A Frugal Guide to Melbourne !

1. Take the Skybus - To get to Melbourne city, the Skybus offers a shuttle service to Melbourne CBD and city hotels. These buses are available every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and every 30-60 minutes overnight serving passengers 24 hours, 7 days. If you are leaving for the airport, Skybus Hotel Shuttle will be at your service from the city 0600-2200 Monday to Friday and 0730-1830 Saturday and Sunday. You can obtain Skybus Metcards at the MetShop on the corner of Little Collins and Swanston streets and from the Skybus ticket booths at Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station. Pricing : Adult one way tickets cost $16 / $26 return; family tickets are available as well to save you some money. You can also purchase and print your ticket online. The advantage of using skybus is that it has a free Hotel shuttle service to transfer you between the city terminal and your city hotel or motel. The service is available to all Skybus passengers using one-way or return tickets during hotel shuttle hours of operation (refer below) and subject to availability. No booking is required and the mini-buses are available during operating hours. However, on departure, you need to ask your concierge to call Skybus on 9600 1711 to reserve your seats. Web site :

www.Skybus.com.au.

2. Grab the Australia Coach and Rail Pass - Grab a rail pass to make traveling easier and hassle-free. Usually, rail companies will have discounted packages with admission to attractions or accommodation deals. For instance, you can take advantage of the Greyhound coach’s Aussie Kilometre Passes, Aussie Explorer Passes and Express Fares. While the RailAustralia offers Austrail Flexi Pass, Backtracker Pass, Rail Explorer Pass and The Wanderer Rail Pass. Traveltrain also has a number of packages that includes accommodation and sightseeing. It offers many fun and breathtaking trips around Australia. You can make your selection from the Sunlander, the Tilt Train, the Spirit of the Outback, the Westlander, the Inlander, Kuranda Scenic Railway, the Gulflander, the Savannahlander, the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overland. It has four rail passes to meet your needs : the Wanderer, the East Coast Discovery Pass, the Austrail Flexipass and the Sunshine Rail Pass. Children under 16 years of age are entitled to concession fares while infants 3 years and under may travel free if sharing a seat or sleeping berth. Web sites :

www.greyhound.com.au, www.railaustralia.com.au and www.traveltrain.com.au

3. Take the Free City Circle Tram – Visitors to Melbourne can also make full use of the free city circle trams for sightseeing that bypass many tourist attractions. The Trams travel both in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction. You can board the tram in every twelve minutes from 10:00am and 6:00pm Sunday to Wednesday and extended hours, 10:00am - 9:00pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Web site : www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

4. Enjoy the Melbourne Tourist Shuttle - The Melbourne Tourist Shuttle is a delight to all frugal travelers. Running between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily, you can enjoy approximately one hour of informative on-board commentary as you travel around Melbourne. Web site : www.thatsmelbourne.com.au The 11 stops are: 1. Arts Centre precinct on St Kilda Road 2. Federation Square at front of St. Paul’s cathedral 3. Exhibition Street north of Little Collins Street 4. Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens 5. Lygon Street south of Faraday Street 6. University of Melbourne on Grattan Street 7. Queen Victoria Market on Peel Street 8. William Street north of Bourke Street 9. Southbank south of Queen's Bridge 10. Sports and Entertainment Precinct on Olympic Blvd 11. The Shrine and Royal Botanic Gardens

5. Book Free Guided Tours at the Zoos - Take advantage of the free guided tours at the Melbourne Zoo and the Werribee Open Range Zoo. The Zoo’s volunteer guides offer free one-hour tours. You will be able to learn much from the guides who have undergone an extensive training course with Zoo staff and other experts. Bookings are essential. To book a guided tour for a group (minimum of seven days’ notice required): Tel: (03) 9731 9600, Fax: (03) 9731 9606. Web site : www.zoo.org.au

6. Enjoy Free Story-telling Sessions at the Library - If you are bringing your kids, you can enjoy free storytelling sessions at the Melbourne Libraries. Let your kids of two to five year olds indulge in approximately 40 to 50 minutes of storytelling, reciting rhymes, singing songs and fun activities. Storytime sessions are conducted weekly throughout the year, (except January). Web site : www.citylibrary.org.au

7. Reserve a Free Guided Tour at the Royal Park – Visitors who love nature and fiona, can consider joining a free guided tour at the Royal Park, which is Melbourne’s largest park. Located within the park is the Australian Native Garden, the Walmsley House, the Urban Camp, the native grassland trials and two remnant vegetation sites. Its free guided tour lasts approximately one and a half hours, every Wednesday at 1.30pm. You can meet at the small carpark adjacent to the Australian Native Garden. For bookings, call the City of Melbourne Hotline on 9658 9658 or by email: enquiries@melbourne.vic.gov.au

.........................there are many more frugal tips in our travel guide. .

Planning An Extraordinary Vacation to Melbourne !

Melbourne is a city for all ages to enjoy. A well-planned trip to Melbourne ought to include scenic pleasures, wildlife encounters, discovering history, enjoying a spectacular event or visit a truly Melbournian farm. The advantage of planning your own trip to Melbourne gives you much freedom to make a wise selection of activities and events that will make your trip a fulfilling and memorable one. The following are some secrets for a truly extraordinary trip to Melbourne.

