Melbourne Travel Tips

Banks: 09:30 to 16:00, Monday to Thursday; 09:30 to 17:00 Fridays
Post Offices: 08:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 16:00 Saturdays; 10:00 to 16:00 Sundays
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Wednesday, and Saturdays; 09:00 to 18:00 Thursdays; 09:00 to 21:00 Fridays; 10:00 to 17:00 Sundays
Museums: 09:30 to 17:00, daily
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

Although Melbourne is generally considered to be a safe city, certain areas are not considered entirely safe after dark. It is not advised that you walk alone in the St Kilda district, the area around the King Street nightclubs or in public parks and gardens at night. Tourists are not the only targets of petty crime in these areas. As in all major cities, use common sense when visiting major tourist attractions. Don’t flash cash or valuables and keep an eye on your belongings.

Police: 000
Electricity: 240V AC, 50Hz with three-pin flat blades commonly used

Melbourne has some of the highest standards of living in the world, so visitors should have no real health concerns to worry about during their stay. All restaurants in Melbourne maintain a government-enforced level of food safety, and the tap water is safe to drink.

Australia already has a notorious reputation for its strong sun and thin ozone layer, but Melbourne is considered one of the cities with the highest amounts of dangerous UV rays. If you plan to spend extended periods of time outdoors in the sun, be sure to wear an appropriate amount of sunscreen on your exposed skin. Wearing a hat and sunglasses can also significantly help decrease your exposure to damaging UV rays. Be sure to drink lots of water too; dehydration accompanies the strong sun, and most people don’t even notice when they are becoming dehydrated.

Melbourne has a small but persistent smog problem. Smoggy days are most common between February and May, when the winds fail to blow the pollution away. If you are asthmatic, keep this in mind if you are visiting during these months. Melbourne’s pharmacies are the best places to go in cases of minor illness. They can be found all over the city. Melbourne’s hospitals are as good as any in the world, so don’t worry if you fall seriously ill or have an emergency.

Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK in the case of emergencies, and British citizens are covered in such cases. This free medical service is limited, however, so buying travel insurance is recommended to cover any additional expenses.

Ambulance: 000
Royal Melbourne Hospital: +61 3 9342 7000
The Traveller’s Medical and Vaccination Centre: +61 3 9602 5788

English is the primary language spoken in Melbourne. Due to the huge ethnic diversity of this city, many other languages from around the world are also spoken here.

The official currency in Melbourne is the Australian dollar. There are 100 cents in a dollar. Notes are made of a very innovative polymer, and come in denominations of AU$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars. Coins come in denominations of AU$2 and 1, as well as 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

Visitors will need to exchange their foreign currency into local Australian dollars. This can be done at most banks and currency exchange offices like Travelex, which are conveniently located in all the main tourist areas. Melbourne has a very developed economy, so cash should only be needed for taxis, sundries and small purchases. ATMs are easily found just about anywhere there is a shop or bank. Many international credit and debit cards are accepted by Melbourne’s ATMs.

Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted at all but the smallest businesses, while American Express and Diner’s Club are accepted to a lesser extent. Traveller’s cheques are readily accepted in many places like hotels and restaurants and can be cashed in at any bank.

All visitors to Australia over the age of 18 years may import 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco; 2.25 litres of alcohol; and personal goods valued up to AU$900 without incurring customs duty.

With such an amazing range of cultures and religions in Melbourne, it would seem there should be a bewildering number of social customs in effect. But in fact, this melting pot has developed a wonderful attitude of tolerance, particularly when it comes to visitors. Naturally, travellers should try to observe local etiquette at places such as mosques, but for the most part, Melbourne is like any other Western city.

The friendly nature of the residents is infectious, so expect to have more people than usual show an interest in your affairs. This is just the innate curiosity of Australians and is rarely a sign of ill will. Visitors who want to get more intimate with the locals can easily do so by striking up a conversation in just about any public space. The pub makes a great place to meet the residents, who are usually happy to tell you about their beloved city. Sports like cricket, rugby and ‘footy’ are virtual religions in Melbourne.

Dress in Melbourne can be as casual or as fancy as you like. The warm weather allows for a minimal use of clothing, but if you go out for a night on the town you may want to dress it up a bit. Some nightclubs, upscale restaurants and performance arts venues have dress codes.

Dining Etiquette
The residents of Melbourne try to eat outdoors as often as they can. Most eateries and pubs have outdoor seating, so take advantage of the great weather and beautiful scenery to enjoy your meal al fresco. Dining etiquette in Melbourne is much the same as it is in any other Western city, perhaps even more casual. There are nearly always waiters to serve, and tipping is at around 15 per cent.

Unless you are a citizen of New Zealand, you will need to get a tourist visa to travel to Australia. The country now primarily uses an Electronic Travel Authority visa (ETA) which allows visitors to stay in the country for up to three months at a time. ETA visas are stored electronically and won’t appear in your passport. They are used for short-term business and study programmes as well as tourism. ETAs can be applied for at travel agencies, through airline companies and at Australian embassies. If you need a longer stay, you can apply for a long-term visa at the Australian embassy. All visas have a fee.

Melbourne’s main tourism information centre is located at Federation square. It is open every day from 09:00 to 18:00.

Melbourne Visitor Centre
Federation square
Malbourne Victoria
Phone: +61 3 9658 9658