Melbourne

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia.

Hitching out

Direction Sydney

For a lift to Sydney via the Hume Fwy (M31) catch a suburban train to Craigieburn (which is also the last stop on the line of the same name) Walk north down Hothlyn Drive and Walters Street about 10mins, until you get to a nice set of traffic lights with an onramp to the Hume Hwy. Here the cars must slow down for the lights and there is a lane for traffic to pull over.

Similarly just walk east along a road that has an on-ramp onto the freeway, the walk should take a maximum of 15 minutes. Its pretty doable to get to Sydney within the same day as long as you leave Melbourne early enough in the morning. Follow the signs to Seymour (Road 55) and don't get confused with the different numbers on the signs, Seymour should be always right. Alternately, you can catch a 40 minute train from Melbourne Central Station or Southern Cross Station towards Seymour to Wallan. Wallan is just outside Melbourne and from the train station it's a 10 minute walk straight onto the Hume Highway.

Direction Traralgon, Bairnsdale (East)

Take a train to the end of the Pakenham line to Pakenham, then exit the station (theres only one platform) and go straight along the street ahead (should be Henry st). Henry st turns left follow it then turn right at the first right, should be king st. Follow that to the Princes Highway.

Cross the highway and follow it to the right for like 100m more or less and there should be a dirt area where cars can pull over.

This spot has worked for me, but after Bairnsdale it would be harder to get picked up, if you want to go to Sydney, I would recommend the Hume Highway rather than the coast road.

Directon Adelaide (West)

Option 1

Go to one of the central Train Stations and get a ticket to Ballarat. It is about 10 $ (in 2010). The ticket will let you get on what ever train you need to travel to the Southern Cross Station. From there the train takes you about 120 km out of town. Once in Ballarat your train ticket will also get you on the buses for the day. Cross the road from the station and take the bus 3 Creswick. Ask the driver to drop you at the Freeway on-ramp to Adelaide. This will save you a 5 km walk to the freeway. Walk 200 m down onto the freeway then hitch.

• Vline timetable
• 3 Creswick timetable

Option 2

Take a train from Southern Cross in direction Ballarat and get off at Rockbank. Walk into the village, eastwards into Westcott Parade and turn left at the roundabout or into Elizabeth street. Walk along the highway until you see a bus station. This place is a good hitchhiking spot where cars can stop easily.

You can basically just take any lift you get offered, as you can stand virtually anywhere on the highway to Adelaide. Keep in mind that people who go all the way to Adelaide are more likely to leave Melbourne early, since the whole trip takes 6-8 hours.

Rockbank is in Myki zone 2, so it'll cost you around 6,50 $ on weekdays and 3,50 $ on weekends. The trip takes about 30 minutes + 15 minutes walking, but the train goes only about every 2 hours, so check the timetable on metlinkmelbourne.com.au beforehand.

• (Last verified: December 2012)

Direction Great Ocean Road

To get to the Great Ocean Road take a train to Geelong. Go right out of the station and onto the main highway. Bear left and walk a little to find somewhere a car can safely stop. If you walk about 2 km down the road, you will find a really good spot just before the bridge. From anywhere else between Torquay and Apollo bay, rides are extremely easy to pick up.

trash:Melbourne