Travel Information

Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is Australia’s second-largest city with a population of approximately 3.8 million people.  Victoria has a population of approximately 4.7 million people (around 25% of the Australian population) and covers an area roughly the size of the United Kingdom.  Melbourne was established in 1835 and came to prominence after the 1851 Gold Rush.  From 1901 to 1927, Australia’s Federal Parliament met in Melbourne, until Canberra became the capital of Australia in 1927. 

Melbourne claims to be Australia’s business capital, its shopping capital, its events capital and its garden capital.  It was the home of 1956 Olympic Games and is the home of the 2006 Commonwealth Games and Australian Rules Football.  In fact you will see on many Victorian car number plates that it is “The Place to Be”. 

Melbourne is multi-cultural city with an overriding Anglo-Celtic culture inherited from the United Kingdom.  Australia’s population is predominately descended from the United Kingdom - in Victoria, mainly of free settlers as convicts were never sent to Victoria.  There is a friendly rivalry with Sydney, Australia’s oldest and more populated city.   

English is the official language of Australia, although over 240 languages are spoken amongst the population.  Around 71% of the population is nominally Christian.  Australians are generally tolerant of other cultures and nationalities, as well homosexuality.  Australia remains a constitutional monarchy with the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II as its Head of State.

Language:

As with Australia, the official language of the Conference is English.  No simultaneous translation will be provided.

Culture:

Australians are very easy-going, relaxed and friendly people.  Australia is multi-cultural and we are used to international visitors (and we love to show our cities off!)  If you are traveling and a little bit lost or confused about something, do not hesitate to stop a passerby or ask someone in a shop for help.  And do not forget to smile – it goes a long way!

Passport/Visas/Customs/Quarantine:

You must carry a valid passport containing a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) allowing you to enter Australia.  If you are a dual Australian citizen, you must carry your Australian passport to allow you to enter Australia.  All foreign nationals must (with the exception of New Zealand citizens, who are issued with a visa on arrival) obtain a visa/ETA before traveling to Australia.

For conferences, Australia does offer a special visa called 456 Business (Short Stay) Visitor visa – however you should check if this is suitable for you (it may not be if you wish to extend your stay and enjoy a holiday in Australia). 

Check with your travel agent and the Australian Department of Immigration (www.immi.gov.au) as to how to obtain a visa.  Australian visas are available from Australian embassies, consulates and High Commissions worldwide.

ETAs are available from www.eta.immi.gov.au  

Australian is an isolated continent with unique flora and fauna.  Therefore there are many items that you cannot bring into the country.  There are bins at the airport for these items – if you try to bring these items into Australia you will be subject to searches from Australian Customs who are very strict and have the power to penalize you.  Prior to landing on Australian soil you will be issued with an incoming passenger card to complete on which you must declare your items. 

You must declare ALL goods of an animal or plant origin. 

You CANNOT bring fresh fruit or vegetables into Australia (including foods you have been eating on the plane).

If you are unsure of any item you are bringing into Australia, you are best to declare it to Customs who will decide if it can enter Australia. 

Customs does allow anyone over 18 years old to import the following goods duty free:

You are best to work out what you can bring to Australia before you leave.  The best place to check is the Australian Customs website:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4785

Exchange Rate: 

Australia has a free-floating exchange rate system.  On 14 October 2005, the exchange rate was: 

AUD$1 = US $0.75

AUD$1 = EUR $0.62

AUD$1 = GBP 0.43

 The link below will help you determine the spot exchange rate:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

Banking Hours/Credit Cards & Shopping Hours:

The standard branch banking hours are Monday-Friday 9.00am-4.30am.  This does not include public holidays (there are no public holidays in Victoria in July 2006). There has been a push in recent years to have consumers use internet banking in place of visiting branches because it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  There are also plenty of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) to be found in Melbourne. There are also branches of foreign banks in Melbourne, including the Banque Nationale de Paris, Bank New Zealand and the Hong Kong Bank. 

The most widely accepted credit cards are VISA and MasterCard.  Some merchants accept American Express (although do not rely on it) and even less accept Diners Club Cards. 

Melbourne is known for its shops and if you want to do some serious shopping, you have come to the right place.  Shops are generally open seven days a week (although this does vary between shops) and hours are typically Monday-Thursday:  9.00am-5.00pm, Friday:  9.00am-9.00am, Saturday & Sunday:  9.00am-5.00pm.

Currency/Goods and Services Tax (GST):

Australia uses a decimal system of dollars and cents ($ and c), whereby one dollar equals one hundred cents. Australia has polymer (waterproof) notes which are in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.  Coins are in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20, 50c, $1 and $2.  You will find items for sale that do not accord with the 5c (such as $1.98, $5.98, etc).  In this case, the shop will automatically round the total price to the nearest 5c. 

