Getting There By Air:Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL) Tel: (03) 9297 1600.
Website:
www.melair.com.au Located 21km (14 miles) northwest of the city, Tullamarine is served by 23 international airlines and five domestic and regional airlines. The airport caters for over 17 million passengers per year.
Approximate flight times to Melbourne: From London is 22 hours 30 minutes; from New York is 21 hours
30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 16 hours 20 minutes; from Toronto is 21 hours 10 minutes and from Sydney is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Airport facilities: These include Sky Plaza shopping and food outlets, duty free, bureaux de change, ATMs, left-luggage, information desk and medical center. Car hire companies include
Avis,
Budget and
Hertz.
Transport to the city: Taxis are readily available from the airport. Buses, operated by
Skybus (tel: (03) 9335 3066; website:
www.skybus.com.au), run every 15 minutes 0600-2130 and every 30 minutes or hourly at other times. The journey to the city center takes 25 minutes.
Getting There By Road:VicRoads (tel: (03) 9854 2666; website:
www.vicroads.vic.gov.au) has implemented a Statewide Route Numbering Program for its rural arterial roads. The letter assigned to each road reflects the quality and function of the route. There are four major road categories – M, A, B and C. ‘M’ roads are the primary roads connecting Melbourne and other capital cities, such as the Princes Freeway (M1) and Hume Freeway (M31). ‘A’ roads are similar to M roads, although carry less traffic. ‘B’ roads are two lane roads in good condition, often indicating a tourist destination, such as the Great Ocean Road (B100) and Alpine Road (B500). ‘C’ roads provide important links between population centers and the primary transport network. Major roads leading to Melbourne include the Princes Highway (M1) and the Western Ring Road (M80).
The legal driving age in Victoria is 18 years. Traffic drives on the left and seatbelts are compulsory for both drivers and passengers. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in urban areas and 100-110kph (62-68mph) on country roads and highways. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%. Driving licenses must be carried at all times – International Driving Permits are preferred to national licenses. Compulsory third party insurance is required for driving in Melbourne.
VicRoads provides information of road safety and conditions (tel: 131 174, in Australia only) and requirements for driving in Victoria (tel: 131 171, in Australia only), as well as an emergency breakdown service (see below).
Emergency breakdown services: Royal Automobile Club Victoria 131 111, in Australia only.
VicRoads 131 170, in Australia only.
Routes to the city: Melbourne has good road access to other main cities in Australia. The Western Highway (8) goes to Adelaide and the Hume Highway (31) and Princes Highway (1) to Sydney.
Approximate driving times to Melbourne: From Adelaide – 9 hours; Sydney – 11 hours.
Coach services: Greyhound Australia (tel: 131 499, in Australia only; website:
www.greyhound.com.au) operates extensive services throughout Australia, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin. The Melbourne terminal is located at the
Melbourne Transit Center, 58 Franklin Street, and is open 0600-2200 daily.
Getting There By Rail:V/
Line (tel: 136 196, in Australia only; website:
www.vlinepassenger.com.au) operates Interstate Link services with connecting coach services, as well as an extensive train service throughout Victoria from
Spencer Street Station, Spencer Street (tel: (03) 9655 3434), in the city center. The station is undergoing a major redevelopment, which is planned for completion in early 2006, when the station will be renamed
Southern Cross Station. Facilities at the station include a café, restaurant and shops, ATM, trolley hire, left luggage, lost property, public toilets and changing rooms with showers. All trains are modern and comfortable with sleeper cars for longer journeys. Information on all national routes can be obtained from
Countrylink (tel: 132 232, in Australia only; website:
www.countrylink.info).
Rail services: The Overland train runs four times a week between Melbourne and Adelaide. The trip takes 10 hours, and the train connects with both The Ghan, and the Indian Pacific trains in Adelaide (both The Ghan and the Indian Pacific routes are recognized as Australia’s great train journeys). Check out the Great Southern Railways website at
www.gsr.com.au for details.
