Melbourne Airport to South Yarra transport with young kids

[StevePER]

I'm looking into how to get from the airport to our accommodation in South Yarra on an upcoming family trip. We have two young kids. We'll probably be taking one car seat with us but will need the other to be provided. I'm guessing that hiring a car is the easiest way (~$66 including car seat), and happily our accommodation has free parking and there is an Avis office 10 minutes walk away. Any other suggestions that wouldn't cost too much more?

Also, I assume we'll be travelling on the toll road. How does that work with Avis?

 

[markis10]

Avis have the tags so your tolls are covered, seems like rental car is the best option for you!

 

[QF WP]

Mrs LW and I used a private hire car in MEL when we had mini #1, would need to look through my records to see who it was. Hmmm, IIRC used the same company in ADL....now if only I could remember.

Given you have 4 pax with 2 child/infant seats, will be hard pressed to find too many that'll seat 4 + driver. Hire car a good option if you are confident enough to drive in MEL CBD.

I have walked from Hilton South Wharf to the Avis office - as you noted, an easy walk (and then I drove it back to HSW).

 

[oz_mark]

I have walked from Hilton South Wharf to the Avis office - as you noted, an easy walk (and then I drove it back to HSW).

There's an Avis office at Southern Cross railway station now as well.

 

[QF WP]

I'd never want to use it...driving in the CBD and I don't match....ever!

Wich would be easier for StevePER, his choice

 

[markis10]

I'd never want to use it...driving in the CBD and I don't match....ever!

Wich would be easier for StevePER, his choice

Neither, he is at South Yarra which is the other side of town :shock:

 

[oz_mark]

I'd never want to use it...driving in the CBD and I don't match....ever!

Wich would be easier for StevePER, his choice

MY guess, is that he'd be best off getting a car from the airport and driving down.

 

[StevePER]

Thanks, I have booked a car from Avis. We car drive from the airport to South Yarra, get free parking at our accommodation, and then return the car the next day a block and a half away.

 

[AdMEL]

Also, I assume we'll be travelling on the toll road. How does that work with Avis?

You'll travel on a toll road a significant part of the way and freeway nearly the whole way.

Avis have the tags so your tolls are covered, seems like rental car is the best option for you!

Depends what you mean by 'covered' - it costs extra to use the toll roads! $2.20 per day for the facility, plus the cost of the tolls. It should be about $10 or less all up (you may want to check the cityllink website to be sure).

 

[StevePER]

Depends what you mean by 'covered' - it costs extra to use the toll roads! $2.20 per day for the facility, plus the cost of the tolls. It should be about $10 or less all up (you may want to check the cityllink website to be sure).

Yep that's what I understood. I guess it can't be avoided. I tried looking on the Citylink website but it was so slow I gave up (it certainly lives up to the 1-star reviews on Google).

 

[markis10]

Yep that's what I understood. I guess it can't be avoided. I tried looking on the Citylink website but it was so slow I gave up (it certainly lives up to the 1-star reviews on Google).

It can be avoided but it's a PITA, and with Avis you don't have the option of a day pass however in this case it's in your favor as the total toll will be $9.24. The other hire car companies would cost $13.50 for a 24 hour pass if if you organized it or around $11 per calendar day of rental if they organize it.

 

[serfty]

The tolls can be avoided by using the "Western Ring Road".

If you'd prefer not to go that way, if you have a choice with the rental car company, don't pay through them, but get a "Tulla" Pass - $4.85 (https://www.citylink.com.au/pages/secure/PassPurchase/index.jsf).

A "Tulla" pass provides unlimited travel between Bulla and Flemington Roads only, for 24 hours from first trip.

 

[StevePER]

The tolls can be avoided by using the "Western Ring Road".

If you'd prefer not to go that way, if you have a choice with the rental car company, don't pay through them, but get a "Tulla" Pass - $4.85 (https://www.citylink.com.au/pages/secure/PassPurchase/index.jsf).

A "Tulla" pass provides unlimited travel between Bulla and Flemington Roads only, for 24 hours from first trip.

The Tulla pass would only be an option if they had a website that worked.

But looking at the map, I think avoiding the toll road should be possible without too much hassle. On Google it looks like it changes to a toll road south of Bell St, is this correct?

 

[serfty]

The Tulla pass would only be an option if they had a website that worked.

...

It generally does work - eventually. Patience is required.

