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

GETTING AROUND 531
architectural heritage centered on
Ferguson Street and Nelson Place—
both reminiscent of old England. On
the Strand overlooking the sea are a
line of bistros and restaurants, and a
World War II warship museum.
Ferry: from Southgate, the World
Trade Center, or St. Kilda Pier.
2 Getting Around
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Trams, trains, and buses are operated by several private companies including the
National Bus Company, Yarra Trams, and Connex to name a few. Generally,
both tourists and locals travel around the city and inner suburbs by tram.
BY TRAM Melbourne has the oldest tram network in the world. Trams are still
an essential part of the city, and a major cultural icon. There are several hundred
trams running over 325km (202 miles) of track. Instead of phasing this nonsmoggy
method of transport out, Melbourne is busily expanding the network.
Tram travel within the city and to all suburbs mentioned in this chapter costs
A$1.80 (US$1.20) for adults, A90¢ (US52¢) for children for a single journey.
Or you can buy a 2-Hour Metcard good for unlimited transport on buses or
trains for up to 2 hours. The 2-Hour Metcards cost A$2.70 (US$1.75) for adults
and A$1.50 (US$1) for children. If you plan to pack an awful lot in then try the
Zone 1 Metcard Daily ticket, which allows travel on all transport (trams and
trains) within the city and close surrounding suburbs mentioned in this chapter
from 5:30am to midnight (when transportation stops). It costs A$5.20 for
adults and A$2.70 (US$1.75) for children. Metcard Weekly tickets cost A$23
(US$15) for adults and A$11.40 (US$7.40) for children.
Buy single-trip and 2-hour tram tickets at ticket machines on trams, special
ticket offices (such as at the tram terminal on Elizabeth St., near the corner of
Flinders St.), at most newsagents, and at Metcard vending machines at many railway
stations. A Metcard needs to be validated by the Metcard Validator machine
on the tram, station platforms, or onboard buses before each journey; the only
exception to this is the 2-hour Metcard ticket purchased from a vending machine
on a tram, which is automatically validated starting from that journey only. Vending
machines on trams only accept coins—but give change—whereas larger vending
machines at train stations give change up to A$10 (US$6.50).
You can pick up a free route map from the Melbourne Visitors Centre, at
Federation Square, or at the Met Information Centre, 103 Elizabeth St., at the
corner of Collins Street (& 13 16 38 in Australia; www.victrip.com.au), which
is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and Saturday from
9am to 1pm.
The City Circle Tram is the best way to get around the center of Melbourne—
and it’s free. These burgundy-and-cream trams travel a circular route between all
the major central attractions, and past shopping malls and arcades. The trams run
in both directions every 10 minutes, between 10am and 6pm, except Good Friday
and Christmas Day. City Circle Tram stops are marked with a burgundy sign.
Value Money-Saving Transit Pass
The Getabout Travelcard, which can be used by two adults and up to four
children, is good for 1 day of travel on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
only. It costs A$11 (US$7). Buy it at newsagents.