Daylink services also connect Melbourne to Adelaide. This trip is by train from Melbourne to Bendigo, and by bus from Bendigo to Adelaide. The total trip time is 11 hours. The Canberra Link connects Melbourne to Canberra. It’s a train journey from Melbourne to Wadonga, and bus from there to Canberra.
Getting Around:Public TransportMelbourne’s public transport system is called
The Met (tel: 131 638, in Australia only; website:
www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au) and it incorporates buses, trams and trains with interchangeable tickets available.
Most people get around the city by using the extensive
tram network. Trams stop at numbered green-and-gold tram-stop signs, often placed on platforms in the middle of the road. To get off the tram, press the red button near handrails or pull the cord above your head.
Metcard tickets allow travel on Melbourne’s buses, trains and trams, using a single ticket. Ordinary tickets for short journeys (zone 1) are valid for two hours. Buy them on the tram, bus, or train. The machines take coins only.
An all-day Metcard is better value for a number of journeys within the city center and near surrounds. Buy them from the City Metshop at the Melbourne Town Hall, located on the corner of Swanston Street and Little Collins Street, at most newsagents, or at Metcard vending machines located at railway stations. Weekly passes are ideal for a longer stay in Melbourne. Validate them in the machines located at the entrance to train stations or on-board trams.
The
City Circle Tram is a free tram service that runs in both directions around the city center, 1000-1800 daily, with extended hours on weekends from the last Sunday in October to the Saturday before the last Sunday in March. Trams operate every ten minutes – the entire route takes 40 minutes and passes many of Melbourne’s attractions, with commentary provided.
Yarra Trams (tel: 131 638, in Australia only; website:
www.yarratrams.com.au) operates all trams in Melbourne.
The
bus network is also extensive and is operated by different private companies on varying routes. Buses operate between 0500 and 2400 Monday to Saturday, and between 0700 and 2300 on Sunday. On weekends there is also a limited
night bus service.
The main train station in Melbourne for suburban routes is Flinders Street Station.
Connex (website:
www.connexmelbourne.com.au) operates all trains covering suburban Melbourne. Services run approximately 0500-2400 Monday-Saturday and 0700-2400 on Sunday. For timetable information call
Metlink on 131 638.
TaxisTaxis are available for hire on the street or are found waiting at train and bus stations. Operators include
Silver Top (tel: 131 008, in Australia only
or (03) 9345 3455),
Embassy (tel: 131 755, in Australia only
or (03) 9277 3444) and
Black Cabs Combined (tel 132 227, in Australia only). A large, illuminated rooftop light indicates that a cab is free. Tipping is not expected.
Driving in the CityDriving around Melbourne is fairly straightforward, as many roads are wide, with two or three lanes, although care has to be taken where there are tram routes. Special road rules exist – cars may only overtake trams on the left and must queue on the left in order to turn right at intersections marked by ‘Safety Zone’ signs, in order to accommodate the trams. The rush hours are 0700-0930 and 1700-1900, although there is also notorious ‘footy traffic’ near the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on weekends during the AFL season (Apr-Sep). There are numerous car parks and parking meters all over the city.
Car HireThe minimum age for car hire is 21 years. It is usually requested that the hire be paid for with the driver’s credit card. Compulsory third party insurance is required in Victoria and this is often included in the hire price.
Major car hire companies include
Avis (tel: 136 333, in Australia only,
or (03) 9663 6366; website:
www.avis.com.au),
Budget (tel: 1300 794 344, in Australia only
or (03) 9241 6366; website:
www.budget.com.au) and
Hertz (tel: 133 039, in Australia only
or (03) 9338 4044; website:
www.hertz.com.au).
Bicycle HireBicycle paths wind through the city and suburbs. For details on the 20 most popular routes, pick up a copy of
Melbourne Bike Tours, published by
Bicycle Victoria (tel: (03) 8636 8888; website:
www.bv.com.au). It is available at most bookshops.
You can rent a bike from
St Kilda Pier Bike Hire at St Kilda Pier (tel: (03) 9531 7403). Non-Australians must show their passports.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
