Touring the Melbourne Region - Car or Public Transport?

• By: Editor
• On: 06/Jan/2009
• In: Australia Travel Tips

Having a car gives you total freedom and independence to travel exactly where you want, when you want! You can spend as much quality time at the various attractions and won't be under any constraints in catching the next bus or train…no timetables to stick to!

Hiring a car will allow you take the easiest route, you can even pack a picnic, fill the car if you want! All you need is a good map, good navigation, proper tour planning and careful observation of road safety. Away you go and explore the scenic gems of the Victoria state!

Another plus of the car is that you'll have the flexibility to visit the hinterlands outside the state capital of Victoria along some of the more scenic routes.

On the other hand public transport in the Melbourne Region is fairly good. The city itself is serviced by a very extensive public transport network. If you want to venture further afield though, services are less regular and you'll have to stick to a timetable.

The benefits of public transport include not worrying about punctures, the possibility of a breakdown, getting lost, filling up with petrol – all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.   

We've put together a list of some of the most popular places to visit in the Melbourne Region and how to get there. 

Mornington Peninsula – a wonderful holiday port of call boasting magnificent coastal scenery, charming villages, golden beaches and golf courses! To get there from Melbourne, take the Nepean Highway (N3) and then the B110 from Melbourne.

Sunbury Wine Region – Getting here from the city couldn’t be easier in your hired car, and what’s more, as much time can be spent tasting wine in a trek from cellar door to cellar door! This region is located to the north of Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), along the C743 or M79 routes. It's serviced by public transport (Metlink) as well.

Macedon Wine Region – Another wine buff’s delight! And many of the favoured wineries are off the beaten track at high altitudes and not directly serviced by public transport, so travelling by car is probably the best option. From Melbourne head northwest on the Calder Highway (M79) and follow the signs for Lancefield, Kyneton and Woodend!

Goldfields Region – Here’s where the advantage of having a car to explore the area becomes very clear! The historical Australian Gold Heritage area of the Goldfields region is littered with history, charming towns with stunning Victorian architecture, and needs plenty of time to explore fully – you can only do this on a self-drive tour!

To get there from Melbourne, take the M8 to the town of Ballarat, and then get on the Calder Highway (M79), or you can also take the Hume Highway (M31) from Melbourne to get to the town of Bendigo.

Yarra Valley Wine Region – Again, a place for wine lovers to explore. The main roads that you need to get on are the Eastern Freeway (83) and then the B360.

Great Ocean Road – This is one of Australia’s most scenic drives with so much to see along the way. If you're travelling by car you can stop as many times as you like to take in the stunning views.

Hopefully this will help you to make up your mind. If you're planning to hire a car take a look at our car hire Melbourne page.

If you have any travel tails of Melbourne, or indeed any comments or questions, we'd love to hear from you. Just drop us a line in the comment box below.