Join a Foodies Tour at the Queen’s Victoria Market

Web site : http://www.qvm.com.au/

The Foodies' Tour is a gourmet tour proudly organized by the Queen’s Victoria Market. The market is organized into three main produce sections of the Market: the Meat and Fish Hall, the Fruit and Vegetable aisles, and the Dairy Hall. Walk along with a fully qualified Market Guide who will give you hints in selecting produce while sampling the goods. This two fun-filled hours of tour depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10.00 am. Cost: $30 includes generous samplings, a coffee and an environmentally friendly shopping bag. Meeting Point: 69 Victoria Street (nearest Corner Elizabeth Street). Bookings are essential.

Sleepover at the Zoos

Web site : http://www.zoo.org.au/

Stay away from the hotel and sleep at the zoo instead. This award-winning Melbourne Zoo will provide you with tents and mattresses, dinner, supper, and breakfast and admission to the Zoo the following day. Don’t forget to bring a sleeping bag and a pillow ! Suitable for children 5 years and older. Bookings are essential. Pricing : Adults $180, Children (5–12 years) $130.

Have a Guided Chinatown Heritage Tour

Web site : http://www.chinesemuseum.com.au/
If you are interested to learn more about Melbourne's historic Chinatown, let the guided tours arranged by the Chinese Museum bring you for a Heritage Walk which commences with a guided tour of the Chinese Museum. The museum tour is followed by a walking tour of the area and some of the local retailers and you can learn more about the history of the precinct. A banquet lunch can be included in the tour. Pricing : Tour with lunch (duration 3 hours) Full price $34 Concession $31.

..................... there are many more activities in our travel guide.

Melbourne Important Maps

Maps
Maps are essential for a successful trip. Don't lose your way and waste time. Get the airport maps, the train station maps, the subway maps, the city maps and the attractions maps. Here are a few maps which you may wish to download
Melbourne City Map
Melbourne's tram network map
Tram network map (city centre)
Free tram service, City Circle
Yarra River Shuttle Service
Yarra River Visitor Guide
Docklands Visitor Map

Melbourne Events Calendar

Events Calendar
There are many interesting events in Melbourne throughout the year. You will be delighted to know that many of its events and entertainment are FREE and they are widely held across Melbourne’s famous parks, gardens, public spaces and waterfront.Some of the major events in Melbourne include:
AFL Grand Final;
Moomba Waterfest;
Melbourne Cup Carnival
Melbourne Queer Fim Festival
Melbourne Fringe Festival;
Australian Open Tennis; and
Australian Grand Prix

More events are listed in our travel guide.

Travelling in Melbourne

Travelling Essentials

Melbourne International Airport

Tullamarine Airport is the airport in Melbourne that serves international and interstate flights. Web site : www.melbourneairport.com.au

A luggage storage facility is Located in T2 Arrivals, through SmarteCarte. Rates are per 24 hours per piece: Hand luggage $10, Suitcase/Backpack/Golf bags $14 and Skis/Bicycles/surfboards $20. SmarteCarte operates from 5am to 12.30am, 7 days a week. Photo ID is required for storage. (If desk is unattended at any time, pick up phone located at the desk). Web site: www.smartecarte.com

From February 1, 2005, the duty free purchase allowances in Australia have increased. You can bring A$900 (for adult travellers, 18 years or over) or A$450 (for travellers under 18 years) worth of general goods (excluding alcohol and cigarettes). These goods can be obtained overseas or purchased in Australia on a duty/tax free basis before departure, or for which a refund of tax has been approved through the Tourist Refund Scheme. Note: Family members are permitted to pool their allowances. Web site: http://www.dutyfree.com.au/

Cash amounts of $A10,000 or more needs to be reported on arrival to Customs officers (excluding travellers cheques). It is important to remember that if you have any animal or plant item with you, or packed in your luggage, you must declare it on your Incoming Passenger Card. Please note that unaccompanied baggage may attract inspection charges. Web site: www.customs.gov.au and www.aqis.gov.au

Take the Skybus - To get to Melbourne city, the Skybus offers a shuttle service to Melbourne CBD and city hotels. These buses are available every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and every 30-60 minutes overnight serving passengers 24 hours, 7 days. If you are leaving for the airport, Skybus Hotel Shuttle will be at your service from the city 0600-2200 Monday to Friday and 0730-1830 Saturday and Sunday. You can obtain Skybus Metcards at the MetShop on the corner of Little Collins and Swanston streets and from the Skybus ticket booths at Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station. Pricing : Adult one way tickets cost $16 / $26 return; family tickets are available as well to save you some money. You can also purchase and print your ticket online. The advantage of using skybus is that it has a free Hotel shuttle service to transfer you between the city terminal and your city hotel or motel. The service is available to all Skybus passengers using one-way or return tickets during hotel shuttle hours of operation (refer below) and subject to availability. No booking is required and the mini-buses are available during operating hours. However, on departure, you need to ask your concierge to call Skybus on 9600 1711 to reserve your seats. Web site : http://www.skybus.com.au/.

Public Buses operate from the terminal, to various areas in Melbourne. Information on destinations and schedules can be obtained from the websites below :

Ballarat Area
www.airportshuttlebus.com.au
Bendigo Area
www.bendigoairportservice.com.au
Dandenong Area
www.airportbusdandenong.com.au
Frankston & Penninsula Bus Service
www.fapas.com.au
Geelong Area Gull Airport Services
www.gull.com.au

Before you leave the Airport, please visit the Travellers' Information Service is located on the ground floor of International Arrivals. Make good use of the centre to find out about the latest events, tours and must-see destinations in Victoria and Tasmania.