550 miles.
Typical travel times
A direct flight between the two cities usually takes about 1.5 hours in the air. Driving the main route typically takes around 9 to 10 hours without long stops, depending on traffic and exact route.