Melbourne Transport Guide for Travellers

Operated by Yarra Trams (Keolis Downer EDI), Melbourne's tram network is the city's signature transport experience. Trams run frequently across the CBD and stretch out into the inner and middle suburbs — St Kilda, Carlton, Fitzroy, Brunswick, Caulfield, Box Hill, Bundoora, Port Melbourne. Inside the Free Tram Zone they cost nothing; outside, they run on the standard Myki fare structure.

For first-time visitors, four routes stand out for both practicality and atmosphere: Route 96 takes you down Bourke Street through the CBD and out to St Kilda Beach, the bayside neighbourhood loved for cafes, the Esplanade and the Sunday market. Route 35 is the free City Circle Tram in heritage W-class carriages. Route 86 is one of the world's longest single tram routes, crossing from Bundoora through the inner-north to the Docklands. Route 109 runs east-west across the city from Box Hill to Port Melbourne.

• 96East Brunswick → St Kilda Beach via Bourke Street — the iconic tourist tram, sunset run to the bay
• 35City Circle — free heritage W-class tram, loops the CBD with recorded commentary
• 86Bundoora → Waterfront City (Docklands) — crosses inner-north Brunswick, Fitzroy and the CBD
• 109Box Hill → Port Melbourne — east-to-west across the city with views of Albert Park and the bay
• 19North Coburg → Flinders Street — the Sydney Road / Royal Parade tram, classic inner-north corridor
• 48Victoria Harbour → North Balwyn — through Collingwood and the eastern leafy suburbs
• 75Vermont South → Etihad Stadium — runs along Bridge Road past Richmond's restaurant strip

Melbourne's 16-line suburban train network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM). Almost all lines converge at Flinders Street Station — the iconic yellow Edwardian building beside the Yarra River with the famous clocks under the dome (the traditional Melbourne meeting place). Many lines also pass through the City Loop, an underground rail loop with four stations: Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, and Parliament.

Train lines fan out from the CBD to the suburbs, beaches and hills: the Sandringham line hugs the bay through Brighton; the Belgrave line climbs into the Dandenong Ranges and connects to the Puffing Billy steam train; the Werribee line heads west to the open-range zoo; the Lilydale line is your starting point for the Yarra Valley wineries. Suburban trains are clean, frequent (every 10–20 minutes off-peak), and run from around 5am to midnight on weekdays. The Night Network runs hourly through Friday and Saturday nights.

• Flinders StThe central hub. Every suburban line passes through. Meet under the clocks.
• Southern CrossThe interstate gateway: V/Line regional trains, SkyBus, the XPT to Sydney
• City LoopUnderground stations Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament — check direction signs
• Sandringham lineDirect to Brighton and the beach — no City Loop, fast service
• Belgrave lineTo the Dandenong Ranges and Puffing Billy steam railway
• Lilydale lineGateway to the Yarra Valley wine region
• Werribee lineTo Werribee Open Range Zoo and Werribee Mansion

Buses fill the gaps in Melbourne's tram-and-train network — particularly in middle and outer suburbs, and connecting train stations to specific neighbourhoods. The SmartBus routes 901, 902 and 903 are high-frequency orbital services that loop around the metropolitan area without touching the CBD — useful for connecting suburbs without going via the city. The Night Network NightRider buses run overnight on weekends along the major commuter corridors.

For tourists, the most useful bus services are typically the airport SkyBus (covered separately below), the Yarra Valley buses (Lilydale Station to Healesville), and the Mornington Peninsula Bus connecting Frankston Station to Sorrento and Portsea. Buses use the same Myki system as trams and trains, with the same fare zones.

Melbourne is the largest city in Australia without a direct airport-to-CBD train. Until the Melbourne Airport Rail Link opens (planned for the 2030s), the SkyBus is the standard public option. Services depart every 10 minutes from Tullamarine, take 30–40 minutes to Southern Cross Station, and run 24 hours a day. The basic fare is around AUD $23.50 one-way or $34 return as of 2026 (kids generally free with paying adult).

SkyBus also runs to Avalon Airport (the Jetstar-focused secondary terminal), and there's a dedicated St Kilda Express service for travellers heading direct to bayside accommodation. From Southern Cross, SkyBus includes a free shuttle to most major CBD hotels — saving you a taxi fare on the final leg.

• SkyBus TullamarineEvery 10 min, 30–40 min to Southern Cross. $23.50 one-way / $34 return / kids free
• SkyBus AvalonConnects with Jetstar flights at Avalon Airport, ~75 min to Southern Cross
• St Kilda ExpressDirect from Tullamarine to St Kilda — useful for bayside hotel guests
• Hotel ShuttleFree from Southern Cross to most CBD hotels — book on arrival at SkyBus desk

For trips outside metropolitan Melbourne, you need V/Line — Victoria's regional rail and coach operator. V/Line trains depart from Southern Cross Station to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, Traralgon and Albury (with continuing service into NSW). Coach services connect train lines to smaller towns and the major regional tourist destinations.

V/Line uses its own fare system (not Myki capped) — tickets are sold per route via the V/Line website, app, or at Southern Cross ticketing. Trains are comfortable, with both economy and business classes on most services. The Geelong line is often the busiest tourist route; the Ballarat line takes you to Sovereign Hill goldfields; the Bendigo line connects to the historic gold-rush town.

• Geelong1 hour to Geelong Station — gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and ferry to Sorrento
• Ballarat1.5 hours to Ballarat Station — Sovereign Hill living-history goldfields museum
• Bendigo2 hours to Bendigo — preserved gold-rush architecture, talking tram, art gallery
• Traralgon2 hours to the Latrobe Valley — Gippsland gateway
• Albury3 hours to Albury — the NSW border, continuing to Sydney via the XPT