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Getting around Melbourne
Melbourne Airport to City (CBD) & City to Airport
Melbourne Airport is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the city. The most direct route from the airport to the city is via the Tullamarine Freeway. The freeway towards the city end of the journey becomes a tollway (CityLink). The fastest way to the city from the airport is either via taxi or bus transfer, with the most inexpensive (but longest) being public transport.
Skybus
SkyBus runs express between Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and Melbourne City (Southern Cross Station). Tickets can be pre-purchased online or purchased at the time of travel via touch screen SkyBus kiosks or in person at SkyBus ticket booths. Fares for adult one way if booked online is $18 and $36 return (October 2018) - a little more ($18.50/$37) if bought at the kiosks or booths. SkyBus also offer a Free City Hotel
Taxi
Melbourne’s taxis are a convenient way to get from the airport to your destination. You can catch a taxi from designated taxi ranks, unless you have pre-booked. Taxi ranks are located on the ground floor outside Terminals 1 and between Terminal 2 and 3. Taxi ranks are located on the ground floor of the transport hub outside Terminal 4. Using a taxi from the airport taxi rank incurs an additional $3.58 fee that may be passed on to you. Fare estimates from the Airport to Southern Cross are $55-$65, including tolls and subject to traffic congestion.
Always get a receipt. The information that it contains (such as taxi company, taxi ID number and time of travel) is vital should you accidentally leave any items behind or wish to provide feedback.
If you travel between 10pm and 5am you may be asked to pre-pay the estimated fare as a deposit. At the end of your trip, the meter will show the actual fare. Toll charges may be added. You will then either need to pay the driver more or will receive change for your trip. Cash, credit/debit or EFTPOS methods of payment are accepted.
Uber
UberX is allowed to operate at the airport and will have a small stand for picking up passengers somewhere on the forecourt. https://www.uber.com/en-AU/airports/mel/
UberBLACK operates at Melbourne Airport and is the premium version of UberX. Estimated fare from Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross is between $82-$106. Request UberBLACK when you are ready to walk outside the terminal. Head to your pickup area. If departing from Terminal 1-3, you'll be guided to the correct area on your Uber app. If departing from Terminal 4, head to the second level of the Transport Hub south of Terminal 4. Confirm your location.
Public Transport (PT) around Melbourne
There are also two very useful Smart Phone apps that can assist in journey planning and public transport timetabling - PTV and Tramtracker:
- PTV for Apple
- PTV for Android
- Tram Tracker for Apple
- Tram Tracker for Android
PT Ticketing system ~ myki
Myki is a reusable travel card for trains, trams and buses in Melbourne and regional Victorian centres. Top up your myki before your journey. touch on and touch off at a myki reader as you travel.
Myki can be used on all of Melbourne's trains, trams and buses. V/Line (country) trains between metropolitan Melbourne and Eaglehawk/Epsom, Seymour, Traralgon, Waurn Ponds and Wendouree, as well as regional buses in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Seymour, the Latrobe Valley and Warragul.
A myki card costs $6 full fare. Once you have purchased a myki card, you then have to add money to cover the cost of travel.
Buying your myki
Myki Explorer Pack
The myki Explorer pack comes with a ready-to-use card for one day's unlimited travel on public transport in Melbourne. The pack includes:
• a ready-to-use myki card with one day’s unlimited travel in metropolitan Melbourne
• handy maps (train, tram, city centre)
• special offers from 16 popular Melbourne and regional attractions with information on how to get there by public transport
• souvenir wallet.
A Full Fare myki Explorer costs $15 and includes $9 myki money for travel and is available at SkyBus terminals at Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station, as well as Melbourne Visitor Centre in Federation Square, concierge desks at many hotels and accommodation providers and the PTV Hub - Southern Cross Station, near the corner of Spencer and Collins Streets.
Regular Myki Card
When you buy a myki card from a myki retail outlet, you must also top up with myki Money (minimum $1). You can't travel on public transport without an activated myki card unless you are in the CBD freezone area. You can top up at most outlets.
All myki retail outlets can provide tax invoices (receipts). Simply request a receipt when you buy or top up your card and ensure you check your transaction details before leaving.
At Melbourne Airport, myki machines are located in T2 and T3 Arrival Halls and in T4 Baggage Reclaim.
Myki Money
When using myki, you should have enough value on your myki to pay for your entire journey.
Use myki money if you travel occasionally and top up as you go. Load money onto your card and myki will calculate the lowest fare based on the zones you travel through. Top up with myki Money to access 2 hour and daily fares.
Public transport in metropolitan Melbourne covers three zones: The Free Tram Zone, Zone 1 and Zone 2 and includes a Zone 1/2 boundary overlap.
If your Journey is entirely within the Free Tram Zone, there is no need to touch on your myki - it’s free. If your destination from the CBD is the University of Melbourne, Parkville or Carlton (or vice versa) - these are all OUTSIDE the Free Tram Zone. You must touch on when you leave the Free Tram Zone. Please check the map of free tram zone area.
Remember: If you start or finish your journey outside the Free Tram Zone your journey is not free.
Public Transport to Melbourne University
The Melbourne University tram stop on Swanston Street is one of the busiest on the system, and is utilised by eight routes, six terminating there, and two running through it. You can also travel to the University via the tram along Elizabeth Street/Royal Parade. This is actually the closest route to the conference venue at Arts West. Use the Tram Tracker app to assist (see next section for more information)
Tram Route No Tram travels along this Street in the City to University of Melbourne (return) Melbourne University Stop
Tram Route No | Tram travels along this Street in the City to University of Melbourne (return) | Melbourne University Stop |
1 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
3/3a | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
5 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
6 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
16 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
64 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
67 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
72 | Swanston Street | Stop 1 |
19 | Elizabeth Street/Royal Parade | Stop 11 |