Melbourne's Essential Information

Public Transport

Melbourne's public transport system is the perfect way to explore every pocket of this vibrant city. Trains, trams and buses offer extensive services stretching from the heart of the city in all directions. They operate between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday and between 8am and 11pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Trams
Melbourne's trams make the public transport experience in Victoria unique. They carry passengers to almost any central and inner-city location, as well as many suburban destinations.
Free City Circle Trams also travel around the city centre and feature a commentary pointing out key attractions along the route. City Circle Trams run in both directions every 10 minutes, seven days a week between 10am and 6pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), and during daylight saving time between 10am-9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Trains
Departing from Flinders Street Station, Melbourne's suburban train system extends to the very outer-suburbs in every direction. Most routes include the City Loop (Parliament, Melbourne Central, Flagstaff Gardens, Southern Cross and Flinders Street Station).

Buses
Melbourne's trains and trams are complemented by a wide-ranging bus network travelling all over the city and its suburbs. NightRider Buses offer safe, affordable transport from the city to numerous suburban destinations on Saturday and Sunday mornings, departing hourly between 12.30am and 4.30am. NightRider buses leave from the corner of Swanston and Collins Streets.
SkyBus runs services from Melbourne Airport to Spencer Street Station, effectively connecting flights with Melbourne's public transport network every 20 minutes.

For train, tram and bus information, call Metlink on 131 638 or visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Ticketing
Travelling on Melbourne's public transport system is easy. Melbourne's automated ticketing system operates on all train, tram and bus services in the metropolitan area with electronically-encoded tickets called Metcards.
Metcards give you the ability to travel on any of the three modes of transport and can be pre- purchased from Customer Service Centres at Premium Stations, more than 900 retail agents displaying Metcard signs, the MetShop at the Melbourne Town Hall, on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets, the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, Metcard ticket machines at train stations, the Metcard Helpline on 1800 652 313 or the Internet at www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au
For passengers who have not pre-purchased tickets, a limited selection of Metcards can be purchased on-board buses or from coin-only ticket machines on trams.
It's important to remember to validate your ticket prior to travelling by using validating machines located on train station platforms and on-board trams and buses. Just buy a Metcard, validate it, and travel.
For train, tram and bus information call Metlink on 131 638 or visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Regional Travel Regional Victoria is accessible via an extensive train and coach network operated by V/Line. For further information contact V/Line on 136 196 or visit www.viclink.com.au.

Car Hire Melbourne
When it comes to car hire Melbourne offers the full range of car hire operators.
Because there is such a range to select from, youíll find car hire Melbourne rates very competitive.
There is a range of vehicles to choose from, including small manual hatchbacks, medium-sized cars, sedans and SUV type vehicles. You'll find a small car is economical for city driving and, when you want to find a parking place, they are easier to park.
Car hire Melbourne locations include Melbourne Airport, St Kilda, central Melbourne and nearby Geelong.
Check the Internet for a selection of car hire Melbourne options.

Melbourne Airport
International Terminal is more than just an airport - it is a shopping destination in its own right. You can browse through 18 specialty stores and 11 places to eat, so you can shop and relax before you or someone you know departs or arrives in Australia. Not just for the international traveller, with domestic and international terminals in the same building, anyone can come to Melbourne Airport and explore the great retail variety. More than just an airport. Melbourne Airport International Terminal is the shopping destination.
www.melbourneairport.com.au

Car rentals
Budget 13 27 27
Red Spot 1300 668 810 or www.redspotrentals.com.au

Climate
Melbourne has warm to hot summers, with reasonably low rainfall. May to September is cool and rainfall is common, but not extensive.

Opening hours
Shops: Generally Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm;
Sat 9am-5pm. Large stores and suburban specialty shops open Sun until 5pm.
Suburban corner shops often open daily 8am-8pm or later.
Banks: Mon-Thu 9:30am-4pm; Fri 9:30am-5pm.
Hotels: Pub licensing hours are generally 10am-1am.
Museums and Galleries: Generally daily 10am-5pm. Some close on one day of the week and hours may vary from day to day.

Public holidays:
1 January, 26 January (Australia Day), Good Friday, Easter Monday, 25 April (Anzac Day), 2nd Mon in March (Labour Day), 2nd Mon in June (Queen's birthday), 1st Mon in August (banks only), 1st Tue in November (Melbourne Cup), 25-6 December. School summer holidays are mid-December to late January.

