Public Transport

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport is located approximately 25kms northwest of Melbourne’s CBD. It can be accessed on the tolled Tullamarine Freeway and toll-free Western Ring Road. There are no connecting train lines to and from the airport; in place are Shuttle Bus Services.

Skybus shuttle bus service offers 24-hour, 7-days-a-week (including public holidays) transfers to and from the Melbourne CBD and city hotels. The Skybus Super Shuttle Express runs every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and 30-60 minutes overnight. At Tullamarine Airport, there are two Skybus terminals: terminal 1, serving Qantas Domestic, QantasLink and Jetstar Domestic; and terminal 3, serving Virgin Blue, Rex and International. From the city, the Skybus departs from Southern Cross Station Bus Interchange, near the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Street. An adult ticket cost $A16/$A26 for one-way/return, and can be purchased online, at the Skybus terminals or at the Metshop in Melbourne Town Hall. Visit www.Skybus.com.au for more information.

There are other Shuttle Bus Services, which cover destinations in various parts of Melbourne. Information on destinations and schedules can be obtained from the information desks within the airport, or on the numbers listed below.

Ballarat Area
Phone:  (61 3) 5333 4181 
www.airportshuttlebus.com.au

Bendigo Area
Phone:  (61 3) 5439 4044 
www.bendigoairportservice.com.au

Dandenong Area
Phone:  (61 3) 9782 6766 
www.airportbusdandenong.com.au

Frankston & Penninsula Bus Service
Phone:  (61 3) 9783 1199 
www.fapas.com.au

Geelong Area Gull Airport Services
Phone:  (61 3) 5222 4966 
www.gull.com.au

Melbourne North-West Suburbs Tullamarine Bus Lines
Phone:  (61 3) 9338 3817 

Melbourne Western Suburbs Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Lines
Phone:  (61 3) 9311 1228 

Melbourne Northern & Eastern Suburbs Airport Bus Eastside
Phone:  (61 3) 9729 7622 
www.airportbus.com.au

Taxis are also available from the airport, but is a more expensive option for a single passenger. A taxi from the airport to the city will cost between $A24 to $A30 depending on traffic.

Melbourne Public Transport System

Metlink

Victoria’s transport system offers an integrated network of trains, trams and buses known as Metlink. The services provided by Metlink are on behalf of The Victorian State Government; metropolitan public transport operators (Connex, Yarra Trams and bus operators); and regional transport operators, (V/Line Passenger and bus operators).

Melbourne’s tram network offers a convenient way to get around the city and its surroundings, as it services the city centre right into Melbourne’s inner suburbs. The inner suburbs of Melbourne are also accessible on metropolitan trains, which extend to cover most of Melbourne’s outer suburbs. There are some outer suburbs not serviced by metropolitan trains, instead by V/Line Passenger.

Tickets

When using the Metlink, passengers are only required to purchase one ticket called a Metcard, which gives commuters flexible travel between trains, trams and buses. The fares are based on two zones: Zone 1 covers the CBD and most of the inner suburbs; Zone 2 extends to Melbourne’s outer suburbs. So, to purchase a Metcard, commuters need to select the zone/s they will be traveling in.

There are various types of Metcards available to suit every commuters’ travel pattern needs. Commuters can pre-purchase 2 hour, Daily, Weekly, Yearly, Sunday Saver, Off Peak, City Saver, or Early Bird tickets, and many others from Customer Service Centres at Premium Stations, Retail Outlets with the blue Metcard sign, MetShop at the Melbourne Town Hall (Cnr Swanston and Little Collins Streets), the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square and Metcard ticket machines at train stations. A limited selection of Metcards is also available from buses and coin-only ticket machines on trams. Please note that after purchasing a ticket, it must be validated in a validating machine. Traveling with an unvalidated ticket is illegal, and a fine will be issued. Remember to also always check the expiry details on the back of the Metcard after validation, as it is an offence to travel with an expired ticket. For more information on ticket types and fares, call Metlink on 131 638 or visit their website at www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

City Circle Tram

The free City Circle Trams, distinctively burgundy in colour, travel the perimeter of the central business district, passing shopping malls, arcades, and major attractions (Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, and Princess Theatre). The tram provides a link with other tram, train and light rail routes in and around Melbourne, operates every day between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 10am to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday, except Good Friday and Christmas. Trams run every 10 minutes in both directions, stopping at specially marked spots on the City Circle Tram route.

NightRider Buses

NightRider Buses travel from the city to the suburbs in the early hours, offering people a cheaper alternative to Taxis of getting home from their late night out in the city. NightRider Buses depart Swanston Street (between Collins and Flinders Street) from 12.30am to 4.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and the buses travel to Bayswater, Croydon, Dandenong, Craigieburn, Eltham, Epping, Franston, St Albans and Werribee.

Travelling to Regional Victoria

V/Line provides regional communities with rail and coach services with inter-city services linking to major provincial cities, while frequent inter-urban services operate to Geelong, Ballarat, Kyneton, Seymore and Traralgon.