There is plenty to do while you are visiting Melbourne, from short city tours, to longer day trips in the surrounds.
The Official Visitors Guide to Melbourne can be picked up from the airport. The guide is also available in iphone app, ipad and Android app versions. Click on the following link to download the official visitors guide to Victoria, including interactive maps and itineraries.
https://issuu.com/destinationmelbourne/docs/ovg_winter_2016
Another website visitvictoria.com gives more information about Melbourne and Victoria.
Key Places To Visit
Melbourne has a number of key attractions that are great for a short or long visit. These include galleries, gardens, and markets:
- Overlook Melbourne from our tallest building (details)
- Take in our two world class galleries (details)
- Visit the bustling Queen Victoria Market (details)
- Take a tour of the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (details)
- See an Australian Rules Football finals game (details, schedule depending)
Short Tours
Melbourne is well known as a vibrant, cosmopolitan, city. As one of the world’s “most liveable cities” it has a strong culture of arts, an obsession with sports, and an even stronger restaurant and laneway cafe culture. As such there are many short tours you can do of the city that focus on its galleries, street art, gardens, architecture, stadiums, as well as it’s cafes, bars and laneways. Below are a number of suggestions of things to explore in your time here:
- General Half Day Walking Tour (details)
- Half Day Tour taking in some of our beachside suburbs (details)
- Explore Melbourne’s laneway cafes and shops (details)
- Discover Melbourne’s obsession with sport (details)
Day Trips Around Melbourne
All kinds of amazing locations are within easy reach of Melbourne, and are great for a day trip. You can visit a number of wine regions, see fairy penguins make their way up the beach, or drive along our famous Great Ocean Road.
- Explore the spectacular Great Ocean Road (info here and here)
- Visit the Fairy Penguins at Phillip Island (info here and here)
- Go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley (info here and here)
- Meet all kinds of Australian animals at the Healesville Sanctuary (info here and here)
Getting around
Melbourne’s grid layout makes it an easy city to navigate. Transport options include train, tram, bus or bike. The Night Network also operates on weekends with after hours transport to many locations.
myki cards
myki is Melbourne’s ticket to travel on the city’s trains, trams and buses. It’s a plastic smartcard with stored value that can be topped up. Purchase your myki online at the PTV website, premium train stations, retail outlets displaying the myki sign (including 7-Elevens), or by calling 1800 800 007 (free from a land line) in Australia.
Visitor packs
For flexible travel, buy a myki Visitor Pack from Melbourne Visitor Centre, Federation Square, the PTV Hub at Southern Cross Station (corner Swanston and Little Collins streets), SkyBus terminals and some hotels. Packs include a pre-loaded myki card with enough value for one day of travel in Zone 1 and 2, instructions on how to use myki, a Melbourne tram map and discount entry to Melbourne attractions.
Trains
Melbourne’s metro trains run between the outer suburbs and Flinders Street Station in the city. The city loop is Melbourne’s underground system, with five stations in the central business district: Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament and Flinders Street. Southern Cross Station is Melbourne’s hub for regional and interstate trains. Plan your trip with Public Transport Victoria’s journey planner.
Trams
Passengers can board trams at signposted stops displaying maps, route numbers and a timetable. Route numbers are also displayed on the front of the tram. Travel within the central area of Melbourne by tram is free, though you will need a myki card if you plan to start or finish your journey outside of this central area. For more information on the area covered by the Free Tram Zone and a downloadable map, go to the Public Transport Victoria website.
Fare types
Outside of the Free Tram Zone, Melbourne has two transit zones (1 and 2), with a single price to travel across both. It is cheaper to travel in Zone 2 only. Train travel completed before 7.00am on a weekday is free. For more information on ticketing and timetables, visit the Public Transport Victoria website.
Transportmaps
View the Inner Melbourne Map for an overview of tram, train and bus routes, parks, landmarks and attractions, bike paths and walking trails. Street and transport maps are also displayed on the wall at many train stations, at tram and bus shelters and are available from visitor information centres. On your mobile device use our m.visitvictoria.com ‘Nearby’ mode for a mapped list of attractions, shops, food and wine options close to your current location while you’re out and about.