Everything you need to know about getting around Melbourne, understanding its suburbs, finding cheap food, and enjoying the city without spending a fortune.
Melbourne is one of the world's most liveable cities — once you understand how it works. Here's what students actually need to know.
Melbourne's public transport is called PTV (Public Transport Victoria) and uses the Myki card for payment. There are two fare zones. Zone 1 covers the inner city and suburbs. Zone 2 covers outer suburbs including Clayton (Monash University). Most students live and study within Zone 1+2. Key facts: - Touch on when you board and touch off when you exit (trains and buses). Trams: touch on and off at stops. - If you forget to touch off, you get charged the maximum fare. - The Free Tram Zone covers the entire Melbourne CBD. You do not need a Myki inside the free tram zone — but if your journey starts or ends outside it, you need to touch on and off. - Daily cap: once you've paid the daily cap amount ($10.60 for zones 1+2), all further trips that day are free. - A 28-day Myki Pass for zones 1+2 costs around $175 and is cheaper than daily fares if you travel most days. - Download the PTV app — it has real-time departure information and journey planning. - Tram routes 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72 are useful for UniMelb/RMIT students. Train lines: Sandringham, Frankston, Cranbourne/Pakenham lines for Clayton.
Melbourne is famous for weather that changes dramatically within a single day. In spring and autumn especially, you can have a warm morning, a sudden cold wind at lunch, and rain by the afternoon. Practical advice: - Always carry a light jacket or packable raincoat, even if it looks sunny in the morning. - Layering is the Melbourne approach to dressing. - Summer (December–February) can get very hot: 35–42°C heatwaves are common. Stay hydrated, use public libraries and shopping centres for air conditioning during extreme heat. - Winter (June–August) is mild by global standards (7–15°C) but Melbourne buildings are poorly insulated — inside can feel colder than outside. A good quality jumper/hoodie and a light down jacket will serve you better than a heavy winter coat.
Melbourne is a large city and suburb choice significantly affects your experience. Here's a guide by university: University of Melbourne (Parkville): Carlton and North Carlton are the closest — 15 min walk. Brunswick (trendy, affordable, excellent food), Fitzroy and Collingwood (vibrant but pricier), North Melbourne and Kensington (quieter, good value). Avoid anything that adds more than 45 min commute — it adds up fast. RMIT (CBD and Brunswick campuses): Students often live in the CBD itself, Carlton, Fitzroy, or Brunswick for the city campus. Plenty of affordable share housing available. Monash University (Clayton): Clayton itself is the obvious choice — flat, bikeable, closest. Noble Park, Mulgrave, and Springvale are nearby and very affordable. Note: Clayton is 25–35 min from the CBD by train, which is fine for occasional trips but means you should enjoy the local area. Deakin University (Burwood and Geelong): Burwood students often live in Box Hill, Blackburn, or Camberwell. Geelong campus students should look at Geelong proper — significantly cheaper than Melbourne. Suburbs to be cautious about for students: Very outer suburbs add long commutes that affect your energy and study. Choose convenience over space.
Melbourne has extraordinary free cultural infrastructure: Free: - NGV International (National Gallery of Victoria) on St Kilda Road — one of the best art museums in Asia-Pacific, permanent collection is free - State Library Victoria — free, beautiful study spaces, exhibitions, no membership needed - Flagstaff Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens — excellent study/chill spots - Federation Square — free events year-round - Free tram zone throughout the CBD - Public beaches: St Kilda, Brighton (famous coloured bathing boxes) Cheap: - Lygon Street (Carlton): Italian restaurants competing for business — lunch specials from $10–15 - Swanston Street student area: banh mi $6–8, dumplings $10–12 - Footscray: Vietnamese, African, and South Asian food from $8–14 - Springvale: Authentic Vietnamese and Chinese, often $8–12 for a full meal - Box Hill: Chinese restaurants and Asian grocery stores - Queen Victoria Market: Fresh produce, especially Wednesday and Friday mornings — much cheaper than supermarkets - Cinemas: Hoyts and Village offer $12–15 tickets on Tuesday nights
Melbourne is generally a safe city. Basic precautions: - Trust your instincts at night. If a situation feels wrong, leave. - Don't leave valuables visible in cars — break-ins happen particularly in inner-city areas. - The CBD is well-lit and busy until late, but areas like Flinders Street Station precinct and some CBD laneways late at night attract petty crime. - St Kilda Esplanade late at night is less safe than it appears from tourist guides — avoid if you don't know the area. - Public transport is generally safe. Trust your judgement on which carriage to sit in on late-night trains. - Emergency: 000 (police, fire, ambulance). Non-emergency police: 131 444. - Your university has a security line — save it in your phone.
Forgetting to touch off results in the maximum fare being charged. Over a week this can add up to $20–40 in unnecessary charges. Make touching off a habit every time you exit.
Extreme heat events (40°C+) happen several times each summer. During these days, limit outdoor exposure in the middle of the day, drink plenty of water, and use air-conditioned spaces (libraries, shopping centres, cinemas). International students from cooler climates sometimes underestimate how dangerous prolonged heat exposure is.