INFORMATION | Traveller’s Tips
Traveller’s tips How to get the most out of your visit
Located opposite Flinders Street Railway Station, the Melbourne Visitor Centre is a one-stop shop for visitors and tourists. The centre offers information on Melbourne and Victoria including brochures and maps, what’s on listings, internet and email facilities, souvenirs and accommodation ideas, tour and transport booking services, as well as myki ticket sales. Open daily from 9am to 6pm (closed Christmas Day), street level lifts provide access for people with disabilities.
MELBOURNE VISITOR BOOTH, BOURKE STREET MALL Chat to friendly volunteers who can provide you with maps and information on shopping, attractions and events. Open seven days 9am to 5pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day).
CITY AMBASSADORS For assistance with directions, public transport enquiries, events and general questions about Melbourne, look for our roving City Ambassadors, easily identified by their distinctive red uniforms. They are mostly found along Swanston Street but you can also locate a City Ambassador anywhere across the central shopping district (bordered by Elizabeth, Flinders, Russell and La Trobe Streets). City Ambassadors can be found Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday noon to 3pm (excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day).
MELBOURNE VISITOR SHUTTLE Tourists can hop on or off the Melbourne Visitor Shuttle at any of the 12 stops along the route at key city destinations. This free 154 | destinations VICTORIA
shuttle bus takes you past some of the city’s best attractions with an informative on-board commentary. The complete trip takes 90 minutes and operates every 30 minutes between 9.30am to 4.30pm daily (excluding Christmas Day) and every 30 minutes between 1pm and 4.30pm on Labour Day and ANZAC Day. Visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/ gettingaroundthecity to view the route and stops.
CITY CIRCLE TRAM The famous burgundy and gold City Circle trams offer free travel, taking in Melbourne’s city sights. Including an automated commentary, the tram runs along Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Drive, La Trobe Street, Victoria Street, Nicholson Street and Spring Street. Trams run in both directions every 12 minutes, Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 6pm, and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 9pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday). Please note: The City Circle Tram is not wheelchair accessible.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT myki is Melbourne’s ticket to travel on the city’s trains, trams and buses in zones 1 and 2. It is a durable smartcard that stores value and can be used over and over again. Buy a myki Visitor Pack from the SkyBus Terminal at Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station, Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, Southern Cross Station and Station Pier.
SHOPPING HOURS Many convenience stores, supermarkets and fast food outlets are open 24 hours a day. Most city and suburban retail stores are open Monday to Thursday until 6pm, Friday until 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday until 5pm. Many
pharmacies are open from 8am to 11pm, seven days a week.
BANKING HOURS Banks are generally open Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 4pm and until 5pm on Friday (branches may offer extended hours). Some banks and building societies are also open on Saturday mornings. Twenty-four hour automatic teller machines (ATMs) can be found throughout the city, suburbs and in most regional areas of Victoria.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE All banks, American Express offices and Thomas Cook outlets will exchange money during business hours. A currency exchange facility is located at 109 Collins Street in the CBD and is open seven days a week 9am to 6pm (including public holidays). For more information, call (03) 9654 2768.
CREDIT CARDS All major credit cards are widely accepted and can be used with a personal PIN number in automatic teller machines (ATMs) around the city, in the suburbs, and throughout regional Victoria.
CITYLINK & EASTLINK Melbourne’s main arterial roads, CityLink and EastLink, are toll roads requiring the use of an electronic device in the car (e-TAG) or the purchase of a day pass – the price will depend on which segments of the road are used and how frequently. Day passes and e-TAGs can be purchased from CityLink and EastLink Customer Centres, selected Australia Post Offices, touch-screen machines at selected Shell service station outlets, over the phone or online – see details below: CityLink – 132 629, citylink.com.au EastLink – 135 465, eastlink.com.au
ILLUSTRATIONS: CHERI HUGHES
MELBOURNE VISITOR CENTRE, FEDERATION SQUARE
