V/Line (tel: 136 196, in Australia only; website: www.vlinepassenger.com.au) operates Interstate Link services with connecting coach services, as well as an extensive train service throughout Victoria from Southern Cross Station, Spencer Street (tel: (03) 9619 2587), in the city centre. Facilities at the station include a food court, shops, ATMs, trolley hire, left luggage and public toilets. All trains are modern and comfortable with sleeper cars for longer journeys. Information on all national routes can be obtained from Countrylink (tel: 132 232, in Australia only; website: www.countrylink.info).

Rail services: The Overland train runs three times a week between Melbourne and Adelaide. The trip takes 10 hours, and you can get connections to both The Ghan and the Indian Pacific trains in Adelaide (both The Ghan and the Indian Pacific routes are recognised as Australia's great train journeys). Check out the Great Southern Railways website at www.gsr.com.au for details.

Daylink services also connect Melbourne to Adelaide. This trip is by train from Melbourne to Bendigo, and by bus from Bendigo to Adelaide. The total trip time is 11 hours. The Canberra Link connects Melbourne to Canberra. It's a train journey from Melbourne to Albury, and bus from there to Canberra. This trip takes eight hours in total.