Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 11 . MELBOURNE
between Australia’s two largest cities daily; trip time is 10 1 ⁄2 hours. The full economy
fare, if booked on the day of travel, is A$110 (US$72), A$66 (US$43) if
booked a week in advance, and A$55 (US$36) if booked 2 weeks in advance. The
first-class fare is A$154 (US$100) on the day of travel, A$92 (US$60) a week in
advance, and A$77 (US$50) 2 weeks in advance. A first-class sleeper costs $231
(US$150) booked on the day of travel, A$169 (US$110) a week in advance, and
A$154 (US$100) 2 weeks in advance. Students presenting an ISIC international
student card travel at “2 week in advance price” in all categories, even if booked
on the day. Call Countrylink on & 13 22 32, or access their website at www.
countrylink.info.
The Overland provides daily service to and from Melbourne and Adelaide
(trip time: 12 hr.). Fares are A$57 (US$37) in economy and A$105 (US$68) for
a first-class sleeper. You can transport your car on the Overland for A$168
(US$110). Call Great Southern Railways at & 13 21 47, or check their website
at www.gsr.com.au.
Daylink services also connect Melbourne with Adelaide. This trip is by train
from Melbourne to Bendigo, and bus from Bendigo to Adelaide. Total trip time
is 11 hours, and the fare is A$60 (US$39) economy and A$69 (US$45) first-class.
The Canberra Link connects Melbourne with the nation’s capital, and consists
of a train journey from Melbourne to Wadonga, and a 3-hour bus trip from
there to Canberra. The journey takes around 11 hours and costs A$45 (US$30)
in economy, and A$64 (US$42) in first-class.
For train information and reservations for the daylink services to Adelaide and
Canberra call V/Line (& 13 61 96 in Australia; www.vlinepassenger.com.au).
BY BUS Several bus companies connect Melbourne with other capitals and
regional areas of Victoria. Among the biggest are McCafferty’s (& 13 14 99 in
Australia; www.mccaffertys.com.au) and Greyhound Pioneer (& 13 20 30 in
Australia, or 07/3258 1670; www.greyhound.com.au). Greyhound Pioneer buses
and McCafferty’s coaches depart and arrive at Melbourne’s Transit Centre, at 58
Franklin St., 2 blocks north of the Spencer Street Railway Station. New arrivals
can take a tram or taxi from the station to their hotel. V/Line buses (& 13 61 96
in Australia), which travel all over Victoria, depart from the Spencer Street Bus
Terminal.
BY CAR You can drive from Sydney to Melbourne along the Hume Highway
(a straight trip of about 9 1 ⁄2 hr.), though a much nicer route is via the coastal
Princes Highway, for which you will need a minimum of 2 days, with stops. For
information on all aspects of road travel in Victoria, contact the Royal Automotive
Club of Victoria (& 03/9607 22 22, or visit www.racv.com.au).
VISITOR INFORMATION
The first stop on any visitor’s itinerary should be the Melbourne Visitor Centre,
Federation Square, Swanston Street and Flinders Street, VIC 3000 (& 03/9658
9658). The center, which opened in 2002, serves as a “one-stop-shop” for tourism
information, accommodation and tour bookings, event ticketing, public transport
information, and ticket sales. Also here are an ATM, self-help Internet terminals,
and interactive multimedia providing information on Melbourne and Victoria.
The center is open 7 days from 9am to 6pm. The Melbourne Greeter Service also
operates from the Melbourne Visitor Centre. This service is available in 20 different
languages and connects visitors to enthusiastic local volunteers who offer free
one-on-one orientation tours of the city. Book at least 3 days in advance (& 03/
9658 9658; greeter@melbourne.vic.gov.au).