Conferencing on a Student Budget

The following is a compilation of information designed to assist the budget-conscious traveller to Melbourne, for the 7th International Conference on Geomorphology (ANZIAG) in July 2009.

Please note: this is a guide only. Whilst every endeavour has been made to provide the correct information, prices and website details are regularly subject to change. Always check with the service providers for their up-to-date prices and, terms and conditions before or at the time of booking. No responsibility will be accepted for incorrect information, misadventure or any other event arising from this document. No requests for bookings or payments will be accepted; please contact the relevant service provider directly.

Prices are quoted in Australian dollars.

Flights

Cheap flights to/from Australia:
The major airlines that fly to/from Australia are Qantas, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. To find good deals, try Skyscanner.
http://www.skyscanner.net/flights-to/au/cheap-flights-to-australia.html

Cheap flights within Australia:
Cheap flights within Australia are generally offered by three airlines: Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Tiger Airways. The cheapest fares are usually available a few months in advance, but once these are sold, prices can increase substantially. To get the best deal, book and pay online.

To compare prices between several different carriers, try Webjeb: http://travel.webjet.com.au/

• Virgin Blue: http://www.virginblue.com.au/
• Jetstar: http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.html
• Tiger Airways: http://www.tigerairways.com/home/index.php

Major budget/student travel agencies:
The following travel agencies have lots of good information and cheap deals:

• STA travel: http://www.statravel.com.au/
• Student flights: http://www.studentflights.com.au/
• Flight centre: http://www.flightcentre.com.au/

Getting Around

Airport transfers to/from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:
A return ticket to Melbourne CBD (Southern Cross Station) with Skybus costs A$26.00. If you’re staying at one of the major hotels in the centre of Melbourne, Skybus will often give you a free lift (on proof of purchase of a Skybus ticket). Ask at the Skybus booth at Southern Cross Station. http://www.skybus.com.au/

Airport transfers to/from Melbourne Avalon Airport:
Avalon Airport is about 60 km from Melbourne, so unless you are getting a very cheap flight, it is more convenient to fly into Tullamarine Airport. The quickest and easiest way to get to Melbourne CBD from Avalon is to catch the airport shuttle which is operated by Sunbus. An adult return ticket costs A$36.00 http://www.sunbusaustralia.com.au/

Getting around Melbourne CBD:
Melbourne is well serviced with a train, bus and tram network. Ticketing is relatively straight forward with a single ticket (Metcard) allowing travel on all these types of transport. The network is divided into two zones: Zone 1 covers the inner suburbs and CBD; zone 2 covers the outer suburbs. Metcards can be pre-purchased from train stations and shops such as newsagencies or milk bars (look for a blue Metcard symbol). Daily and hourly Metcards can also be purchased on-board trams and buses but only with coins. Selected ticketing options (and prices for Zone 1, adult fare) are as follows:

• 2hr Metcard, A$3.50: Useful if you only want to travel for a single journey (on Mon-Sat) which covers two or more types of transport.
• Daily Metcard, A$6.50: Useful if you want to travel to/from a destination(s) on the same day (up to 3 am the next morning) (on Mon-Sat).
• Sunday Saver Metcard, A$2.90: Allows unlimited travel in Zones 1 & 2 on Sundays. Purchase these from train station ticket windows and retail outlets (not on-board buses and trams).
• Weekly Metcard, A$28.00: Provides 7 consecutive days of unlimited travel, which is very good value for money. This ticket also allows travel on weekends in Zones 1 & 2 regardless of whether only Zone 1 (or 2) was purchased, hence providing the opportunity to explore Melbourne a bit further. Purchase these from train stations and retail outlets (not on-board).

