Year: 2019

Wondering how to get around Melbourne? Here is how

Where is Melbourne located?

Melbourne is located in the southeastern part of mainland Australia, within the state of Victoria. It is the capital state of Victoria. It extends along the Yarra River and the Dandenong ranges to the east. To the west, it extends along the Maribyrnong River and its tributaries north towards Sunbury. The major bayside beaches of Melbourne are in the various suburbs along the shorelines of Port Phillip Bay, in places such as Elwood, Brighton, Albert Park, Williamstown, and Port Melbourne among others.

How do you get around Melbourne?

Melbourne is the core region for intra-city, intercity and regional travel as it consists of several interlinking modes. Ausmove’s guide to Melbourne is essential for a hitch-free navigation around the city. Melbourne has the world’s largest tram network, trains and buses forming its public transportation system such as Metlink, which provides an all in one ticket.

Other major modes of transportation include cycling, walking and commercial-passenger vehicle services.

Below are the navigation system of Melbourne and tips on getting around the city.

Trams

Melbourne has the world’s largest trams, I said that already, haven’t I? It is a great way to view the city and inner suburbs. Your move to Australia without a ride on its tram is not complete. Although, trams have more frequent stops like the bus system and they are not quite as fast as the trains. Make sure you are continuously holding on.

So what’s the catch? Touching off isn’t necessary on trams. Trams are free and take you close to many of the city’s attraction hub like the Queen Victoria Market, Docklands, Melbourne Gaol, Fitzroy Gardens and major sporting centres.

Buses

There are about 364 bus routes in Melbourne and you hail buses with your hand. Buses fill the gaps left by trains and trams, although it is more difficult. It is advisable to get an online trip itinerary to make it easier for you to navigate your way through the city.

Trains

Melbourne train network is extensive and has 16 lines, which spans across lengthy suburban routes and underground city loop. You get to the city’s outer routes quicker with trains. The V/Line train network is the city’s regional train system.

Airports

Melbourne airport is located in the northwestern suburb of Tullamarine. It is the second busiest airport in Australia. It is a centre to passenger airlines like Virgin Australia, Quantas, Jetstar Airways, and Tiger Airways Australia. Melbourne airport is also the hub Cargo airlines like Quantas Freight and Toll Priority.

Airport transfers, which is a public bus transportation bus service that operates between the airport and city, and stops at Spencer Street, is also another transportation option you can consider on your Ausmove’s guide to Melbourne. They also run a connection service between the terminal and central hotels all through the week.

Bicycles

A half of the Australian suburb in Melbourne use the bicycle mode of navigation. There are great bike tracks along the Yarra. You are advised to wear bike helmets as these are required when bike riding in Victoria. Ausmove’s guide to Melbourne

Taxis

Taxis are expensive and Melbourne taxis are painted in yellow. You can stand on the Kerb with your arms outstretched, to hail a taxi in Melbourne and at 10pm, an advance payment is require. So if you are looking to save more money, you should consider public transportation systems. Famous taxi operators like Uber, Taxify, Gocatch and Shofer, function in Melbourne.

Top 10 places to visit in Melbourne

1. Flinders Street Station
2. Chinatown
3. Melbourne Zoo
4. Queen Victoria Market
5. The Crown
6. Docklands
7. Luna Park in St. Kilda
8. Yarra River Cruises
9. Shrine of Remembrance
10. South Wharf

Facts and stats about Melbourne

• Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria and it is the core commercial, organizational, cultural and recreational of the state.
• It is the most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, having a population of about 4.5million and the entire city are covers Greater Melbourne area covers 9992.5 km². As at 2016, it had a residential population of over 148,000
• The name Melbourne is a common name for its city centre, and it also refers to an urban agglomeration 9,992.5 km², encompassing a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities.
• Melbourne is infamous for its cultural institutions, such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and also the World Heritage- listed Royal Exhibition Building.
• It has hosted many annual international events such as, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 1956 Summer Olympics, Melbourne cup, and Australian Grand Prix.

Safety Regulations and Investigation

The safety of rail operations is overseen by the 2006 Rail Safety Act, bus transportation is regulated by the Bus Safety Act, while ATSB or the Chief investigation has the jurisdiction to subject the rail, bus and marine operators in Victoria to a no-fault investigations.

