A Walk in the Park (29MB, mp3)

Take a relaxing stroll through Melbourne’s grand old parks and botanical gardens. Duration 2 hours, free download.

On the Waterfront (14MB, mp3)

Explore bridges, sculptures, Melbourne Aquarium and the Southbank Promenade. Duration 2 hours, free download.

Arcades and Laneways (17MB, mp3)

Weave your way through historic arcades, hidden laneways and unusual streetscapes in Melbourne. Duration 1.5 hours, free download.

Cosmopolitan Melbourne (18MB, mp3)

Discover Melbourne’s city views, architecture and the historic China Town precinct. Duration 1.5 hours, free download.

Eat, Drink Melbourne, ABC (28MB, mp3)

Uncover Melbourne’s culinary hotspots with the ABC’s Eat, Drink Melbourne podtour. Duration 1 hour, free download.

Marvellous Melbourne

From modern Federation Square to historic Old Melbourne Gaol – discover the stories behind beautiful buildings and fabulous open spaces. Duration 3.5 hours. Download online from Talk’n Tours for $19.99.

Opening Hours

Operates every 15 minutes from 10am- 4pm daily. After 3pm some buses may not complete an entire route – please check with driver.

Melbourne’s bus network is reasonably good, servicing the same routes as trams, as well as destinations overlooked by trains or trams. The only downside with buses is that they tend to take longer, often getting bunched up in traffic during peak periods.

While it’s best to pre-purchase your ticket before travelling, a limited range of tickets may also be purchased onboard from the driver. For bus information, timetables and fares, visit Metlink.

Probably the most useful service for travellers is the NightRider. The after midnight bus service travels from the city to the suburbs, departing Swanston Street (between Collins and Flinders streets) hourly from 12.30am to 4.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with connecting services to Crown Casino. Onboard public phones are available so you can call a taxi or a friend to collect you from the bus stop.

NightRider operate low-floor wheelchair accessible buses with stepless entry, making it easier for people using wheelchairs or with limited mobility to board and move around the vehicles with ease. You should call ahead to confirm low-floor buses.

Special services also operate during the year to support major Melbourne events like the Australian Grand Prix and New Year’s Eve.

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle
The free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle stops at key destinations around the city, including the Melbourne Museum, Queen Victoria Market, Lygon Street, the Melbourne Aquarium, Docklands and the Southern Star Observation Wheel, Chinatown and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The shuttle runs between 10am and 4pm daily, with the complete trip taking around 50 minutes.

Suburban bus routes and contact information:

• Bayswater, Croydon and Dandenong (including Lilydale, Olinda and Rowville extensions): Ph 03 9723 3529
• Craigieburn: Ph 03 9338 6466 or visit Tullamarine Bus Lines.
• Eltham and Epping: Ph 03 9470 3355 or visit Reservoir Bus Company
• Frankston/Mornington/Rosebud: Ph 03 9786 7088
• St Albans (including Melton and Sunbury extensions): Ph 03 9306 3166 or visit Northern Bus and Road Runner.
• Werribee: Ph 03 9463 3999

Melbourne’s trams and light rail service give the city a distinctive character and provide a scenic way to explore the city and inner suburbs like Richmond, St Kilda and South Yarra. Travelling along most of Melbourne’s major thoroughfares, trams run down the centre of the road, stopping at every CBD intersection and then every two or three blocks once in the suburbs.

Services run regularly from 5am until midnight Monday to Saturday and from 7am to 11pm Sundays. On weekends and public holidays, services are reduced. Many tram services link up to bus and train routes so you can negotiate your way to most places in Melbourne within a short walk from a train, tram or bus.

Passengers can board trams at signposted stops on the side of the road and from central islands in the CBD. These spots often have a map with route numbers and times – the route number is displayed at the front of the tram. To catch a tram, signal to the driver with a raised hand and climb on board, either through the front, middle or rear doors. Although motorists are prohibited from passing trams that are stationary at stops, always look left to see if there are any vehicles approaching.

Tickets, called Metcards, can be pre-purchased from train stations and stores displaying a Metcard sign and are interchangeable for use on all metropolitan public transport. As well, a limited selection of Metcards can be purchased from onboard coin-only ticket machines. Acquiring Met tickets under the automated system can provide some difficulties for people with disabilities. Tickets can also be purchased over the counter from booking offices at premium train stations or via the Metcard Helpline (1800 652 313).

