Getting Around Melbourne: A Guide

Melbourne's public transport system is called the “Met” offering tram, train and bus transport all on the one ticket. The system is divided into three zones, zone one being the inner city area. The city and inner suburbs are best viewed by tram, a unique Melbourne way to travel. The train network is extensive and includes lengthy suburban routes and an underground city loop. The bus network generally fills in the gaps left between the tram and train services. Taxis are numerous alas expensive, car-rental operators range from the usual international and nationally familiar names to the rent-a-bomb variety. Driving in Melbourne can be confusing especially the unique hook turns necessary in a city with trams. Traffic turning right must often do so from the left lane to avoid blocking tram tracks.

Melbourne's generally flat terrain renders cycling as a popular option for getting around, watch out for those tram tracks.

Arriving & Departing Melbourne By Air

MELBOURNE’S TULLAMARINE AIRPORT (MEL)
Phone: 03 9297 1600. Located 22 kilometres northwest of the central business district and easily reached from the city via the Tullamarine Freeway. The international terminal is in the center of the airport complex. Domestic terminals are on either side of the international terminal. Flying times are, from Los Angeles to Melbourne via Auckland, around 16 hours and from London to Melbourne, about 20½ hours via Singapore or Bangkok. Since flights from the United States to Australia cross the International Date Line, you lose a day on the outward leg of a journey west and regain that day on the return trip.

AIRLINES FLYING INTO MELBOURNE
International airlines flying into Melbourne include Air New Zealand, British Airways, Qantas, and United. Two domestic carriers serve Melbourne, Qantas and Virgin Blue.

Air New Zealand: Phone 13 2476
British Airways: Phone 03 9656 8133
Cathay Pacific: Phone 13 1747
Garuda: Phone: 1300 365 330
Japan Airlines: Phone 02 9272 1111
Lauda Air: Phone 02 9241 4277
Malaysia Airlines: Phone 13-2627
Qantas: Phone 13 1313
Singapore Airlines: Phone 13 1011
Thai Airways: Phone 1300 651 960
United: Phone 13 1777
Virgin Blue: Phone 13 6789

TRANSFERS between the AIRPORT & your ACCOMMODATION
Skybus: Phone 03 9335 3066. A public transportation bus service, which runs between the airport and city center, making a loop through the city before terminating at Spencer Street Train Station. The trip takes 20 minutes and costs $AU13 adult, $AU5 child 17 years and under, $AU26 family. There are two airport pickup locations. One is outside the South terminal occupied by Virgin Blue, 50m from the international terminal. The ticket desk is just inside the South terminal. The other ticket desk and shuttle stop are outside the Qantas domestic terminal, to the north of the international terminal. The $AU13 shuttle departs every 15 minutes from 06:00 am to midnight, then every half hour afterward. Airport-bound buses depart from Spencer Street at half-hour intervals from 06:00 am to midnight then at hourly intervals after that. They also run a connection service between the terminal and central hotels throughout the day Monday to Friday 06:00 am to 08:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday 08:00 am to 06:00 pm. Book hotel pick-up three hours ahead. Bookings are not needed for travel from the airport to hotels. If there are more than two in your party it becomes more economic getting a taxi.

By Car: The Melbourne CBD can be reached easily from the airport via the Tullamarine Freeway.

By Limousine: Limousines to the city cost around $AU160.

By Taxi: For three or more people traveling together, a taxi is the best value to or from the airport. You can catch a taxi in front of the terminal buildings. A taxi from the airport to the city will cost between US$AU24 and $AU30 depending on traffic.

By Bus: McCaffertys, Firefly Express and Greyhound Pioneer link Melbourne with all Australian capital cities and with all major cities and townships throughout Victoria. The coach terminal is located on the corner of Swanston and Franklin Streets. From Melbourne by coach it takes approximately 10 hours to Adelaide, 12 hours to Sydney, 50 hours to Perth and about 8 hours to Canberra.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria: Phone 13 1955 is the major source of information and breakdown assistance on all aspects of road travel in Victoria.

By Car: The major route into Melbourne is via the Hume Highway, which runs northeast to Canberra, 646 km distant and Sydney, which is 868 km away. The Princess Highway follows the coast to Sydney in one direction and to Adelaide, 728 km northwest of Melbourne, in the other direction. The Western Highway runs northwest 111 km to Ballarat and the Calder Highway travels north to Bendigo, a journey of 149 km. From Melbourne by car, it takes 10 to 12 hours to reach Sydney, about 9 hours to Adelaide, and about 1½ hours to Bendigo or Ballarat. Driving in the city shouldn't be attempted without at least a basic map! Melbourne has a great city road map, “Melways” which has won many international prizes for its excellent design and presentation. Most Melburnians will give you their “Melways” reference numbers along with their address on written invitations.

By Ship: P & O call regularly into all Australian ports. The company's huge Pacific Sky sails on 9 to 14 day cruises from Australian ports to various Pacific islands. Cunard and other fleet operators will invariably include Melbourne and other Australian ports in their round-the-world itineraries.

We recommend http://www.hotelrates.com for all your hotel reservations in and around Australia.

By Train: The Met, Melbourne’s public transport system, comprises trams servicing the central city and inner suburbs, trains servicing the suburbs radiating from the central Flinders Street Station and buses going where there are no tram or train tracks. The same ticket allows travel on all three modes. The Met Shop, Melbourne Town Hall, corner Swanston and Little Collins Streets. Phone 13 1638. Provides timetables, brochures, maps, travel mrchandise and sells tickets. The VicTrip website also provides information including maps, fares, zones details and all timetables. Zone 1 covers the CBD and inner suburbs, including St Kilda where adult tickets are $AU3.00 for 2 hours, $AU5.20 for a day and $AU22.90 for a week. Spencer Street Railway Station: Phone 13 2147 and 03 96912001. The countrywide V Line service between Melbourne and Sydney is on the daytime or overnight XPT trains which takes around ten and a half to complete. A train know as the Daylink runs between Melbourne and Adelaide taking approximately twelve hours to complete the journey. Train travel to and from from major cities may be planned using the V-Line timetables both for interstate capital cities and major regional centers, such as Geelong, Ballarat, Albury or Bendigo.

By Tram: The free City Circle trams run around the CBD perimeter, covering Flinders Street, Spring Street, Nicholson Street, Victoria Street, La Trobe Street and Harbour Esplanade. They run in both directions every 12 minutes of every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm and in daylight saving hours from 10:00 am to 09:00 pm.

SPIRIT of TASMANIA
Looking for a different way to travel from Melbourne to Devonport? Look no further, cruise aboard the “Spirit of Tasmania” and have all the fun, excitement and romance of sea travel while crossing Bass Strait. Feel your holiday start the moment you step on board as you sit back, relax and watch the waves roll by. Special offer, take your own car for free every night.