Since 2000, Australia has had the Goods and Services Tax (GST).  This is a 10% tax on most items (most basic food items do not attract it).  Prices in Australia are inclusive of GST unless otherwise stated.

If you are an international traveler and purchase new or second-hand goods with a total minimum value of AU$300.00 from any one supplier within 28 days of departure from Australia, you are entitled to a refund of any GST paid.  For details, contact the Australia Tax Office at:

 Duty Free and GST free-sales:
 http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.asp?doc=/content/24996.htm  

Tourist Refund Scheme (GST): http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4646

 For Australian Customs Allowances:
 http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4785

Time:

Melbourne (and Victoria) operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST) and is ten hours ahead on UTC/Greenwich Mean Time (as is Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales).  In July, Australia does not operate on Daylight Saving Time. 

To find out what time it is, visit: http://www.worldtimeserver.com

Electrical Appliances: 

Voltage in Australia is 240V and plugs have a three-pin system (which is not the same as the United Kingdom).  Large hotels may provide adaptors, otherwise you will need to provide your own.  Adaptors can be purchased at a wide range of stores in Australia, including hardware stores and department stores. 

Climate/Sunrise & Sunset: 

Melbourne’s weather is notorious in Australia as the place where you can experience four seasons in a day.  July is the middle of winter and is Melbourne’s coldest month with an average minimum temperature of 6C (degrees Celsius) and a maximum daily temperature of 13C.  It is not Melbourne’s wettest month, but the weather in July is unpredictable – so rug up and be prepared for cold winds, rain and mild storms – as well as some sun! 

In July in Melbourne, sunrise is typically at 7.35am and sunset at 5.14pm.  Melbourne does not have Daylight Saving during July. 

For further details on climate in Australia (in case you are traveling to other parts of the country) visit: http://www.bom.gov.au  

Tipping: 

It is not compulsory and not expected for you to tip in Australia.  In restaurants, it is customary but you will not be looked down upon if you choose not to do so.  If you do choose to tip, because you received good service the amount you tip is up to you (10% is an average amount).  Australians do not tend to tip if they receive bad service!  Some Australians tip taxi drivers if the driver was particularly friendly or talkative, but again, that is up to you!          

Dialing Codes: 

The country code for Australia is +61 and the area code for Melbourne (and Victoria) is 3.   

To dial overseas from Australia:

(1)                Dial 0011 (to get out of Australia)
(2)                Then the country code for the destination that you are dialing
(3)                Then dial the city code for the city you are dialing
(4)                Then dial the local number

For instance some of the codes are: 

United Kingdom      +44
USA & Canada          +1
New Zealand           +64 
Netherlands            +31
Japan                     +81

You can find the right dialing code at:
http://www.whitepages.com.au/wp/search/tools.jhtml

Roads/Transport:

Unlike the USA and many parts of the world, Australians drive on the LEFT hand side of the road.  So please be careful when crossing the road as too many tourists in the past have been injured because they did not see oncoming traffic.  As a rule, LOOK to the LEFT first, then to the right and then back to the left – and take care when crossing the road.

Melbourne’s suburban public transport consists of trains, buses and trams.  Buses and trams run on roads that are used by cars, bicycles, motorcycles, (sometimes) horse and carriages, and pedestrians.  So be careful when crossing the road, especially of trams and look at the traffic lights.

You can use tickets for public transport on all trains, buses and trams and you can buy either two-hourly, daily, weekly, monthly (or yearly) tickets. 

The city circle tram provides a free service around the Melbourne CBD and goes past many attractions. It runs seven days a week from 10.00am to 6.00pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), and during daylight saving extended hours, 10.00 am-9.00 pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information visit: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/city_circle/

For Melbourne public transport fares and timetables, go to:
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

Taxis (Cabs):

If you want to get around quickly, catch a taxi.  As a warning, taxis are not cheap in Melbourne and at the time of writing, fares are predicted to rise.  There are several taxi companies operating in Melbourne and there is no real difference between the companies in terms of service.  There is no variation in fares as all taxis must charge fares as set by the Victorian Taxi Directorate. 

You can either catch a taxi from the street or pre-book one (subject to a fee) from your hotel or by yourself.  Taxi changeover time between drivers is around 4.00pm, so it may be hard to find a taxi around that time.  Taxi drivers vary in their friendliness – some will chat to you about everything and anything, whilst others will not make a sound.  They also vary in their knowledge of the roads (although the industry is working on that!)  If you travel on any of the tollways in Melbourne, the driver will add a set fee to your final fare to cover this. 

Fares can be paid either in cash, by EFTPOS, Cabcharge or by major credit cards.  If you are catching a taxi late at night, some drivers may ask for part of the fare upfront – this is legal.

