Melbourne’s Free
The City Circle Tram
City Circle Tram
The City Circle Tram is a free and convenient way to see the sights of central Melbourne and the Docklands while experiencing a ride on one of the city’s much loved heritage trams. The service is proudly operated by Yarra Trams. An audio commentary provides details of city landmarks and major attractions such as the City Museum, Parliament House, Docklands, Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium and the Princess Theatre. The City Circle Tram also links with other tram, train and bus routes around Melbourne. To catch the City Circle Tram, simply wait at any tram stop along the City Circle Tram route. These tram stops are specially marked with a City Circle sign (pictured right).
Trams operate in both directions every 12 minutes between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and between 10am and 9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. City Circle Trams do not run on Christmas Day and Good Friday. For the enjoyment and comfort of City Circle Tram passengers, groups of 12 or more passengers are asked to contact the City Circle Tram customer service number on 131 638 to arrange a booking. For further information about the City Circle Tram, telephone 131 638, visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au or call into the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square.
Melbourne’s trams – a short history The city’s first trams were horse-drawn, but from 1885 they made way for cable trams. For more than half a century the gentle rumble and clanging bells of the cable trams provided the background music of Melbourne's young and thriving streets. The first electric tram line between Box Hill and Doncaster opened in 1889 but it lasted only until 1896. Electric trams returned to stay in 1906 with the opening of the Victorian Railways line between St Kilda and Brighton and the private North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company commencing services from Flemington Bridge to Essendon and the Maribyrnong River.
Today, Melbourne has the biggest operating tram network in the world with 250 kilometres of double track.
Travelling on Melbourne’s public transport Melbourne is progressively moving to a new smartcard ticketing system called myki. While this is happening you may notice two types of ticketing equipment operating across the public transport network.
Yarra Trams operates the entire Melbourne tram network with a fleet of 500 trams ranging from the historic W-class to modern low-floor vehicles.
More information about myki can be found at myki.com.au
The 12 refurbished W-class trams which operate the City Circle Tram route entered service between 1936 and 1956. All were built at the former Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board workshops.
Metcard Metcard is a paper ticket system which gives you the option to buy two hour or daily tickets for travel within the zones you choose. Metcards must be validated every time you catch a train, tram or bus. For the best value and to always be ready for your next journey, Value Metcards are available for your convenience. You can choose from the 10 x 2 hour or 5 x Daily.
Melbourne – one of the world’s most liveable cities Melbourne is a great city to experience any time of the year and the City Circle Tram makes it easy for you to discover the best that Melbourne has to offer. Enjoy the beautiful parks and gardens located throughout the city. Take advantage of the Yarra River and waterfront precincts. Catch the City Circle Tram direct to Victoria Harbour, NewQuay or Waterfront City and experience the changing face of Melbourne’s Docklands. Relax and enjoy fabulous food, wine and coffee right on the waterfront. Stroll or ride along the promenade, indulge in a gelati, marvel at the yachts and enjoy the public art. Melbourne offers a world of culinary delights – from Chinatown to the Greek precinct or Lygon Street for Italian food and an excellent range of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes and budgets. The shopping experience is not to be missed. Beautiful Collins Street offers a range of boutiques while the Bourke Street Mall is the retail heart of Melbourne with major department stores and specialty shops.
Explore the laneways and arcades which form part of the fascinating and diverse history and architecture of the city. For lovers of the arts, there’s plenty of music, theatre and creativity while children will enjoy a visit to the aquarium, the zoo or a museum. Melbourne is known as Australia’s sporting capital. Our sporting events are world class – from the Australian Open tennis championships, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the Spring Racing Carnival to our own Aussie Rules football. While on the City Circle Tram, call in at Federation Square – a popular meeting place and unique cultural precinct that was developed to commemorate 100 years of Australian nationhood. Let the City Circle Tram take you on a journey of discovery around Melbourne – one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square
Melbourne Visitor Booth in the Bourke Street Mall
Melbourne Town Hall tours
Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle
The Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square provides a range of tourist information and services on Melbourne and Victoria, including free brochures, maps, event listings, merchandise, Internet access, accommodation, car hire and tour booking services.
Located in the Bourke Street Mall, the booth is staffed by friendly volunteers who can assist visitors with shopping and tourist enquiries.
Informative tour guides provide free tours of Melbourne's historic Town Hall.
