TIP 1: The best way to get around Melbourne.
Trams. Sydney doesn’t have enough of them. Neither does Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Perth or Dunnedoo. So why then Melbourne?
Simply, because they are the best way to get around. That is if you don’t have a car; hate riding a push-bike; loath walking; miss the bus. No, seriously, even if I did have the option of driving a car over a tram, I’d still take the tram and I would suggest it to any visitor to Melbourne, any day. Here’s why.
1. They have been operating for over a century. Proven success! If something works for over one hundred years, they have to be doing something right.
2. If you drive a car, you’ll have a crash. With Melbourne’s endless maze of tram lines, car lanes frequently merge into one, with right lanes turning left, left lanes doing u-turns around tram tracks, right-lanes turning left then turning right again. Everyone is constantly giving way to the wonderful coasting rectangles in the middle of the road, so smooth, so elegant – I tell you, I’d rather be on one of them!
3. They’re cheap. With fuel prices going up and up, who wants to be driving. Get eco-friendly. Jump on the bandwagon. Spend only a couple of dollars and you can hop on and hop off as many times as you want in an hour – now that’s a bargain.
4. It’s educational. Especially on the city circle line, there’s even a guided voice telling you which building you will pass, how many years it has been there and who was the architect.
5. You can have a chat. Let’s face it, most people like to talk - especially if you are only in town for a couple of days. Get to know the locals - share a yarn, have a chin-wag. You never know, you might meet that special someone on that next tram-trip… or you might not. But that’s the fun, isn’t it?
6. You can get lost. Even on the mystery tram ride when all things fail, you fall asleep, get off at the wrong stop, it's still a load of fun! Hey, it’s all in the spirit of adventure. You might discover that hidden gem, that little out-of-the-way corner of Melbourne that really just is your cuppa tea.
There you go, catch a tram. Just do.
For more information check out:
http://www.yarratrams.com.au