Melbourne Tours

Melbourne’s Public Transport System

The best to get around inner Melbourne is via its extensive tram network.

Melbourne uses the myki card, a reusable contactless smart card for paying fares on all trains, trams, and buses. You can purchase myki cards at PTV hubs like Southern Cross Station, retail outlets displaying the myki sign (including 7-Elevens), and premium train stations.

Tourist Tip: Get a Myki Explorer Pack from PTV hubs, which includes a myki card, travel credit, a city map, and local discounts.

FREE Transport in Central Melbourne

Free Tram Zone

All trams within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone are free – no myki tap required when riding entirely within the zone. The Free Tram Zone is bordered by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street, with routes along Victoria Street, William Street and Elizabeth Street surrounding Queen Victoria Market and the Docklands area also included.

City Circle Tram (Route 35)

The City Circle Tram is a free heritage tram service that passes major attractions including Melbourne Museum, Parliament House, State Library Victoria, Docklands, Federation Square, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and the Princess Theatre.

The City Circle Tram runs in a clockwise direction at 12-minute intervals between 9:30am and 5:00pm daily, along Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Drive, La Trobe Street and Spring Street. The route includes onboard audio commentary providing details of city landmarks.

Getting to Major Tourist Attractions

Melbourne Zoo

• Tram Route 58: Route 58 runs between West Coburg and Toorak via William Street in the city centre, stopping right outside Melbourne Zoo at stop 26
• Tram Route 19: Also serves the zoo area
• Train: Royal Park Station on the Upfield Line is located right across the road from Melbourne Zoo’s entrance, with trains running from Flinders Street Station
• Bus Route 505: Runs from Moonee Ponds to Melbourne University and stops outside Melbourne Zoo

St Kilda Beach

• Tram Routes 16 and 96: Both tram routes go to St Kilda, with Route 96 being particularly popular
• Train: Sandringham Line to St Kilda Station
• Bus Routes: Routes 246, 606, 623, 600, 922, and 923 also serve St Kilda

Brighton Beach (Famous Bathing Boxes)

• Train: Sandringham Line to Brighton Beach Station
• Bus Route 600: Connects St Kilda to Brighton Beach
• Buses 922 and 923: Also run between St Kilda and Brighton

Other Key Attractions

Many attractions are accessible by trams in the Free Tram Zone or nearby, including Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Chapel Street, and Lygon Street.

Planning Your Journey

Apps & Resources:

• Use Public Transport Victoria’s journey planner at ptv.vic.gov.au
• Download the PTV app for live departure information
• tramTRACKER app for real-time tram arrivals

Useful Numbers:

• Transport Victoria provides real-time departure information for trains, trams and buses

Operating Hours: Train services run from 5am to midnight Monday to Thursday, and the Night Network runs all night on Fridays and weekends.

Melbourne’s extensive tram network is the largest in the world and makes getting around very convenient for tourists. The combination of the Free Tram Zone in the CBD and easy connections to suburbs means you can see most major attractions without needing a car!