Conclusion

Melbourne has the best transportation system in Australia which makes it is fairly easy for you to get around. So you don’t need to worry about getting around Melbourne.

5 Reasons You Should Go On a Family Vacation with a Travel Nurse

Family vacations are meant for siblings, kids and parents to bond. Whether you’re traveling to a foreign region or somewhere you have been to before, it’s also important to ensure that everyone is safe and sound. But there are situations when you might have a family member with a terminal illness, or one who doesn’t adapt easily to new environments – what would you do?

You wouldn’t want to cancel an entire trip because of one person, or risk visiting the health care facilities in an unfamiliar location. Your best option is to take a travel nurse along with the family.

A travel nurse is licensed medical professional who travels to provide health care services to specific individuals or group of people who do not want or cannot visit a medical facility. To make your trip smoother, here are 5 reasons you should go on a family vacation with a gifted healthcare travel nurse.

1. She does all your health related research

When going on a trip with your family, you need a well conducted research about the safety of your destination. There’s a likelihood that an epidemic might have broken out in the past (or just before your trip). If the repercussions are not favourable to the health of any member of your family, you would love to know. With the help of a travel nurse, you will gain the needed knowledge about the environment and plan on how to handle such situations.

2. The nurse tells you what your body can and cannot handle

When you embark on a trip, there’s a possibility you could eat food that your body may not react well to. Inasmuch as you are having fun and relaxing with the family, you wouldn’t want to gain unnecessary weight or end up in the hospital at the end of a vacation. When you take a nurse along with you, they will ensure you all eat the right foods in the appropriate quantity.

For example, most restaurants and hotels in big cities offer meals with lots of calories and saturated fat. Eating these foods can have a negative effect on you and members of your family after the vacation. But nurses generally have good knowledge of nutrition. Therefore, going on the trip with a travel nurse means any excessive eating habits you have will be pruned down. Most kids have “sweet tooth” too. The nurse can also help you curtail that as well.

3. To help hand pick your daily activities

There are family members who enjoy heart-pounding and adrenaline-rushing adventures. Others engage in outdoor sports that are either risky or expose their health to toxic substances. When you travel with a nurse, they can help you handpick activities you can engage in that will not endanger your mental or physical well-being.

This does not mean you cannot participate in the activities you planned for your family vacation. The nurse simply helps you in making the right decision so that no one falls ill during the course of the trip.

When you’re taking a trip to China, African countries or regions that still believe in traditional medicine, you may want to visit some of these centers. In as much as their methods may seem alright on TV and the internet, they might not be right for your health. Tagging a health care expert along guarantees you do not go for a therapy that will cause you and your family members more harm than good.

4. To help when there is an emergency

Nobody plans on falling sick while on a vacation. But after long hours of travel, trying out new meals and change of weather, your body system is likely to force itself to adapt. Those with a stronger immune system will settle in properly while others (kids especially) might not. But with a travel nurse in your midst, you are rest assured that your health and that of your family is taken care of – no matter the emergency situation.

There are times when someone will come down with a cold or other illness on the way to your destination. Administering the right treatment during such emergencies is not as easy as just fastening a seat belt. A travel nurse will know what first aid to give, how to carry out a CPR, and even what drugs you should travel with in case a health situation arises.

It’s somewhat risky walking into just any health care facility on your route to look for adequate medical services. While some might deliver, others could be below par. So, if the emergency is one that cannot be handled within a few minutes, a travel nurse will be sure of what equipment and treatment options the sick family member needs.

5. For travel insurance

You may be wondering why you need a nurse for travel insurance. There are so many ways they can be of help. When you are looking for a policy plan that will cover your family in case there’s an emergency during the trip, a nurse will assist you in analyzing and making a decision. In a situation where you fall ill, and your travel insurance provider doesn’t quickly get someone to look after your kids or take them back home, a travel nurse handles all of that.

Finally, the benefits of traveling with a health care provider cannot be over emphasized. Whether you are going on a long or short distance journey, a trip to a new region or somewhere you are familiar with, they assist in making sure that the mental and physical well-being of everyone in your family is taken care of.

Instead of worrying about the cost of hiring the services of a travel nurse, think about the cost of treatment due to negligence. Besides, you wouldn’t want to come back over-weight and lose that perfect shape you worked hard on getting before the family vacation. Include the services of a travel nurse in your holiday budget today, and in the end you’ll be happy you did.