Getting to Melbourne

Plane

Consult this site for information about flying to Melbourne from overseas.

Fly from within Australia on the premium national airline Qantas or with the budget airline Virgin Blue. Fly from most cities to Melbourne with the budget airline Jet Star.
Or find cheap flights here.

Fly into the main Melbourne airport Tullamarine (22kms north of the CBD), or into the less convenient-for-the-city Avalon airport.
Travel from Tullamarine to the city by:
a) posh option: taxi (expect to pay around $40 into the city);
b) mid-range option: the cheap and efficient Skybus, which offers free connections from Spencer Street station to most major hotels ($13 one-way/ $24 return); or
c) shoe-string option: try posting on the Swing Talk Board to scab a lift with someone.

Train and Bus

Catch the train or Coach from most major cities into Melbourne's Spencer Street Station. From here, you can catch any one of a number of metropolitan buses, trains or trams.

Ferry

The ferry between Tasmania and the mainland leaves from Devonport in Tasmania arrives in Port Melbourne in Melbourne.

Getting around Melbourne

Hire cars

The usual range of hire car providers are available in Melbourne, though the rent-a-bomb company is usually the cheapest.

Public Transport

The Metlink website gives full details about travelling on public transport in Melbourne. The local area maps are particularly useful.
The Melbourne tram, bus and rail network is easy to negotiate, and the trams which cover the inner-city extensively are Melbourne icons.
Ticketing varies between zones. Travellers may purchase two-hourly, daily and city saver tickets onboard buses and trams and at train stations. There are a range of other tickets and packs of tickets available from retail outlets, metshops and train stations.
Visitors should be aware that ticket machines onboard trams only accept coins and that the drivers carry no change.
Most public transport services finish at around midnight, though there is a limited night rider bus service which services some routes after midnight.

Scabbing a lift

In the best spirit of shoe string budgeting, you may manage to 'scab' - borrow - a lift with a local to and between venues. The best way to do this is by asking at an event, or by posting on the busy Australian Swing Talk board. Chocolate will usually get you a long way on this route.