Getting to Melbourne
Melbourne is well-connected to the other states of Australia by regular train and bus service. The city sits astride the major Hume Highway, making it a straight-forward venture if you are driving a car. International travellers can fly into Melbourne International Airport, just 22kms northwest of the city centre, and connect to the downtown by a number of means.
By Car
The main driving route in Melbourne is the Hume Highway, which runs north to Canberra and Sydney. It takes about 10 hours to drive from Sydney. Princes Highway is more scenic and a slower route along the coast, which leads to Adelaide and Sydney. To get to inland destinations, you can take the Western Highway, which goes towards Ballarat, or the Calder Highway which travels north towards Bendigo.
By Rail
All interstate trains arrive at the Spencer Street Railway Station in the city centre. The Sydney-Melbourne XPT travels the 10-hour, 30-minute journey between the country's two largest cities every day. There are several classes of seat on this popular rail line, run by Countrylink (tel: +61 3 13 22 32). The Overland operates daily between Adelaide and Melbourne, taking 12 hours to complete the trip; Great Southern Railways runs this line (tel: +61 3 13 21 47). To get from Canberra to Melbourne, you can take the Canberra Link, which involves a train ride to Wadonga and then a bus connection to Canberra.
By Bus
Greyhound and McCaffertys bus companies link Melbourne with every Australian capital and most of the other major towns and cities throughout Victoria and the rest of the country. Greyhound Australia is the biggest bus service and can connect you with every point in the country (tel: +61 3 13 14 99). All interstate buses arrive at Melbourne's Transit Centre, just two blocks north of the central railway station. Trams and taxis can take you from the bus station to more specific points around the city.
By Air
Melbourne International Airport handles regular flights from all of Australia's capitals as well as a number of direct international destinations. The airport's three terminals are located 22kms from downtown Melbourne, just off of the Tullamarine Freeway. Skybus services and taxis offer quick and convenient transportation from the airport into the city centre.