Some of the major taxi companies in the Melbourne CBD are:

These three companies generally service Melbourne and its suburbs, but for a larger list of taxi companies, go to:

 http://www.victaxi.com.au/hire_hail_bookings_melbourne.htm  

 Mail/Letters:

Australia Post is the only mail company in Australia.  Australia Post offices located all over the Melbourne CBD and Victoria and they are generally open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm (a select few are open on Saturdays and Sundays).  Australia Post mail boxes are located across Melbourne and Victoria and are bright red.

Many newsagents and convenience stores also act as Australia Post agencies from where you can buy stamps.  The price to send an ordinary letter within Australia is 50c ($0.50).

In the Melbourne CBD, there are Australia Post offices located at:

For more details on postage, postage charges and Australia Post locations, visit: http://www.auspost.com.au 

Health & Water:

Australia is a very healthy country in which to work and travel.  We do not have tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.  Our level of sanitation is excellent, so diseases of insanitation such as cholera and typhoid are non-existent and due to our strict quarantine laws, animal diseases such as rabies and foot-and-mouth disease have not been found in here.   

Melbourne has one of the highest standards of water in the world and Victoria’s tap water is usually safe across the state.  Please do not drink untreated natural water (such as from streams and rivers) and do not even think of drinking or swimming in Yarra River water.  Natural water may be infected from cattle or wildlife – you are best to boil it for at least ten minutes (filtering will not remove organisms).  Otherwise drink commercial bottled water. 

Australia has a very high standard of health care and our hospitals and doctors are first-class.  Australia operates on a Medicare system – if you are from the UK, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, or Sweden, you may have reciprocal health rights.  Please contact Medicare (Australia) at:
http://www.medicare.gov.au

If you rely on prescription medication, bring a plentiful supply in case you cannot get it in Australia and bring with you legible copies of all your prescriptions for the medication you are carrying in case you are checked by Australian Customs. 

Major Shops:

There are a multitude of shops in Melbourne – it is the shopping capital of Australia!  We have department stores, designer stores and hidden alleys full of shops!  For a start, try Collins Street, between Spring Street and Elizabeth Street (the “Paris End”) and Flinders Lane (between Swanston & Elizabeth Streets). 

Central Business District: 

Department Stores: 

Hours:
Mon-Wed:         9.00am-6.00pm
Thurs:               9.00am-7.00pm
Fri:                   9.00am-9.00pm
Sat:                  9.00am-6.00pm
Sun:                  10.00am-6.00pm

Hours:
Mon-Wed:         9.30am-6.00pm
Thurs:               9.30am-7.00pm
Fri:                   9.30am-9.00pm
Sat:                  9.00am-6.00pm
Sun:                  10.00am-6.00pm

 Shopping Complexes: 

Hours:
Mon-Thurs:       10.30am-6.00pm
Fri:                   10.00am-9.00pm
Sat:                  10.00am-6.00pm
Sun:                  10.00am-5.00pm

      Shops, cafes and restaurants

Hours:
Mon-Wed:         10.00am-6.00pm
Thurs:               10.00am-7.00pm
Fri:                   10.00am-9.00pm
Sat:                  10.00am-6.00pm
Sun:                  10.00am-5.00pm

     Specialty stores and designer stores 

 Markets:

     Hours:
     Mon:                 Closed
     Tues:                6:00am-2.00pm
     Wed:                 Closed
     Thurs:               6.00am-2.00pm
     Fri:                   6.00am-6.00pm
     Sat:                  6.00am-3.00pm
     Sun:                  9.00am-4.00pm

Supermarkets: 

International Designers: 

Major Attractions:

The official Victorian tourism website is www.visitvictoria.com.  At that site you will find things to do all around Victoria, from parks, gardens, wildlife parks and everything else you can imagine!!!  You can also visit the Lonely Planet website (or get one of their books) – www.lonelyplanet.com.  

Here are some of the major attractions – there are many more!

 Melbourne CBD:

     Hours:
     Mon:                 10.00am-5pm
     Tues:                Closed
     Wed-Sun:          10.00am-5.00pm       

Other parts of Victoria:

There is more than just Melbourne to visit – we may be one of the smallest Australian states, but there is lots to do here!

Tourist Information Centres:

If you want further information when you are out and about as to where to go and what to see, Melbourne has Visitor Centres that can provide you with more information:

           Hours:    Mon-Fri           9.00am-5.00pm
                        Sat & Sun         10.00am-5.00pm 

Phone:              (03) 9658 9658
Email:               enquires@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Internet:           http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au  

Internet Cafes: 

If your hotel does not provide internet and email access, Melbourne has plenty of internet cafes that can give you that service.  There are too many to list, but some of the main ones around the CBD are: 

Souvenirs: 

If you want to buy Australian souvenirs, there are plenty of souvenir stores around Melbourne.  A small selection are: