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Getting There

Rail: V/Line rail services operate daily between Melbourne and East Gippsland, terminating at Bairnsdale (3 hours 35 minutes); Melbourne and Albury (3 hours 34 minutes); Melbourne and Shepparton (2 hours 18 minutes); Melbourne and Echuca via Bendigo (3 hours 20 minutes); Melbourne and Swan Hill via Bendigo (4 hours 8 minutes); Melbourne to Ararat via Bendigo (2 hours 10 minutes); Melbourne to Warrnambool via Geelong (3 hours 14 minutes).

Interstate rail: Only two interstate capital cites are linked to Melbourne by rail - Sydney by an XPT service via Albury-Wodonga, and Adelaide via The Overland. The Overland is now operated by private company Great Southern Railway, the train completes three return trips a week, travelling mostly during daylight. The train operates between the Melbourne terminal of Southern Cross Station, and Keswick Rail Terminal in Adelaide, and covers 828 kilometres between capitals in 10 hours 40 minutes. The service offers on-board buffet meals and first and economy class seats and a lounge car. The Melbourne - Sydney XPT Express Train operates a twice daily service between the cities, one during the day and the other overnight. The service offers on-board buffet meals and first and economy class seats with first class bunk sleeping births on the overnight runs. The train operates between the Melbourne terminal of Southern Cross Station, and Central Station, Sydney, with a running tome of 10 hours 40 minutes.

Road (coach): Numerous operators provide coach services between Melbourne and Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide. Services to other cities and towns across Australia are by connections to one of those destinations. The main routes followed are:

  • Melbourne to Sydney (12 hours min.) via Canberra (8 hours min.)
  • Melbourne to Sydney (19 hours 10 minutes) via Sale (5 hours) and Bega (9å hours 50 minutes)
  • Melbourne to Brisbane (22 hours 30 minutes min.) via Ballarat, Dubbo and Moree
  • Melbourne to Adelaide via Stawall and Ballarat (9 hours 45 minutes)
  • Melbourne to Adelaide via Gt Ocean Road and Grampians.

Ferry: The Spirit of Tasmania Car and Passenger Ferry operates daily from Station Pier, Melbourne to Devonport in Tasmania, running overnight, with additional trips in daylight hours during peak travel periods (mainly Summer); duration approx. 12 hours.


Spirit of Tasmania II at Station Pier, Port Melbourne

Air: Most domestic and international air traffic into Victoria is through Tullamarine International Airport on Melbourne's northern outskirts. Avalon Airport near the city of Geelong to the south of Melbourne handles a limited amount of interstate flights, particularly those of Jetstar from Sydney. Flights to Victoria's regional centres and the islands of Bass Strait depart from either Tullamarine Airport or Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne's south-east. Daily direct flights to and from all other Australian capital cities operate out of Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.

Road (private motor vehicle): Melbourne is a full day's drive from both Sydney and Adelaide. Victoria's towns and cities are linked to each other, and to towns and cities in other states by a network of well signposted, well maintained sealed highways and major roads which allow for easy travel between localities. The capital cities are linked by highways that, in the main, bypass the smaller towns on the way, making the journey relatively uninterrupted. There are few parts of the state of interest to visitors that can't be reached in motoring comfort, although lesser roads, whilst sealed, do tend to be narrow.

In Victoria, the speed limit on the open road is generally 100 kilometres per hour and on some sections of freeway, 110 kilometres per hour. In Victoria, a driver’s licence from your home country or another Australian state will usually suffice for up to three months, as long as it has photo identification and it’s for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive. If you’re staying more than three months, you’ll need to get a Victorian drivers licence.

To and from the Airport: Melbourne's airport, at Tullamarine, handles both international and interstate flights. The airport is close to the city (20 minutes), the drive from the airport to the city centre takes around 20 minutes by either car or bus. Some interstate flights to Melbourne use Avalon Airport, which is a considerable distance from the city. Shuttle buses service both airports.

Travel Times & Distances


By Rail

  • Melbourne - Sydney: 11 hours 10 minutes (via XPT)
  • Melbourne - Adelaide: 10 hours 35 minutes (via The Overland)
  • Melbourne - Swan Hill: 5 hours 24 minutes
  • Melbourne - Geelong: 1 hour 11 minutes
  • Melbourne - Ballarat: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Melbourne - Warrnambool: 3 hours 13 minutes
  • Melbourne - Shepparton: 2 hours 48 minutes
  • Melbourne - Traralgon: 1 hours 29 minutes (express); 2 hours 6 minutes (all stations)
  • Melbourne - Bairnsdale: 3 hours 38 minutes
  • Melbourne - Griffith: 5 hours 53 minutes

By Air

Times quoted are minimum travel times for direct flights according to carriers' timetables. Times vary from carrier to carrier. For indirect flights involving connections through other airports to complete a journey, extra time must be added. Times quoted are airport to airport flight times, and do not include land travel to and from airports.

  • Melbourne - Sydney: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Melbourne - Darwin: 4 hours 40 minutes
  • Melbourne - Hobart: 1 hr. 15 minutes
  • Melbourne - Adelaide: 1 hr. 20 minutes
  • Melbourne - Perth: 4 hours 10 minutes
  • Melbourne - Gold Coast: 2 hours 5 minutes
  • Melbourne - Sunshine Coast: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Melbourne - Alice Springs: 2 hours 55 minutes
  • Melbourne - Cairns: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Melbourne - London: 23 hours
  • Melbourne - Singapore: 7 hours 25 minutes
  • Melbourne - Los Angeles: 14 hours 20 minutes
  • Melbourne - Auckland: 3 hours 20 minutes

By Road

  • Melbourne - Adelaide: 728 km (8 hours)
  • Melbourne - Albury: 397 km (3 hours 30 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Balranald: 418 km (4 hours 30 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Brisbane: 1,669 km (20 hours)
  • Melbourne - Canberra: 647 km (7 hours 20 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Dimboola: 335 km (4 hours)
  • Melbourne - Mildura: 557 km (6 hours 30 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Mt. Gambier: 455 km (5 hours 30 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Swan Hill: 336 km (4 hours 10 minutes)
  • Melbourne - Sydney: 963 km (11 hours)
  • Melbourne - Warrnambool: 262 km (3 hours)

Getting Around

Public Transport

Public transport websites

Melbourne train and tram map
Metlink - journey planner, bus, train and tram timetables
Suburban local travel guides

V/Line - regional Victoria rail travel
Viclink - regional Victoria public transport information

Rail: Melbourne's city and suburban areas are serviced by an efficient railway network. Connex operates train services across the metropolitan area, which run from around 5am (7am Sunday) until around midnight seven days a week.  Later services also operate out of the city on Friday and Saturday nights. V/Line is the public transport provider for regional Victoria. Visit their website or call 131 196 for ticket and timetable information. Viclink also provides helpful information on public transport services for regional Victoria.
Flinders Street Station, located alongside the city's main shopping precinct, serves as the hub for the rail network and is over the road from Melbourne's visitors centre in the Federation Square complex. Southern Cross Station, the next station down the line, serves as the hub for interstate and Intra-state rail and road transport; airport buses and interstate coaches terminate here, as do interstate and Intrastate trains. Many major hotels and much of Melbourne's backpacker accommodation is located in the vicinity of Southern Cross Station. Melbourne has the largest network of trams in the world, which ply the congested streets of Melbourne's older suburbs.

Trams: Melbourne's tram network has 28 routes radiating out from the major streets of the city centre to mainly the older suburbs. The trams are somewhat of a tourist attraction, but can be quite slow, particularly through the gridlocked streets of many inner suburbs. Metropolitan tram services normally operate between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday, and 7am to 11pm Sunday. Later services also depart the city on Friday and Saturday nights. Check timetables at Metlink. Trams travel along most of Melbourne’s major thoroughfares and tram stops are signposted with a map, tram route numbers and timetables. The route number is also displayed at the front of the tram. Travellers who haven’t pre-purchased their tickets should remember to carry coins, as on-board ticket machines do not accept notes.  Free City Circle trams travel the perimeter of the central business district every day between 10am and 6pm, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Hours of operation are extended to 9pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during daylight saving time.

Ferry: Little use is made of the Yarra River for public transport, however it has become quite popular for sightseeing cruises. Regular ferry services link Southbank with St Kilda and Williamstown. There is also the Yarra River Shuttle, which links Federation Square, Southbank and NewQuay at Docklands. A regular car and passenger ferry links Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. From Sorrento, ferries depart every hour on the hour from 7am to 6pm, with an extra 7pm trip from 26 December to the end of daylight savings. For information on ticket prices and bookings, call 03 5258 3244 or visit their website. There is also a ferry service between Phillip Island and French Island. Car and passenger ferries operate daily between Melbourne and Devonport in Tasmania. For more information on this service, visit the Spirit of Tasmania website

Bus: Buses serve the middle to outer suburbs, usually from terminals at major suburban railway stations.

Metcard is a single ticket that gives flexible travel between trains, trams and buses on Melbourne’s public transport network. Tickets must be validated prior to travel by being inserted in a validating machine located on train station platforms and on-board trams and buses. Metcards may be purchased from customer service centres, retail outlets displaying blue Metcard signs, the MetShop at the Melbourne Town Hall, corner Swanston and Little Collins streets, the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, and from Metcard ticket machines at train stations, on trams and buses. There are various Metcards available at different prices, depending on the amount of travel you intend doing. If you are planning a day out to see the sights of the city and suburbs, a A$10.10 daily Metcard is recommended as it gives you unlimited travel on the public transport network until midnight. Weekly and monthly Metcards are also available.

