Melbourne Accessible City

Getting to Melbourne is easy. Hundreds of international and domestic flights arrive and depart daily at Melbourne Airport, with over 27 million passengers passing through the airport each year. Melbourne is also linked to major centres by rail and major highways and a ferry to Tasmania. The city is an important centre for business, education and major events and is a popular destination with international and domestic visitors alike.

Qantas and Jetstar operate more than 970 international flights each week, offering an extensive global network providing around 750 flights a week to Australia from around the world. Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar operate around 5,600 flights each week around the country to over 59 domestic destinations. Experience Australia with the airline that knows Australia best; The Spirit of Australia.

International Air Access

Melbourne Airport is the gateway to southern Australia, with an average of 585 international flights operating every week to and from major destinations. Twenty-seven international carriers currently operate direct services to Melbourne. In December 2010, Jetstar commenced inaugural services into Singapore, Auckland and Queenstown. Since late 2010, three Chinese airlines - China Eastern, Air China and China Southern - have flown direct and with more frequency, between Melbourne and Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Royal Brunei Airlines commenced direct services between Melbourne and the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan in March 2011.

View Flying Time Information

Flying Within Australia

Melbourne Airport offers the convenience of a curfew-free, 24-hour single terminal precinct.

More than 450 flights arrive at and depart from Melbourne Airport to major cities and regional areas around Australia every day. Six domestic airlines operate at Melbourne Airport: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Regional Express, Tiger Airways and Skywest Airlines.

View Flying Time Information

Getting into the City

SkyBus links Melbourne Airport to the centre of the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Buses depart approximately every ten minutes. With wheelchair access, on-board baggage storage, air conditioning, an average travel time of just 20 minutes and no reservations required, SkyBus is a cost-effective and low carbon way to travel between Melbourne Airport and the city.

From 6am-10.30pm (Monday to Friday) and 7.30am-5.30pm (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays), SkyBus provides a complimentary hotel transfer service to and from the city base to over 200 hotel properties in and near the city centre.

View SkyBus Information or www.skybus.com.au

Integrated Public Transport

Melbourne is progressively moving to a new integrated ticketing system. While this is happening, two types of ticketing equipment will operate across the train, tram and bus networks.

Passengers can use either a myki or a Metcard travelling in zones 1 and/or 2.

Conference and convention organisers can request to buy discounted tickets in bulk for their delegates. Metlink - a partnership of Melbourne's train, tram and bus operators, giving visitors and locals one ticket that can be used across all systems - invites event organisers to discuss opportunities to promote public transport during an event in Melbourne.

For information on Melbourne's trains, trams and buses, call Metlink on 131 638 within Australia (6am to midnight daily), +61 3 8608 5010 for international callers, or visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au.

Metlink Journey Planner

Metlink's online journey planner helps passengers plan their journey. Enter the origin and destination and receive a customised trip plan and map detailing all services and connections. Many of the city's attractions are in the journey planner, making planning a trip even easier.

The journey planner is available at the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, The MetShop (corner Swanston and Little Collins streets), or at www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au.

View Melbourne Train Network Information

View Melbourne Tram Network Information

Hours of Operation

Metropolitan train and tram services operate between 5am and midnight, Monday to Thursday, with extended hours to around 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.

There are over 300 bus routes across Melbourne servicing cross-suburban travel, CBD trips for commuters, connections to train stations, major shopping centres and leisure and sporting venues. Many of Melbourne's buses have been upgraded and run 6am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm Saturday and 9am to 9pm Sunday.

NightRider buses run from 1.30am to 4.30am on Saturday and 1.30am to 5.30am on Sunday mornings.

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle

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 locations. The complete trip takes approximately an hour and a half and includes an informative audio commentary. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily, excluding Christmas Day. Visit thatsmelbourne.com.au/shuttle to view the route and stops.

City Circle Tram

Free City Circle trams travel the perimeter of Melbourne's Central Business District, taking in many of Melbourne's landmarks. Catch the tram at any of the specially marked stops on Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Drive, La Trobe Street or Spring Street. The City Circle route uses iconic W-Class trams, offering passengers an historical experience, while automated commentary announces points of interest along the route.

The City Circle trams operate approximately every 12 minutes, 10am-6pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10am-9pm Thursday to Saturday, excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Travelling to Regional Victoria

Exploring regional Victoria by train and coach is relaxing and easy. V/Line is Victoria's largest regional transport operator and provides regional communities with rail and coach services.

For more information about travel in regional Victoria and to plan a trip, visit www.vline.com.au or call 136 196.