Getting Around in Melbourne

Getting around in Melbourne is easy thanks to an efficient public transport system that includes rail, tram and bus services. The wealth of transport options available allows you to move about freely and get to grips with the metropolis with ease.

Along with frequent daytime stops, most modes of transport have a ‘Night Network’ service on weekends that runs every 30 to 60 minutes. That said, those living in some of the more isolated suburbs of Melbourne might find it handy to have their own wheels. Expats should research transport options thoroughly when considering where to live in Melbourne.

Public transport in Melbourne

Melbourne has an integrated public transport ticketing system, based on the use of a contactless, reusable smartcard referred to as ‘myki’. The myki smartcard can be used on all of Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses.

Commuters can buy a weekly, monthly or annual myki pass, or they can load the card with myki money, which can be used to pay for single journeys. When the myki money balance gets low or when the pass runs out, you can simply top up at a station or myki vendor.

Trams

Melbourne has the world’s largest tram network, consisting of 250km (155 miles) of tram track. The network includes more than 1,700 stops.

Trams in Melbourne are operated by Yarra Trams. They’re a frequent and reliable form of transport, with over 500 trams in operation throughout the city’s network.

Melbourne has two free tram routes: the Free Tram Zone in the CBD and the City Circle Tram, which stops at various attractions in the city.

Trains

Melbourne’s City Trains Melbourne operates the city’s rail network. The network consists of 16 railway lines and more than 220 stations. Flinders Street Station is the main hub for city trains.

Regional services are also available and are operated by V/Line, with seven passenger railway lines connecting Melbourne to various towns and cities in Victoria. The centre of this regional passenger rail network is Southern Cross Station in Melbourne’s city centre.

Bus

The bus network in Melbourne consists of buses operated by several bus companies under a franchise from the state government. There are around 300 bus routes in operation, some of which provide transport for the outer suburbs of Melbourne that aren’t reached by train and tram services.

Useful links

• myki
• Yarra Trams
• Metro Trains
• Public Transport Victoria Journey Planner

Taxis in Melbourne

Melbourne has a fleet of bright yellow taxis that operate according to a meter system. Fares are regulated by the government, so there’s no risk of being overcharged, but taxis are still the city’s most expensive mode of transport.

Taxi availability can sometimes be an issue, particularly during peak hours, so it’s best to pre-book ahead of time if possible. Different companies own taxis, and each has its own website where rides can be booked.

Ride-hailing services like Uber are also widely available throughout Melbourne and its outlying suburbs.

Useful links

Uber Melbourne

Driving in Melbourne

Expats living further away from Melbourne’s inner city will find having a car useful. The city’s highways and roads are known to become congested during peak hours, however. Driving in Melbourne is fairly straightforward, especially for those who are used to driving on the left-hand side of the road. One difference that expats might need to get used to is sharing the road with tram services.

You can drive on a foreign licence in Melbourne for up to three months before you’ll need to obtain an Australian driving licence. Certain nationalities are exempt from doing practical and theory testing for licensing purposes, meaning they can simply exchange their home licence for an Australian one.

Other countries are part of an agreement allowing their nationals to be classified as an ‘experienced driver’. In this case, individuals over the age of 25 can exchange their licence, while those below this age will need to do testing before the exchange can be made.

Note that if your licence from your home country isn’t in English, you’ll have to get it legally translated before arriving in Australia.

Useful links

• Austroads – Applying for a licence

Cycling in Melbourne

Melbourne is a cycle-friendly city with an extensive network of bicycle paths and cycle lanes. These are regularly used for commuting to and from work and for recreation.

Melbourne also has an innovative electric bicycle-sharing system known as Lime. Anyone wishing to hire a Lime bike can do so through the Uber or Lime app.