The free shuttle bus is a great way to see some of Melbourne's best attractions. Hop on and off at any of the 13 stops along the route at key city destinations, guided by an informative on board commentary. The complete trip takes approximately 90 minutes. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day. Visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/shuttle to view the route and stops.
Open seven days a week 9am – 6pm (excluding Christmas Day) Federation Square, corner Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne.
Mon to Sat 9am – 5pm Sun 10am – 5pm (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Available Mon to Fri 11am and 1pm. Bookings essential and required 24 hours prior to tour. Visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/ townhalltours
City Ambassadors
Melbourne Greeter Service
Clearly dressed in red and roving the city centre, the City Ambassadors are happy to help with tourist enquiries, directions and other information.
This unique service offers visitors a free multilingual two to four hour walking orientation of the city. The service operates in English daily, with a number of languages available on request.
Mon to Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 11am – 3pm (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday)
Available seven days a week 9.30am (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday). Bookings essential. Visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/ greeter
For further information on any of these visitor information services, please contact the City of Melbourne Hotline on (03) 9658 9658 or visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/ touristinformation
YAR 6199 08/10.
For the more frequent traveller the Weekly and Monthly Metcards offer significant savings. Coin-only Metcard ticket machines are available on trams.
Ticket zones Fares for travelling on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses are separated into two zones: Zone 1 for inner-city and Zone 2 for the middle and outer suburbs. You can travel anywhere on Melbourne’s tram network on a Zone 1 fare.
MetShop Call into the MetShop for public transport information including timetables, maps, brochures and tickets. Here you can also use the Metlink website and print your public transport information. The MetShop is located in the Melbourne Town Hall on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets and is open 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 1pm Saturday. For more information about Melbourne’s public transport, including timetables, journey planner, maps, ticketing, brochures and information for passengers with special needs, call 131 638 (TTY 9619 2727) 6am – midnight daily or visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au
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Points of interest
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1 Harbour Town, Docklands Shopping centre with brand direct outlets, specialty stores and a tourist lounge. Ph: 9328 8600
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2 Waterfront City, Docklands Dining, shopping and entertainment precinct. Ph: 9600 1633
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3 NewQuay, Docklands Restaurants, cafes and bars line the water’s edge. Ph: 1800 888 326
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tihad Stadium 4 E A multi-purpose stadium for major sporting and entertainment events. Ph: 8625 7700 5 William Angliss Institute A specialist training centre for hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. Ph: 9606 2111
Useful Numbers Yarra Trams Customer Feedback and lost property 1800 800 166 (6am–midnight daily) or visit yarratrams.com.au
Real-time tram arrival information FREE by iPhone and iPod touch Download from iPhone App Store. FREE online at yarratrams.com.au FREE by mobile Internet at tramtracker.com CALL 1300 MY TRAM (that’s 1300 69 8726) IVR call cost $0.25/higher for STD/Mobiles.
SMS 199YARRA (that’s 19992772) SMS cost $0.55 inc. GST.
For information and customer feedback call 1800 800 166 (6am – midnight) or visit yarratrams.com.au
iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Train, tram and bus information 131 638 (6am–midnight daily) or visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au
6 Koorie Heritage Trust Indigenous arts and crafts. 295 King Street, Cnr Little Lonsdale St. Ph: 8622 2600 7 Flagstaff Gardens Enjoy the view from the hilltop or relax on the lawns. 8 Queen Victoria Market A shopping mecca, a Melbourne icon and a must see when in Melbourne. Ph: 9320 5822 9 Bourke Street Mall Featuring major department stores and specialty shops.
elbourne Central 10 M A stylish destination
for shopping, eating and entertainment. Ph: 9922 1100
11 Chinatown Home to some of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne and the Chinese Museum in Cohen Place. V 12 Q Heart of Melbourne shopping Cnr Swanston and Lonsdale Sts. Ph: 9639 6422 13 State Library of Victoria One of Australia’s oldest cultural institutions and home of the Ned Kelly armour with regular free exhibitions. Ph: 8664 7000 MIT University 14 R Main campus of one of Australia’s largest tertiary institutions. Ph: 9925 2000 15 Old Melbourne Gaol Melbourne’s oldest prison and location of 136 hangings including infamous bushranger Ned Kelly. Ph: 9663 7228 racula’s Theatre 16 D Restaurant
A fun-filled restaurant and inductee to the Victorian Tourism awards ‘Hall of Fame’. Ph: 9347 3344
