Moving to Australia – Public Transportation in Melbourne

Posted by shipping Australia on October 20, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

When you are planning on moving to Melbourne, Australia, you will be pleased to know that the city has a very sophisticated public transportation system. If you are shipping your car to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia will take care of the details. The freeway network is well-developed and is actually the largest in any Australian city. Getting wherever you need to go will be a breeze.

If you are relying on public transportation when you arrive in Australia, you will be able to get around town very easily. To use the public transportation system, you will need to obtain information on the Metlink network and purchase tickets using the Metcard ticketing system. With this, you can use most bus, tram and railway services.

IntlMOVE Australia has put together a basic guide to prepare you for moving to Melbourne and using the public transportation.

Tram

Melbourne, Australia has the world’s largest tram network. There are about 245 kilometers of track. The tram system includes: 500 trams, 28 routes and two light-rail routes. The trams run extensively in the city and the inner suburbs. There are over 1,800 stops on the system.

Busses

There are more than 300 bus routes in Melbourne to take you to where you need to go. If you like to go out on the weekends, there is a Nightrider system that operates on Friday and Saturday night so you don’t have to worry about driving. When traveling by air for work or pleasure, you can take the Skybus Super Shuttle to the airport so you don’t have to worry about parking at the airport.

Railway

The metro railway is very convenient if you live outside of the downtown area. There are 16 lines that make up this service. You can easily travel into the downtown area for work or other activities. There are trains available within the city as well. If you want to travel to other major cities or states within Australia, the extensive train system also facilitates interstate travel.

Taxi

Taxis and private cars are more expensive than public transportation but are a fantastic option if you are in a hurry.

Air Travel

There are two major airports in Melbourne. The Melbourne airport located in Tullamarine, is a major international airport, and is actually the second busiest airport in Australia. More than 30 airlines operate out of this airport. Avalon Airport mostly services domestic flights, but is also located near Melbourne for your convenience.

Bikes/ Walking

Melbourne’s warm climate makes it perfect for walking or riding a bike for transportation purposes. There is even a bike sharing program, so you can rent bicycles to get around the city.

When moving to Melbourne, Australia, you can have the security in knowing it is very easy to get around the city with public transportation. However, roughly 90 percent of local travel is still made by private vehicle. So, if you are shipping your car to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia can add your car in your shipment of household goods from the U.S. to Australia. IntlMOVE Australia will provide you with a free online international shipping quote.

 

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Moving to Australia – Holidays in Australia

Posted by shipping Australia on October 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

When you are moving to Australia with IntlMOVE Australia, you will need to know the different holidays that are celebrated. These holidays will affect the days you have of work and your interactions with your friends, families and coworkers. Holidays often provide a reason to celebrate, so it will be nice to have more reasons to enjoy a festive occasion.

In Australia, many Christian holidays are widely celebrated and recognized as public holidays. Almost 65 percent of the population is Christian. Roughly 20 percent of Australian residents declare no religion and the remainder of the population practice other religions. IntlMOVE Australia has put together some information for you on public holidays.

Public Holidays in Australia

New Years Day

Similar to the United States, New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1. Enjoy celebrations on December 31 as you count down to the New Year. There are many parties going on everywhere and in many cities, there are fireworks to celebrate the day.

Australia Day

January 26 is Australia Day. This day commemorates the date in 1788 when 11 ships from England, the First Fleet, arrived in Australia to start a new colony. To celebrate this day, there are Australian Day Honours, citizenship ceremonies and Australian of the Year Awards. Locally, you will find concerts, ceremonies and other forms of family entertainment, such as carnivals.

Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian holiday, also celebrated by many in the United States, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. This holiday is celebrated towards the end of March or April. It is different every year.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Australia, which means many people have it off of work. It is celebrated the day after Easter Sunday.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC, which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, recognizes all of those who have served and died during a time of war or conflict on April 25.

Christmas Day

Christmas is a Christian celebration that takes place on December 31. When Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is typically declared a public holiday.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is December 26. Although it was originally a day when wealthy people would give to the poor, this day is typically spent shopping at all the after-Christmas sales. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, Monday is declared a holiday. When if falls on a Sunday, Tuesday is declared a public holiday.

Other Holidays and Celebrations in Australia

Each state and territory may have special days, festivals or holidays that are celebrated. The Queen’s Birthday on June 8 is recognized everywhere in Australia, except Western Australia. Labour Day is celebrated throughout Australia, but varies by state. The Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia all celebrate it the first Monday in October. The second Monday in March is when the people in Victoria and Tasmania celebrate Labour Day. In Western Australia, it is celebrated the first Monday in March. Queensland and the Northern Territory celebrate Labour Day the first Monday in May.

Moving to Australia is a very exciting time in your life, so let IntlMOVE Australia help make the international move stress free. When you are moving to Australia, IntlMOVE Australia will take care of everything when shipping your household goods from the U.S. to Australia.

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