Airport Shuttle Bus: this service leaves from the International and Domestic Airports Terminals every 10 to 15 minutes during the day and half hourly at other times. The singular drop-off point in the city is Southern Cross Station Bus Interchange. A return service from Southern Cross Station Bus Interchange to the International and Domestic Airports Terminals also operates every 10 to 15 minutes. Cost is A$16 pp one way, or A$22 for a family (1 Adult & up to 4 children, 4-14yrs). Skybus Metcards available at Skybus outlets at Melbourne Airport Tullamarine, Spencer Street Station, Metshop. They can also be purchased on-line. Booking travel on the Airport Shuttle Bus is not required.

Taxi: Melbourne taxis are numerous and easy to spot – they are all uniformly yellow. Drivers must always wear a neat uniform and have an identity card on show at all times. Melbourne's major taxi companies include: 13 CABS (13 22 27 – within Australia only); Arrow (13 22 11 – within Australia only); Embassy Taxis (13 17 55 – within Australia only); Silver Top Taxis (13 10 08 – within Australia only)
Hailing a taxi: Cabs often wait in designated ranks that are clearly signposted at central locations like major hotels in the CBD, or busy spots such as Flinders Street Station. You can also hail a taxi in the street - if the rooftop light is illuminated, it means the taxi is available for hire - or book a taxi by telephone. Outside Melbourne, taxis widely operate in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, with additional cabs at country towns throughout the rest of Victoria.
Taxi totems: Melbourne has a number of 'taxi totems' around the city and in some regional centres, which will be lit and will make it easier to hail taxi cabs and for cabs to notice you. The totems will feature your location name and the nearest cross street, a list of local taxi services and booking numbers including numbers for wheelchair accessible taxis and connections to train, tram and bus services where relevant.
Fares and surcharges: Taxi meters are usually clearly visible, so you can keep check of your fare. Late night taxi trips must be paid for in advance. Between 10pm and 5am in Victoria, the driver will ask you for an up-front deposit, based on a table of point to point estimates. You can use the fare estimator to work out what your up-front costs are likely to be. Melbourne cabs attract additional charges like a late night surcharge from midnight to 5am, a fee for phone bookings, a fee for using the Citylink freeway and even a fee for taxis waiting at the airport rank. Expect a taxi fare of around A$80 to A$85 for a return trip between the CBD and Melbourne Airport. Airport taxi fare calculator (enter postcode of destination).

Self Drive

By car: Driving around Melbourne is relatively easy, with major roads between cities and country towns well signposted and of a high standard. In Melbourne, one of the few unique driver idiosyncrasies is the ‘hook turn’. For comprehensive information about driving safely in Melbourne and Victoria, visit the VicRoads website. Alternatively, you can pick up a copy of the Victorian Road Traffic Handbook from bookshops and VicRoads offices. Fortunately, hook turns occur onto in the central business district, which is best avoided anyway unless you know your way around. A driver’s licence from your home country will usually suffice for up to three months in Australia, as long as it has photo identification and it’s for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive. If you’re staying more than three months, you’ll need to get a Victorian drivers licence.
Melbourne has many parking metres and car parks, but parking the in city centre is deliberately expensive to deter people from driving into the city and parking when they could use public transport, which is cheaper and often more convenient. Coin-operated meters are used for street parking. In the city, expect to pay around $5 an hour, or from $15 upwards daily in a car parking station, although some offer discounts to moviegoers and shoppers.
Tollways: Melbourne has a number of roads that afford fast travel by vehicle through our around Melbourne but a toll must be paid. These tollways are cashless, meaning that drivers must purchase a City Link pass before using these roads. Every time you enter a tollway, your are charged. You can purchase a CityLink pass with cash at the CityLink Customer Centre, at participating Australia Post outlets, and selected newsagents. Special passes for visitors allow for unlimited travel on tollways over a set period of time, usually 24 hours or a weekend. For further information on passes and costs, visit the City Link website. Buying and using passes is quite a hassle for many visitors to the city, and as one can get around with out using tollways, you may find it easier to put up with the inconvenience of slower driving than the hassle of using tollways.

Cycling: Melbourne has an extensive network of off-road bicycle paths and some on-road bicycle lanes. Outside Melbourne many disused railway lines have been converted into rail trails throughout scenic areas like the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island, Gippsland and the Goldfields. Throughout Australia, wearing helmets on a motor cycle or a bicycle is compulsory, and all cyclists must follow the road rules. Taking a bike on a Melbourne train is permitted during off-peak periods at no extra cost, during peak periods a concession fare for the bike must be paid.  

Suggested Travel Itineraries: self drive, walks, guided tours and public transport

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