Consulates & Embassies
For visa information, contact individual consulates.
Interpreting service: Free service 13 14 50
Foreign Affairs Department: Passport information 13 1232

American Consulate General Level 6, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 9526 5900
Argentine Republic Consulate General Level 20, 44 Market Street, Sydney (02) 9262 2933
British Consulate General Level 17, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne 1902 941 555 or 9652 1600
Canadian Consulate Level 37, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne 9653 9674
Consultate General of Egypt Level 9, 124 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 9654 8634
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 6 Timbara Crescent , O'Malley - (02) 6286 6059 (NSW)
French Consulate Level 8 150 Queen Street Melbourne 9602 5024
German Consulate 480 Punt Road, South Yarra 9864 6888
Greek Consulate General 37-39 Albert Road, South Melbourne 9866 4524
Indian Consulate 1st Floor, 15 Munroe Street, Coburg 9384 0141
Indonesian Consulate 72 Queens Road (enter via Queens Lane) 9525 2755
Israel Consulate General Level 6, 37 York Street, Sydney - (02) 9264 7933 (NSW)
Italian Consulate General 509 St Kilda Road 9867 5744
Japanese Consulate General 45th Floor, Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, 360 Elizabeth Street 9639 3244
Lebanese Consulate General 117 Wellington Street, Windsor 9529 4588
New Zealand Consulate General Suite 2 North, Level 3, 350 Collins Street, Melbourne 9642 1279 or 9642 1281
Pakistan High Commission 4 Timbarra Crescent, O'Malley (02) 6290 1676 or (02) 6290 1031
Portuguese Consulate General 846 Toorak Road, Hawthorn East 9822 7140
Singapore High Commission Forster Crescent, Yarralumla (02) 6273 3944
Spanish Consulate 146 Elgin Street, Carlton 9347 1966
Sri Lanka Consulate 8 Sutton Parade, Box Hill North 9898 6760
Taiwanese Consulate Level 46, Nauru House, 80 Collins Street 9650 8611
Thailand Royal Thai Consulate General Suite 301, 566 St Kilda Road 9533 9100
Turkish Consulate General 8th Floor, 24 Albert Road, South Melbourne 9696 6066

Taxis www.victaxi.com.au
The Victorian taxi industry has more than 4,000 distinctive yellow taxis delivering service 24 hours, 7 days a week. Metered fares are calculated on distance and time and can be paid by cash, debit card (EFTPOS facility where available) or credit card (cards incur a 10% service fee).
Special service taxis are designed to assist people with particular needs. When you book, let the operator know your requirements and the taxi company will do the rest. Book by phone, hire from a taxi rank or hail from the roadside.

Taxi Bookings:
Arrow Taxi Service 132 211
Black Cabs 13 2227
Embassy Taxis 131 755
North Suburban Taxis 13 11 19
Silver Top Taxi Service 131 008
Dandenong Taxis 9791 2111
Frankston Taxis 9786 3322
Wheelchair Bookings:
Black Cabs 9277 3877
Silver Top 8413 7202
Dandenong 9791 2111
Frankston 9786 3322

Media and Communications

Telephones
Public telephones are found on street corners, near post offices, hotels, service stations, shops, railway and bus stations, and cafes. Long-distance calls within Australia are priced according to distance. Calls are cheaper after 6pm and on weekends. Local calls are 40c. Phonecards come in values of A$2 to A$20; credit cards can also be used from some (silver) phones. International (ISD calls can be made from your hotel and certain public telephones by dialing 0011, followed by the country codes: UK 44; France 33; Germany 49; USA and Canada 1. For international enquiries (such as time differences and costs) 0102 . To book an operator-connected call 0101 .

Post offices & postage
Post offices are generally open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. The Melbourne GPO hours are Mon-Fri 8:15am-5:30pm; Sat 8:30am-noon. Larger post offices provide services such as lettergrams, fax facilities and email. Stamps can also be purchased from hotels, and some newsagents and souvenir shops.

Newspapers These include The Age and the Herald Sun. The national newspaper is The Australian; The Australian Financial Review (business news).

Radio Melbourne has 26 stations, ranging from FM rock music broadcasters, such as Triple J-FM and Triple M-FM, to the ABC, the national broadcaster. There are many AM music, chat and news stations.

Television Channel 2 is commercial-free. Channels 7, 9, 10 and SBS are commercial and there are cable networks as well as Community 31.

Sensible precautions

• It is safe to drink tap water.
• Australia has dangerous levels of ultra-violet radiation, so for sun protection, make sure you have good supplies of SPF 15+ sunblock, and wear sunglasses, a hat and long sleeves; try to avoid the summer sun in the middle of the day.
• Dangerous currents and marine stingers can cause problems in the sea in summer. Take notice of lifeguards and any beach signs and swim between the flags.
• If you experience a theft or any other incident, report it to your hotel and/or the police. If your travellersícheques are stolen, advise the relevant organisation.
• HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are under control in Melbourne, but ensure that you take adequate precautions.

Etiquette

• Smoking is prohibited on public transport (including all internal flights and inside airport terminals), in cinemas, theatres and most shops and shopping centres. Restaurants throughout Victoria prohibit smoking in all dining areas.
• A GST is normally included in bills. Tipping is optional

Women travellers
Women are generally safe in Melbourne, but walking alone in parks or on beaches at night is a risk. Travelling alone on night trains is not recommended.

Emergencies

• POLICE, AMBULANCE or FIRE: 000
• Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency:03 9342 7000
• Dental emergency:03 9341 1222
• Prescriptions:03 9663 3915
• Interpreter Service:03 9416 9999
• Lifeline:03 9662 1000
• Crisis Line:03 9329 0300