Fares are based on duration and distance, with metropolitan Melbourne divided into three zones. When travelling on all public transport, make sure you have a valid ticket as roving ticket inspectors can fine you upwards of AUD$100.

City Circle Tram
The distinctive burgundy and gold City Circle tram provides a free and convenient way to move around the city and passes a number of sights and attractions including NewQuay dining and entertainment precinct. Running along Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, La Trobe Street and Spring Street, the journey takes nearly 50 minutes, although it can be used as a hop on, hop off service.

Trams run in both directions every 12 minutes from 10am-6pm seven days a week (except Christmas Day and Good Friday). During daylight saving hours are extended on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to 9pm.

Note: The City Circle Tram is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Melbourne is home to a thriving arts scene and more than 100 galleries that range from large public institutions to smaller commercial galleries and artist cooperatives.

Federation Square is home to the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, the world’s first major public gallery dedicated to to Australian art and in St Kilda Road you can discover the National Gallery of Victoria’s international collection.

Melbourne has one of the world’s highest densities of commercial galleries. They are located predominantly in the city centre along Flinders Lane, a number of which specialise in indigenous art. For outdoor experiences and sculpture gardens visit the Linden Arts Centre, Heide Museum of Modern Art or Herring Island.

Public galleries From NGV to the State Library explore Melbourne’s stunning and diverse public art galleries.

Commerical galleries and artist cooperatives Revel in Melbourne’s thriving art scene in an abundance of commercial galleries and artist-run cooperatives.

Public art, walking tours and art trails Discover street art in laneways and sculpture on the street or join a walking tour and be shown hidden gems.

NGV International NGV International houses a breathtaking collection from Europe, Asia, America and Oceania and, each winter hosts the popular Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition. 180 St Kilda Road, Southbank

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia The home of Australian art, presenting the history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous art, photography, fashion and decorative arts. Federation Square, Flinders Streets, Melbourne

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art View the art of our time in a wide range of media and creative forms, including photography, video, electronic imaging, painting and sculpture. 111 Sturt Street, Southbank

Australian Centre for the Moving Image ACMI is dedicated to the moving image in all its forms – from early cinema to the latest in digital media. It boasts a screen gallery and two multi-format cinemas. Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne

Heide Museum of Modern Art Heide is one of Australia’s leading public art museums, celebrated for its award-winning architecture, modern art collection and breathtaking gardens. 7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen

Melbourne taxis are numerous and easy to spot – they are all uniformly yellow. As well, drivers must always wear a neat uniform and have an identity card on show at all times.

Hailing a cab
Cabs often wait in designated ranks that are clearly signposted at central locations like major hotels in the CBD, or busy spots such as Flinders Street Station. You can also hail a taxi in the street – if the rooftop light is illuminated, it means the taxi is available for hire – or book a taxi by telephone. Outside Melbourne, taxis widely operate in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, with additional cabs at country towns throughout the rest of the state.

Taxi totems
Melbourne has recently launched a number of ‘taxi totems’ around the city and in some regional centres, which will be lit and will make it easier to hail cabs and for cabs to notice you. The totems will feature your location name and the nearest cross street, a list of local taxi services and booking numbers  including numbers for wheelchair accessible taxis and connections to train, tram and bus services where relevant.

Fares and surcharges
Taxi meters are usually clearly visible, so you can keep check of your fare. Late night taxi trips must be paid for in advance. Between 10pm and 5am in Victoria, the driver will ask you for an up-front deposit, based on a table of point to point estimates. You can use the fare estimator to work out what your up-front costs are likely to be. Melbourne cabs attract additional charges like a late night surcharge from midnight to 5am, a fee for phone bookings, a fee for using the Citylink freeway and even a fee for taxis waiting at the airport rank.

Melbourne’s major taxi companies include:

• 13 CABS (13 22 27 – within Australia only)
• Arrow (13 22 11 – within Australia only)
• Embassy Taxis (13 17 55 – within Australia only)
• Silver Top Taxis (13 10 08 – within Australia only)

Taxis are available from the ground floor level of Melbourne Airport, outside Terminal 2 (T2 – International) and both domestic terminals (Terminal 1 – T1 and Terminal 3 – T3). Expect a taxi fare of around A$50 each way between the CBD (central business district) and Melbourne Airport.