The ticketing system in use across Melbourne’s public transport is still a contentious topic for Melburnians and can be confusing for visitors. Read on for tips about navigating Melbourne’s public transport ticketing system.
Public Transport Ticketing – myki cards are the only option
Melbourne trams, trains and buses use a common ticketing system, a smartcard called myki.
Users can either store pre-paid money (myki money) on the card and pay per use, or purchase a pass for 7 days, 28 days or longer (myki pass) for unlimited travel.
If you’re using trams, you need to buy a myki card before you board.
However, on a great note, trams to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open along Route 70 from the CBD along Flinders Street to the stops at Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are free for AO ticket holders. So if you’re only going to and from the city for the tennis, you won’t need a myki card.
myki Visitor Pack
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) have created a myki Visitor Pack which costs $14 for adults and $7 for children and seniors.
It includes:
- a myki card loaded with $8 and $4 of value respectively (enough for one day’s travel in zone 1)
- instructions on how to use myki
- a tram map
- discount vouchers for 15 major tourist attractions.
Where can you buy them?
At the moment myki Visitor Packs can be purchased at:
- Skybus Terminals at Melbourne Airport
- the Visitor Information Centre at Federation Square
- and the PTV Hub at Southern Cross Station near the corner of Spencer and Collins Streets.
If you’re staying in a hotel, also ask your concierge for the closest place to buy them.
If you aren’t near these locations you can buy a regular myki card at train stations, 7-Eleven shops and any shop displaying a ‘myki available here’ sign.
myki cards cost $6 each and can be topped up with myki money when you buy them or using the myki top up machines at stations. myki can also be topped up online.
Retail outlets to buy or top up a myki card.
Train stations and some tram stops have machines where myki cards can be topped up.
myki ticket machine
Tips for using myki
When you board a tram tap the myki card against a myki reader (see yellow boxes in the picture below). The reader will then display that the correct fare has been deducted. When multiple journeys are made within a two-hour period the system caps the amount deducted from myki money to a two-hour fare. The cost of multiple journeys during the same day are capped at the daily fare rate.
On disembarking from the tram you do not need to tap off if any part of your journey is in Zone 1 (which it will be if you’re in the central Melbourne area).
Myki card readers on trams
For train journeys there are myki readers on the barriers to and from the station. Tap the myki card on the reader when entering and leaving the station. The fare will be deducted and the barrier will open.
So easy peasy right? Or not!
Until next time
Grand Slam Gal