CPMaverick

The free tram zone is 100% free for any trip, any direction, there is no ticket or card necessary as long as you stay in the zone. Hop on, hop off as you like.

This is the zone, which does not include southbank but you can easily walk from southbank across the river to a free tram.
https://static.ptv.vic.gov.au/siteas...m-Zone-Map.pdf

If you are planning to ride outside this zone, pick up a myki explorer at the airport when you arrive which comes with a map and information on how to use the myki. If you don't, you can still get a myki pretty much anywhere in the city, but it won't come with instructions.

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/m...myki-explorer/

Mwenenzi

Flinders St is on the north side of the Yarra river
Southbank is on the south side of the Yarra river
Bridges at Spencer St & Swanson St for cars/tram/people. And a bridge between those 2 for people only.

FlitBen

Thanks for the heads-up. We'll be getting those airport mykis as it is far more than a kilometer walk to Flinders along St. Kilda. Besides, there's a tram passing the Shrine stop almost every minute if I read google's schedule right, which sounds crazy but convenient. UberX direct to the CBD costs the same for three, so we'll be using it as well.

I wouldn't have noticed the Sea Life Aquarium if I hadn't looked up that King pedestrian bridge you mentioned. Would you know if it offers anything really different from the Singapore or Hong Kong ocean parks?

CPMaverick

In that case, yes you definitely need a myki! You will be on the main tram thoroughfare, so yes, lots and lots of trams and if you are going into the city, you can pick any of them. Going south they will split off on different routes. From your location, the trams will be much quicker than an UberX (because you won't have to wait, or look, and there are always trams).

Trams can seem expensive for a single trip, but there is a daily cap, and once you tap on you can ride any tram for 2 hours, or all night if you tap on after 6pm. So they aren't as expensive as they might seem, especially if you are touring around the city.

Note that you NEVER have to tap off on a tram in Zone 1 (you'll always be in Zone 1), because the fare is only time, not distance based. So don't do it, you'll annoy people as they are trying to de-tram. You do need to touch off after a train or bus trip.

The Myki website is very confusing. This sums it up pretty well.
https://www.ptua.org.au/tips/myki-qa/

A nice aquarium but nothing too special IMO. Have not experienced the SIN or HKG parks you mention.

PsiFighter37

Having just returned from Melbourne for a ~48 hour stay, I would highly recommend the following:

-Eat brunch at either Operator 25 or Two Birds, One Stone (the latter is a couple miles southeast of CBD)
-Grab a drink or three at Berlin Bar
-Go to the National Gallery of Victoria and spend 2-3 hours going through the amazing Escher x Nendo exhibit that is on display through April

FlitBen

Good info on the details So, I touch-on with trams inbound to the CBD, do the same with trams outbound to Southbank (plus touch-off). But, never with trams between stops within the free zone.

Funny enough, I do know all about RF signals contention right from my own wallet, where my RFID-enabled cards like to stumble my parking card as I wave the leather at the garage's 'smart' reader

OTOH, it's nice to know that a wide-ranging tourist wields a 'myki' advantage over the locals.

A dumb question from a first timer, if you don't mind. Do I board/exit Melbourne buses using specific doors?

Mister Miles

You might want to consider Ponyfish island, its a bar in the middle of the river that has some nice craft beers. A bit pricy from what I remember but I enjoyed spending some time there- especially when the sun is out.

CPMaverick

Never touch off on a tram. The only exception is for trips in the very far suburbs, where you'll never go. Only touch on if your trip starts or ends outside the free tram zone. For trips entirely in the zone, do nothing.

Sorry I haven't ever taken a bus here! So not sure about the doors.

Great choice ^ And it isn't really expensive compared to other options nearby.

Mwenenzi

Southbank (Crown Casino & Arts Centre) are outside the zone, but many people (incorrectly) do not touch off on those first stops over the river.

CPMaverick

NO

Never touch off on a tram at those stops. Never. Those are in Zone 1 along with 95% of tram stops. Zone 1 is NOT the free tram zone. That is different.

The ONLY time you touch off on trams is in Zone 2. Zone 2 is WAAAAY outside the city. Glen Iris, Camberwell, Box Hill, Caulfield. No tourist is going there, at least not on a tram. So the advice to any tourist, NEVER touch off on a tram. You will block the exits and make the locals very ornery like I am now

http://www.melbournestayin.com.au/wp...urne-zones.jpg

(Just for clarity, touching off is when you exit the tram. Touching on is when you board the tram).

FlitBen

That sure simplifies things, thanks.

I'll leave the bus mystery for my inner Spock to solve

PsiFighter37

When we took the bus in Melbourne, we touched on but not when getting off. The bus driver didn't chase after us, so I assume we did it right.

number_6

The rule is to touch off on buses but not on trams. The confusion is due to the zone 1 fare being made the same as the zone 1+2 fare (there is a cheaper zone 2 only fare, but tourists would never visit zone 2 ). So no price difference from touch-off if you start/end in zone 1; they want you to touch off on buses to get travel pattern data, which is used to optimize bus schedules. Not touching off means you go to end of the line. For trams it caused too much traffic delay as cars cannot pass trams while the doors are open if no tram island, so the touch off was eliminated. Finally if you do touch on in the free tram zone, you are charged the 2 hour fare, and Yarra Trams thanks you for your donation to them

The myki system in Melbourne is world famous as a case study of the worst possible way to implement electronic ticketing, with every possible error made in hardware and software selection. All of the original turnstiles have had to be replaced. About 100 million paper tickets had to be destroyed for reasons that shall remain secret; hence why you now must use a plastic card that you buy; the original design was to be able to buy short-use paper tickets fro vending machines. Fascinating stuff illustrating the importance of system design and planning. Ironic as the transport infrastructure hard part is superb, let down by the soft product.

Efrem

I'd be sure to spend some time in the National Gallery of Victoria Australia in Federation Square. While you're in that area, there are two alleys full of spray-painted wall art: Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane. Hosier Lane is right across Flinders Street from Fed Square, closer to the NGV Australia end. AC/DC Lane is a few short blocks west on Flinders Lane from Hosier Lane. (Note that Flinders Lane is not the same as Flinders Street. Both run east-west, but F. Street is at the south end of Hosier Lane while F. Lane is at its north end.)

I wouldn't waste time on things that you can do anywhere. Some of the above eating suggestions fall into that category. So do excellent, but not unusual, museums like NGV International on the south side of the Yarra. Look for things that are uniquely Melbourne. You might enjoy the Block Arcade off Collins Street or the Royal Arcade off Little Collins Street that way. (If you visit the Block Arcade and aren't tempted by the goodies in the Hopetoun Tea Room window, either you just had a full meal or you have more will power than I do.)

kokonutz

We did a wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley earlier in the week and I have fallen head over heels in love with their Pinot Noirs.

I can't recommend wine tasting in the Yarra strongly enough...and I say that as a veteran of over 15 wine tours all over the world!

https://readyjetroam.com/2019/04/19/...-of-australia/