The Tulla pass means one can't use the Bolte Bridge. However the following route is reasonably ok and will get one to South Yarra. (either way is bad during peak traffic times):

Freeway->Tulla Tollway->Flemington Rd->Elizabeth St.->Victoria St.->Albert st->Hoddle St.->Punt Rd

...
But looking at the map, I think avoiding the toll road should be possible without too much hassle. On Google it looks like it changes to a toll road south of Bell St, is this correct?

The western ring road has no tolls - but is about 13Km longer than going via Bell st.:

Melbourne Airport VIC to South Yarra VIC - Google Maps

 

[rechoboam]

Unless you are seriously in financial strife I can't see any point trying to avoid the toll. Once you factor in the extra petrol particularly if you get lost the advantage is minimal. I have tried to avoid it twice due to accidents and roadwork on the freeway and it was not great.

 

[markis10]

Unless you are seriously in financial strife I can't see any point trying to avoid the toll. Once you factor in the extra petrol particularly if you get lost the advantage is minimal. I have tried to avoid it twice due to accidents and roadwork on the freeway and it was not great.

I agree, especially with child seat age kids, unless they have just fallen asleep!

 

[serfty]

Unless you are seriously in financial strife I can't see any point trying to avoid the toll. Once you factor in the extra petrol particularly if you get lost the advantage is minimal. I have tried to avoid it twice due to accidents and roadwork on the freeway and it was not great.

Taking the ring road, the extra fuel may be two litres.

In reality, unless travelling at, say 2am, then it's a much of a muchness once near the city.

The issue is that South Yarra is on the "wrong side" from the airport, so the CBD must be skirted. Also, it a heavy traffic area.

Personally, I do employ the tollway when I drive to/from the airport; then again my travel is much longer. (And probably easier as I don't have to negotiate Punt Road.)

(Melbourne Airport VIC to Patterson Lakes VIC - Google Maps)

Since the OP has booked Avis, the Tulla Pass is not an option.

 

[AdMEL]

The Tulla pass would only be an option if they had a website that worked.

But looking at the map, I think avoiding the toll road should be possible without too much hassle. On Google it looks like it changes to a toll road south of Bell St, is this correct?

Note that as far as I understand, a cheaper Tulla pass is not an option with Avis - they have e-tags in each car and as part of the rental agreement, you agree that should you use the toll roads, you will be charged under their arrangement. You cannot opt out and buy a Tulla pass - if you use the toll road, you will be charged by Avis (actually, possibly the NSW RTA, which is the provider).

As for whether it's worth avoiding the tolls, my opinion is that it is not. According to Google Maps, it adds about 50% to the time for getting there by avoiding tolls. If you're arrival time coincides with peak hour, the non toll roads will probably be worse. City Link will be bad too, but non toll roads will be far worse. You are correct - Bell St is the last exit before tolls begin.

 

[serfty]

...

As for whether it's worth avoiding the tolls, my opinion is that it is not. According to Google Maps, it adds about 50% to the time for getting there by avoiding tolls. If you're arrival time coincides with peak hour, the non toll roads will probably be worse. City Link will be bad too, but non toll roads will be far worse. You are correct - Bell St is the last exit before tolls begin.

Avoiding tolls adds about 10 minutes a to ½ hour trip in light traffic conditions.

Melbourne Airport VIC to South Yarra VIC - Avoid Tolls

Melbourne Airport VIC to South Yarra VIC - CityLink

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I agree with the hire car option for the transfer. Having just done this recently, Europcar cost me $40 for one day and then $60 for another, so for $100, I got transfers Airport-City return for 4 people as well as a car for 2 days for some sightseeing.......a bargain really.

One thing I can say about Melbourne, is that driving around is pretty easy. I don't have too many problems but one thing which I do use a lot these days is the iPhone maps facility. I don't use the "directions" function, as apparantly that uses truck loads of data and you'd need to rob a bank to pay for the phone bill (or so I'm told), but if you have the maps only function on screen and activate the "location service" from the settings, it shows a big blue dot where you are. This takes next to no data and provided you can read a map, makes navigation really easy, right down to when to turn right etc (although it seems no one has ever mentioned to the Mexicans that most people move to the right to turn right, rather then their habit of moving to the left to turn right ).

I'm interested to hear Avis have the transponder in all their vehicles. I took my local "go Via" beeper to use (they are supposed to have interstate agreements) and when asked if I needed "tolls" by Europcar, I just said no, I've brought my own. It hasn't been issue with accounts and I don't appear to have been billed at all by Europcar. I'd be concerned that doing that with Avis would see you being billed twice for the one toll! By bringing my own, I get charged for nothing more and nothing less than what I use.