DEPARTURES MELBOURNE AIRPORT
If you don’t have a buddy with a friendly smiling face ready to whisk you away at the end of your flight. Here are some alternative transport options from Melbourne – Tullamarine Airport to Melbourne CBD with approximate costs as at August 2011.
JETBUS
Jetbus Operates from outside the International Terminal 6am to midnight. Cross the road to the centre road lane to pick up the service and you can book for this service ahead, but remember to turn your mobile on. The benefit of this service is that it is door to door if your destination is within a 3Km radius of the CBD. The only disadvantage is that your location could be at the end of a string of drop offs, but certainly value for money at $15 one way or $24 return.
SKYBUS BUS
A great regular service to the CBD, the Skybus operates between the Airport and Southern Cross Railway Station, costing $15.00 one way or $24.00 return per person. This part of the journey takes about 30 mins.
If your final destination is not in the Southern Cross Railway Station vicinity, you can connect by tram, or train along the concourse to your relevant platform. You will require a “two hour zone one” ticket for the tram or train ticket for the stat $3.80 full fare, for most destinations within a 5-6Km radius. See the METLINK below for further public transport and ticket details if you plan to do further travelling on your day of travel.
TAXI
The journey from the airport in non peak hour traffic to Melbourne CBD and fringes, will take about 20-30 minutes, door to door by taxi at a cost of $50-60 approximately dependant on your location. All public taxi cabs are yellow which are monitored for service. There are a range of limousine services on offer if that is your thing and within budget. Like most cities I have travelled there other drivers touting for your business and my advice is be discerning or stick to the yellow cabs.
CAR HIRE
All the usual car hire companies can be found located at the Melbourne Airport with most having their vehicle pick up point literally across the road in the car park located outside the terminal door.
If travelling into the city the main freeway – ‘Citylink‘ is a toll road and a Citylink Pass needs to be purchased. As in in some other countries there are no toll booths to pay your fee at the start of the freeway. Be aware that if travelling by extensively by car tolls do apply on a couple of other freeways. Toll passes an be purchased ahead from Citylink.
METLINK
Melbourne’s public tram, train and bus system with extensive coverage across metropolitan Melbourne, that is except to Melbourne Airport. There are two zones which will inform you fare and a range of options like two hour, all day or the ten trip tickets which cover all three services. If you are not a walker or want the option or just hopping on and off to your next tourist sight, the all day ticket zone 1 is as good an option as any. Talk to your host or a Melbourne Local, they will always advise your best option.
Metlink in Melbourne has just installed MYKI an electronic ticket system which runs in parallel with the paper ticket system until it is phased out. You need to purchase a ticket prior to commencing your journey from a railway station, newsagent or other retail outlet. Ticket purchase currently is available with coin only on trams which is also due to cease in the near future.
AVALON AIRPORT IS Melbourne’s second airport catering for domestic travellers using the two lost cost airlines operating out of it. The airport is 60Kms form the city, making transport difficult even if your airfare is cheaper.
