After spending a month exploring Australia, I eventually made my way to Melbourne , the country’s second- largest megacity after Sydney. From unanticipated field surprises to meeting old musketeers and navigating the megacity’s transport system, this trip was filled with unique gests .
Sydney to Melbourne – An unanticipated launch
My flight from Sydney to Melbourne was listed for 600 AM , and I had to reach Sydney Airport beforehand. Since public transport options were limited at that hour, I took an Uber , which bring me 34 AUD(₹ 2000) for a 20- nanosecond lift .
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight | Sydney to Melbourne |
| Flight Cost | 5,500 INR(100 AUD) |
| Airline | Jetstar |
| Flight Duration | 1 hour 30 twinkles |
| field to Airport Transport | 34 AUD Uber |
While domestic breakouts in Australia are readily and presto , the real surprise came after landing in Melbourne.
Wait, Where Am I? This Isn’t Melbourne City!
As my Jetstar flight landed, I looked around and realized — I wasn’t in Melbourne megacity. rather, I had landed at Avalon Airport, which is 80 km down from Melbourne CBD( Central Business District)!
| Airport Name | Distance from City | Taxi Cost to City |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Tullamarine Airport | 22 km | 50 AUD |
| Avalon Airport | 80 km | 90 AUD |
Taking a hack from Avalon Airport to the megacity would bring me further than my entire flight ticket — 90 AUD(
₹ 5,400)! Luckily, I set up the SkyBus , a shuttle service that runs from Avalon Airport to Melbourne CBD. I bought a one- way ticket for 26 AUD(
₹ 1,500).
Reaching Melbourne – A Cold Drink & Public Transport Confusion
Melbourne is known for its changeable rainfall , and as soon as I got off the machine at Southern Cross Railway Station, I felt the cold wind. I had left my jacket in Sydney, so I wasn’t prepared for the chilly morning.
At Southern Cross Station, I demanded to figure out Melbourne’s public transport system . Unlike Sydney, where Visa and Mastercard could be tapped directly on motorcars and trains, Melbourne requires a Myki Card for all public transport.
| Public Transport Card | Sydney( Opal Card) | Melbourne( Myki Card) |
|---|---|---|
| Can use bank card? | Yes | No |
| Must buy separate card? | No | Yes |
| Minimum Top- Up | 5 AUD | 10 AUD |
I set up a 7- Eleven store hard and bought a Myki Card for 6 AUD with a 20 AUD top- up to start my peregrination.
Where to Stay? Too numerous Assignations!
One thing about Melbourne — I had too numerous people offering me a place to stay . So numerous dispatches, calls, and invites made it inviting . rather of choosing one place incontinently, I decided to visit different musketeers first.
My first stop was Footscray , a multilateral exurb just 10 twinkles from Southern Cross Station. I took the train to meet my friend Abhijit , who ate me with hot chai and breakfast.
| Friend’s Place | position | Distance from CBD |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit | Footscray | 10 min by train |
| Sky( England) | Richmond | 15 min by wagonette |
| Navdeep & Kushal | Glen Waverley | 40 min by train |
Meeting musketeers Across the City
After relaxing for a many hours at Footscray , I made my way to Richmond , where my friend Sky from England lived. I first met her 4 times ago in India , and now it was her turn to show me around Melbourne.
After catching up, I was picked up by Navdeep and Kushal , who took me to their home in Glen Waverley.
| musketeers & Their Origins | position in Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Navdeep( Haryana, India) | Glen Waverley |
| Kushal( Rohtak, India) | Glen Waverley |
| Sky( England) | Richmond |
At their house, 15- 20 other Indian musketeers were gathered. It felt like a mini-India in Melbourne, with people from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and indeed Pakistan sitting together, drinking chai, and drooling.
Melbourne’s changeable Weather & Beautiful Spots
One of the effects that Melbourne is notorious for is its rainfall — locals joke that you can witness all four seasons in a single day.
We visited Maribyrnong River , where the notorious Melbourne Cup steed race takes place every time. The cool wind, blue skies, and peaceful surroundings made it a perfect spot to relax.
| Weather Changes in Melbourne | Time of Day | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 8 AM | Cold and Windy |
| Afternoon | 2 PM | Sunny & Warm |
| Evening | 5 PM | Rain Showers |
| Night | 9 PM | indurating Cold |
unanticipated Reunion – A Friend from Merchant Navy
Just when I allowed my Melbourne adventure was complete, I entered a communication from Amit , an old friend who was in Merchant Navy . By pure luck, his boat had docked in Melbourne for six hours !
We snappily picked him up from the harborage , floated around the megacity, and also dropped him back before his boat left for Singapore.
| Friend | Profession | How We Met |
|---|---|---|
| Amit | Merchant Navy | Met in Thailand |
Final studies – Melbourne’s Diverse & Friendly Vibes
Melbourne is further than just a megacity it’s a blend of societies, people, and gests .Whether it was exploring Footscray, catching up with old musketeers, or dealing with changeable rainfall , every moment had its own charm.
| Highlights of Melbourne | Experience |
|---|---|
| Public Transport | Confusing at first, but Myki Card helps |
| Weather | Changes every many hours |
| People | Friendly and multilateral |
| Cost of Living | precious compared to Southeast Asia |
| Escapism | bulging in CBD but quieter in cities |
This was just the launch of my Melbourne trip — there’s still Great Ocean Road, Philip Island, and more to explore. Stay tuned for the coming adventure! 🚗 🌊