There are also City Saver fares which are for single journeys on one type of transport within the Melbourne CBD area:

• City Saver, A$2.60
• City Saver 10 trips, A$20.80

See the Melbourne Metlink site for maps, timetables and other details: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

A free City Circle Tram (maroon colour) operates every 12 mins around Melbourne CBD (via La Trobe, Spencer, Flinders, Spring and Nicholson Streets), stopping at the major tourist attractions on this route. Services run on Sun to Wed between 1000 and 1800, and on Thurs to Sat between 1000 to 2100. This service can save a bit of walking especially if you’re headed up to North Melbourne.
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/maps_stations_stops/free_tram_service_city_circle

Another free service is the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle (orange and grey colour), which also stops at the major tourist attractions. Buses operate every 15–20 mins between 0930 and 1630 daily. The tourist shuttle is useful if you want to go to the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Queen Victoria Market. http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Gettingaroundthecity/Visitorassistance/Pages/TouristShuttle.aspx

Car hire:
Most of the major car hire companies have offices located at the airport and in the CBD. Smaller agents may be located in the suburbs and require a taxi ride to reach them. Check first on drivers licence requirements, insurance etc. Also check on necessary passes to use toll roads. In Australia, cars drive on the left hand side of the road.

• For good deals from the major companies including Hertz, Avis and Europcar: http://travel.webjet.com.au/
• For car hire from Melbourne: http://www.atlasrent.com.au/
• For car hire from Sydney: http://www.nobirds.com.au/

Trains and buses:
The major bus operator in Australia is Greyhound (also known as McCafferty’s). For example, a direct bus from Sydney to Melbourne takes approximately 12 hours and costs about A$80.00. Greyhound also offers flexible travel passes. http://www.greyhound.com.au/

The major train operator is CountryLink. For example, the train from Sydney to Melbourne takes around 11 hours and costs about A$110.00 for an economy seat. Cheaper fares are often available if you book at least 7 days in advance. CountryLink also offers 14-day and monthly travel passes. http://www.countrylink.info/home

Buses and trains servicing the regional centres in Victoria are operated by V/Line. http://www.vline.com.au/

Greyhound, Countrylink and V/Line trains and buses leave from Southern Cross Station (Spencer St).

Taxis:
Taxis can be an expensive, but convenient way of getting around the city, especially late at night. The main taxi ranks are at Flinders St Station, Southern Cross Station, King St (near Flinders St) and Bourke St (near Spring St). Taxis can also be hailed down in the street or ordered by phone. There are several companies, including Embassy Taxis (ph 13 17 55) and Silver Top Taxis (ph 13 10 08).

Accommodation

Cheaper accommodation in Melbourne is offered by a range of different types of establishments, including backpackers/hostels, pubs/hotels/apartments and the University of Melbourne Residential Colleges. The difference is based on the style of accommodation (e.g. shared dorms vs single rooms with a shared bathroom), the noise levels/atmosphere and the distance to the conference venue.

Backpackers and hostels:
There are many backpackers and hostels in the Melbourne CBD providing dorm accommodation for less than A$30.00/night.

The closest hostels to the conference venue are:

• Bev and Micks Backpackers, 115 Cecil St (formally Nomads Market Inn), A$20.00/night or A$100.00 for 7 nights in either of 3, 4, 5 or 10 bed dorms.  http://www.bevandmicks.com.au/main.htm
• All Nations Backpackers, cnr Flinders St and Spencer St, A$24.00–A$31.00/night for a 12–4 bed dorms including breakfast. http://www.nomadsworld.com/productdetail.asp?backpack=all+nations
• King St Backpackers, 197 King St (also known as Friendly Backpacker), A$25.00–A$30.00 for a 16–4 bed dorm including breakfast. http://www.kingstreetbackpackers.com.au/
• Melbourne Connection Travellers Hostel, 205 King St, A$23.00–A$27.00/night or A$149.00–A$175.00/week for an 8-4 bed dorm. http://www.melbourneconnection.com/

For other backpackers and hostels in Melbourne, try:

• Travel Pod: http://www.travelpod.com/hostels/Melbourne.html
• Lonely Planet: http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/

Pubs, hotels and apartments:
Staying in a hotel or apartment can be a relatively cheap way of staying in the centre of the city, especially if you share with a few others. Many places include at least a bar fridge in the room. Some rooms or apartments are self-contained, including kitchenette facilities.

