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Melbourne would always be a captivating city for the visitor offering an array of engrossing things to see and do. This destination would also offer a fine system of public transport meaning that you could easily explore it without a car of your own. Melbourne features convenient bus, train and tram services on which you could easily navigate the city. After obtaining a Myki card you could use these efficient systems of public transport which are described below.

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The city’s frequently used trams would be an iconic mode of local transportation that is also likely to be a novel experience for foreign visitors. There would be some points to keep in mind when using these trams as well. When boarding a tram, you would have to ‘tap on’; in other words, place the Myki card on the card reader. However, it wouldn’t be necessary to do likewise when getting off. Meanwhile, in the free zone for trams in the city’s CBD, tapping on wouldn’t be necessary at all. Travelling by tram would be a great way to see the sights of Melbourne, and you could also visit attractive places in the suburbs in this way.

Trains would be a great option for those who need to travel extensive distances or make their way into the suburbs. The trains of Melbourne could be described as a larger sibling of the trams, transporting passengers from the city’s fringes to the CBD and the inner suburbs. Depending on your location and destination, taking the train could be a more rapid alternative than buses or trams.

The downside would be that at peak hours, trains might be rather packed, so it would probably be advisable to avoid taking them at the time of the morning and evening rush hours. When taking trains, you would need to tap on before boarding at the station and tap off when leaving the station at your destination. You would also need to push the required button on the door of the train when getting on or off. One of the places just outside the city centre which make an ideal base and you can easily reach by train would be Box Hill; hotel properties here to consider include the likes of Avani Melbourne Box Hill Residences close to the local railway station.

The useful bus services would be a vital component of the mainly rail-based public transportation system of Melbourne. Although travelling by bus may seem less glamorous than taking the tram, the bus network would actually be more comprehensive; for instance, you could travel directly to Chadstone, the largest shopping centre in Australia, by bus, whilst this wouldn’t be possible by tram. There would also be a greater number of bus routes than tram routes; you could also travel a greater distance towards the suburbs by bus, and bus routes would also typically be more direct in comparison to those of other modes of public transport. Just keep in mind to have your Myki card ready and tap both on as well as off as you use the bus services.

When it comes to taking day trips from Melbourne and making your way to other regions of Victoria, your transport mode of choice would be V/Line coaches and trains. These services would take you to localities that wouldn’t be accessible through regular Melbourne trains, trams and buses. The hub for V/Line services in Melbourne’s CBD would be Southern Cross Station; this station could also easily be reached by bus or tram. From this station, you could conveniently take a coach or train to reach the springs at Daylesford, the goldfields at Ballarat or Bendigo, the shoreline at Warrnambool or Geelong, and so on. However, you should remember that some of the V/Line services would not use the Myki system.

Phillip Island is undoubtedly a great option for travellers who love to travel far during an extended vacation in Melbourne. There's so much to see and explore in this destination, and you'll love its cheerfulness for sure. Wondering how to get to this destination from Melbourne? Well, there's not just one way, but a couple of ways that you may choose from. Read on- this article discusses all these ways with their pros and cons.

The first question that you may get when planning to travel to Phillip Island from Melbourne is whether the two destinations are located too far from each other. Phillip Island is a destination located around 75 km to the south of Melbourne. In Box Hill, Australia hotels often suggest to their guests to travel to Phillip Island if they prefer a long tour because awesomeness is guaranteed. All you have to do is to select your transportation mode and get ready for the trip.

Yes, the exact distance between Phillip Island and Melbourne doesn't exceed 75 km, but if you travel by car, the distance will be around 140 km. This is because of the very narrow geographical location of this destination. The vehicle bridge connects San Romeo to Newhaven, and this is a separate way to the east of Phillip Island. A car ride from Melbourne to this destination will take around 90 minutes but the entire ride is enjoyable- thanks to the beautiful views.

Travelling by bus to Phillip Island is also another option that you have. If you are staying at Avani Melbourne Box Hill Residences, you just have to get to the Southern Cross Station to get your bus. The bus will stop at Newhaven and Cowes, so you may use one of these stops to get to Phillip Island. Well, the journey will take around 2.5 hours because the bus stops at various places, but this is a safer option for those who hesitate to drive long miles.

Did you know that a ferry operates from Stony Point to Cowes Jetty? Stony Poiny is on the Mornington Peninsula which is just 1.5 hour's drive from Melbourne. You can either opt to drive to Stony Point and then take the ferry from there or even take the bus from Melbourne up to Stony Point and then take the ferry. However, if you self-drive to the point where the ferry starts, you will have to park it there as vehicles are not allowed on the ferry. If you are wondering about the time durations, the whole journey will go for about 120 minutes (75 minutes for the drive and 45 minutes for the ferry ride). The bus ride from Melbourne to Stony Point will take longer than 75 minutes, but if you have allocated one whole day for your tour to Phillip Island, there's nothing too big to worry about timing even with this option.

If you prefer an organized tour during which you can cover everything that Phillip Island has got in store for you, travelling with a group will be the ideal option for you. All you need to do is to find a good travel agent and choose the package that suits your interest and budget. Mostly, travel agents offer full-day packages that include wildlife explorations and several other outdoor experiences.

If you want a more luxurious experience, you may also say yes to a helicopter ride to Phillip Island. Well, this will of course be an expensive activity to try out, but the overall experience will be mindblowing. This will be one of the best methods to engage in sightseeing in this destination.