Melbourne

• Best use: Melbourne is a coffee-and-laneways layover. Choose one coffee, a compact walk and one meal.
• Starting point: The CBD groups the Free Tram Zone, laneways and restaurants into a compact outing. Check the journey from your accommodation before choosing it.
• Big mistake: Treating Melbourne like Sydney. The city is not about harbour icons; it is about small streets, coffee, food, and weather-aware wandering.
• What to skip: Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, and Yarra Valley on a 24-hour layover. They are long-day plans for longer layovers.

Getting back before pickup

Set your accommodation as the start and end of the outing. Check both journeys, waiting and any connections before leaving. Set a leave-by alarm that gets you back with time for rest and preparation before your required crew pickup. Cut the extra stop if the return becomes uncertain.

Only a tram journey entirely within the marked Free Tram Zone is free: do not tap on or off for that journey. Check the boundary before boarding; do not assume Fitzroy or Carlton is included. For travel outside it, follow the payment and tapping rules for your route.

For travel outside the Free Tram Zone, follow the payment rules for your mode and ticket. Use the same card or device throughout a contactless journey; a phone wallet and physical card are different payment methods. Check the current fare before boarding.

City journeys and payment

Transport Victoria now accepts Visa or Mastercard contactless for full-fare journeys on trains, trams and buses within the myki area. Check the current fare rather than relying on an old daily cap. Pay in AUD and check Sunday, public-holiday and card surcharges.