City guide article

From the airport

Numerous transport facilities are available to visitors who arrive at the Tullamarine or Avalon, the two major airports situated in the city. The shuttle service provided by the Skybus (provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) is easily accessable from the Tullamarine airport, whereas Sunbus is just as easily accessable from the Avalon Airport. This service also provides visitors the opportunity to visit key locations of the city. In addition taxis are also readily accessible from both stations, however this mode of transport is time consuming and may be more costly, depending on the proximity of your destination.

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Overview

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Transportation

Buses

Transportation

Car for Hire

You can easily rent a car by contacting various car hiring firms operating in the city, which include Avis, Budget, Delta Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The minimum age required for driving in Victoria is 25 years, but some car rental companies allow underage visitors to enjoy driving as well. It must be kept in mind that driving in a city like Melbourne is a tedious task, as you have to be wary of the many directions from which traffic is arriving. Along with this, you must pay special attention when driving alongside the tram, as you will have to apply brakes periodically to ensure that the passengers leave the tram safely.

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Transportation

Driving Tips

All drivers must keep in mind that all vehicles must be driven on the left hand side of the street in Australia. It is mandatory for drivers to wear seat belts and to carry their driving license at all times, otherwise they will have to pay heavy fines. Car parking is not a major issue in the city with the exception of peak hours. In such conditions, a suitable parking place can be obtained by paying a small amount of money (about $5) on an hourly basis. In the city of Melbourne, the trams share the same track as vehicles like buses and cars, hence special precaution must be applied when making a 'hook-turn', as failure in doing so can again result in traffic fines. In order to make a hook-turn, move your vehicle towards the left hand side and keep observing the far left hand side of the road. The orange light displayed by the signal will clear the road for the approaching traffic and it is at this time when you have the opportunity to make a wide turn towards your left.

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Transportation

Metro

Melbourne has one of the most highly developed metro systems in the country, which conveniently run through most of the significant locations in the city. Flinders Street Station is the focal point, where all railway networks coalesce collectively. Southern Cross Station is also an important station and a tourist attraction for people visiting Melbourne for the first time. The administration of the city has also developed a system of night metro transport and City Loop. Through the accessibility of the City Loop, five major stations of the city can be served directly; these include Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament and Flinders Street. The Metro service in Melbourne commences from 5am and normally continues without much delay, till midnight when the night metro service approaches its end. Tickets for the metro can be purchased from various places known as "Metcards". Metcards are found in train stations, and also provide online services. The facility of obtaining Metcard through telephone is also provided by calling at +613 1800 652 313. The fare of the transport is determined by the distance and duration of the journey, both of which are interdependent factors. As a precautionary measure, it is necessary that you have the appropriate ticket on your person at all times, as failure to produce your ticke upon the request of the ticket inspector could lead to hefty fines. The City Circle Tram is also a convenient method of touring the major sites of the city. Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, La Trobe Street and Spring Street are some of the places which this 50 minute tram-ride can provide you the accessibility of.

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