Major international airlines serving Melbourne include British Airways, KLM, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and United Airlines. There are flights from Melbourne to all state capitals and many regional hubs. Domestic carriers include Jetstar (website: www.jetstar.com.au), Qantas (website: www.qantas.com.au), Virgin Blue (website: www.virginblue.com.au) and Tiger Airways (website: www.tigerairways.com.au).

From London to Melbourne is 22 hours, 30 minutes.

Melbourne (MEL) (Tullamarine) (website: www.melbourne-airport.com.au) receives flights from the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA. The airport is 22km (14 miles) from the city (journey time - 25 minutes). To/from the airport: The Skybus Super Shuttle links Melbourne city with the airport. Taxis are available to the city centre. Facilities: Restaurants, bars, bureaux de change, duty-free shopping and ATMs.

None.

Main ports: An overnight passenger/vehicle ferry from Tasmania to Melbourne departs daily (website: www.spiritoftasmania.com.au).

There are also ferry services from Melbourne to Williamstown across Port Phillip Bay; and across the headlands of Port Phillip Bay between the beach towns of Queenscliff and Sorrento.

Melbourne (website: www.portofmelbourne.com) is an increasingly popular port for international cruise ships.

V-Line (tel: (3) 9697 2076; website: www.vlinepassenger.com.au) operates state rail services, with links from Melbourne to Ballarat, Bendigo, Echuca, Geelong, Sale, Seymour, Swan Hill, Traralgon and Wodonga. Overnight trains link Melbourne and Sydney (11 hours), and an overnight train The Overland runs to Adelaide (11 hours). Trains run to other main centres including Canberra (9 hours), Brisbane (34 hours) and Perth (73 hours).

Victoria is connected to all states by coach services. Buses from Adelaide take 10 hours; between Sydney and Melbourne, 13 hours. There is a well-developed road system covering 156,700km (97,400 miles) on which local buses operate. To drive to Adelaide is 9 hours, to Sydney is 10 hours, to Brisbane is 21 hours and to Perth is two days.

Melbourne has an extensive network of electric railways, linked in the city centre by an underground loop-line.

There is also a tram network which has an integrated ticket structure with the bus and rail systems. Tickets should be purchased before boarding, or from onboard vending machines (trams only; and coins only). Fares are zonal, with travel cards for daily or weekly travel and multi-journey tickets. If you purchase a two-hour ticket after 1800, it is valid until services stop that night. The Melbourne City Circle tram, in distinct burgundy and gold colours, is free. Buses are relatively inexpensive and usually air conditioned.

The Melbourne Tourist Shuttle leaves hourly to major attractions in the city and the visitor may join or leave at any stopping point along the journey.