17 Lygon Street Precinct Melbourne’s “Little Italy”.
oyal Exhibition Building 18 R and Carlton Gardens Discover the history and beauty of this World Heritage listed building and gardens. Ph: 9270 5000 19 Melbourne Museum Explore life in Victoria, from our natural environment to our culture and history. Ph: 8341 7777 IMAX Theatre Experience the ultimate 3D experience on the huge screen at IMAX. Ph: 9663 5454 20 Princess Theatre One of Melbourne’s famed musical theatres. Ph: 9299 9800 21 Parliament House Home of the Victorian Parliament. Ph: 9651 8568 t Patrick’s Cathedral 22 S One of the grandest Gothic revival churches in Australia. Ph: 9662 2233 23 Melbourne Fire Services Museum Heritage-listed fire station built in 1863, featuring vintage fire vehicles and equipment. Ph: 9662 2907 24 Icehouse A world class ice sports and entertainment venue with two Olympic sized ice rinks. Ph: 1300 756 699 25 Treasury Gardens A small and peaceful green space.
26 Fitzroy Gardens and Cook’s Cottage Featuring a conservatory, Cook’s Cottage, a model Tudor village and the Fairies’ tree. elbourne Cricket 27 M Ground
Australia’s most famous sporting stadium with the National Sports Museum and MCG tours. Ph: 9657 8888
elbourne Park 28 M Sports and entertainment precinct that hosts the Australian Open Tennis Championships. Ph: 9286 1600
oyal Botanic Gardens 29 R Renowned as one of the world’s finest landscaped gardens. Ph: 9252 2300 hrine of Remembrance 30 S A tribute from the people of Victoria to the men and women who served in war to preserve our freedom. Ph: 9654 8415 ueen Victoria Gardens 31 Q The city’s memorial to Queen Victoria featuring the famous floral clock. 32 Birrarung Marr Melbourne’s newest major park. A contemporary events space linking the city to the Yarra River. 33 Flinders Quarter Designer paradise with Australia’s largest concentration of commercial art galleries. 34 Collins Street Featuring some of the world’s best known boutique retailers.
egent Theatre/ 35 R Plaza Ballroom One of Melbourne’s grand theatres. Ph: 9299 9500 36 Lightning Ridge Opal Mines See Australia’s national gemstone. Cut, polish, learn about and buy opals. Ph: 9654 4444
ureka Skydeck 43 E Awe inspiring views of Melbourne. Open daily 10am – 10pm Riverside Quay. Ph: 9693 8888 ictorian Arts Centre 44 V Home to Australia’s premier performing arts companies. Ph: 9281 8000
t Paul’s Anglican 37 S Cathedral A beautiful and historic place of worship in the heart of Melbourne. Ph: 9653 4333
45 I mmigration Museum Discover stories of
orum Theatre 38 F Originally built as the State Theatre in 1929. Ph: 9299 9700
elbourne Aquarium 46 M Amazing worlds
39 Federation Square Melbourne’s meeting place, featuring the National Gallery of Victoria’s Australian art collection, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the Melbourne Visitor Centre, restaurants, cafes and bars amid remarkable public spaces. Ph: 9655 1900
rown Entertainment 47 C Complex
40 Flinders Street Station Australia’s busiest metropolitan train terminus. elbourne River 41 M Cruises Southgate
Offering a range of sightseeing tours on the Yarra. Ph: 8610 2600
outhgate Arts and 42 S Leisure Precinct Entertainment precinct with shops, restaurants, cafes and a Sunday market. Ph: 9686 1000
people from all over the world who have migrated to Australia. Ph: 9927 2700
to discover. Ph: 9923 5999
Dining, gaming and entertainment venues. Ph: 9292 8888
elbourne Convention 48 M and Exhibition Centre
The largest, combined exhibition and convention complex in Australia. Ph: 9235 8000
agle 49 E A 25-metre sculpture by Bruce Armstrong. Inspired by Bunjil, the spirit creator of the Kulin nation. outhern Cross Station 50 S Major transport hub for metropolitan, country and interstate trains and buses. Ph: 9619 2300 ebb Bridge 51 W Bicycle and pedestrian
link over the Yarra River.
ocklands Park 52 D Tranquil wetlands, large grassy areas with BBQs.