Melbourne Travel Guide - Getting Around

Ferry: there are several ferry services linking Sorrento, in Mornington Peninsula, to Queenscliff in the Bellarine Peninsula. Ferries depart at two-hourly intervals from Sorrento between 09:00 to 17:00 and return from Queenscliff every two hours from 10:00 to 16:00. The Phillip Island and the French Island are also linked by a ferry service.

There are also numerous ferry services plying the Yarra River. The Yarra River Shuttle takes passengers from Federation Square to Newquay. Williamstown ferries commute between Southgate Crown Casino and the World Trade Centre down the Yarra River and dock at Williamstown.

The City Loop, an underground train system, services the CBD area with stops at Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament and Flinders street.

Tram: trams generally operate from 06:00 to 01:30 on weekdays but have reduced services on weekends and public holidays. Trams travel on tracks along the major roads but also extend out to the suburbs. Tram stops are clearly signposted but passengers have to signal the driver to stop.

Bus: Melbourne has a good bus network that services the same routes as the trams. Travelling by bus is convenient, but traffic can get bad in rush hour. The Night Rider is a service that links Melbourne to the outer suburbs from 12:30 to 04:30, on Saturday and Sunday only.

Taxi: taxis are easy to spot as they are all painted bright yellow. Although convenient to use, they are one of the most expensive forms of public transport. It is possible to flag a taxi down on the street as well as hire one at the designated taxi ranks. All taxis are metered and all the drivers speak English.