The closest hotels/apartments to the conference venue are:

• UniLodge Hotel, 238 Flinders St (and also 339 Swanston St), double studio apartment from A$104.00/night. http://www.unilodgehotel.com.au/
• Kingsgate Hotel, 131 King St, twin, double or triple economy room with shared bathroom is A$85.00/night. A twin bed room with ensuite is A$113.00/night.  http://www.kingsgatehotel.com.au/
• The Victoria Hotel, 215 Little Collins St, single room with ensuite from A$85.00/night. http://www.victoriahotel.com.au/index.htm

University of Melbourne Residential Colleges:
The University of Melbourne has numerous Residential Colleges that are available for short stays during semester breaks, which includes the period covering the conference. They tend to offer single rooms (with shared bathrooms) and include breakfast. Some also include lunch and dinner in the overnight rate or as an optional extra, which represents good value for money. Most include linen but some offer cheaper rates if you bring your own. The Residential Colleges are, however, located north of the Melbourne CBD so will involve either a ~30 min walk to the conference venue or catching a tram.

Indicative prices for a single room, with linen and towels provided, are as follows:

• Trinity College, A$63.00 including a cooked breakfast  http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/
• International House, A$50.00 including a continental breakfast  http://www.ihouse.unimelb.edu.au/
• University College, ~ A$60.00 including a continental breakfast  http://www.unicol.unimelb.edu.au/
• St Marys College, A$65.00 including breakfast  http://www.stmarys.unimelb.edu.au

The contact details for all of the colleges can be found at: http://www.colleges.unimelb.edu.au/colleges.html

Last minute accommodation in all the capital cities and major towns:
Heavily discounted accommodation covering the forthcoming week or fortnight can be found via the following websites. These are extremely useful if you have not pre-booked accommodation before you arrive.

• Wotif: http://www.wotif.com/
• Last minute: http://www.lastminute.com.au/
• Need it now: http://www.needitnow.com.au/

Cheap Eats

Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city for eating. There are restaurants from nearly all countries in the world and shops that sell a similar range of foodstuff.

Cheap meals close to the conference venue:
For lunch, the catering colleges along King St may offer cheap meals. There are also plenty of cafes and sandwiches shops along the main streets in the city. Head to Chinatown on Little Bourke St for Chinese food and yum cha or, wander up to 321 Swanston St to the Don Don Japanese Cafe for cheap Japanese food.

For dinner, most pubs and hotels tend to provide good value Australian-style meals (e.g. steak, chicken or seafood and veges or salad) for less than A$20.00. For good Italian food, head up to Lygon St in Carlton (north of Melbourne CBD). There are also many restaurants and cafes throughout the city ranging in price. For more cheap eating options see http://www.backpackvictoria.com/

Pubs and breweries:
To taste the local beers visit:

• Bells Hotel and Brewery, corner Moray and Coventry Sts (South Melbourne)
• James Squire Brewhouse, Docklands Drive, Waterfront City
• Portland Hotel, corner Little Collins and Russell Sts
• Young and Jackson, corner Swanston and Flinders Sts (opposite Flinders St Station)
• Sherlock Holmes Inn, Collins St
• The Mitre Tavern, Bank Place (off Collins St)

Markets:
The Queen Victoria Market is a short tram or bus ride from the conference venue and is a good place to shop for all kinds of food as well as clothes, souvenirs etc. The market is open on Tues and Thurs–Sun from early morning to mid-afternooon.  http://www.qvm.com.au/home.php

Other Useful Info

• Online maps of Melbourne and Australia: http://www.whereis.com
• Melbourne Visitors Centre: http://www.visitvictoria.com/
• Currency exchange: http://www.xe.com/ucc/