Melbourne Cruise Terminal to DFO

[Muffinz]

We're on a Princess cruise in December 2024 from Sydney that goes to Melbourne (among other places) and we're going through the excursions for the different ports, deciding what we want to do.

None of the excursions in Melbourne really appeal to us, but my dear wife has found out there is a DFO shopping outlet in Melbourne - and it looks like it's only about 3km from the cruise terminal?

Would there be Taxi's / Uber at the cruise terminal that we could get to the DFO and back?

 

Also can anyone confirm if Princess provide free shuttles at the ports that to go into town?

Some threads / posts I've read on CC say Princess do and some say they don't, so it's a bit confusing....

 

The other 2 ports we are undecided on are Port Lincoln and Hobart, so if there is a free shuttle that goes into town we will happily stroll around these places at our leisure 

 

any advice would be appreciated 🙂

[Aus Traveller]

Princess doesn't put on a shuttle bus in Melbourne or Hobart. To get to the Melbourne CBD you will need to purchase a myki card to use public transport. You can do this in the cruise terminal.

 

When we have called into Melbourne there has been a bus running directly from the cruise terminal to very close to the CBD. Alternatively you can go on the tram that has its last stop around 200 metres from the cruise terminal.

 

In Hobart, ships dock virtually in the middle of the city so no shuttle bus is needed.

[MicCanberra]

There are usually plenty of cabs or you could uber if public transport is not of use.

[Jean C]

Hi, for a port stop in Hobart, if you've already visited Port Arthur penal colony, an alternative is a walking tour. I researched self-guided walking tours and found a really good one that started from the Kelly Steps and covered Battery Point, Salamanca and the Harbourfront. I can't find the exact one we did but the below Creative Adventurer one is similar. The walking tour looked a lot on the map, but Hobart is very compact and it was by no means anywhere near as much walking as it looked on paper. The hardest part was the Kelly Steps, 48 steep steps. It's worth printing out details and a narrative of the sights you'll see, to get the most out of your exploring. Unfortunately I didn't keep a copy of the document I prepared.

Edited August 1 by Jean C

[Ozwoody]

The tram service from the port is fairly good, can get a bit busy when the first ship passengers, rush out. but calmer after that. the port tram is the 109, you only need to know that for the return trip.

DFO is in South Bank

The tram will take you into the CBD, get off at the corner of Spencer and Flinders St's.

It is a short walk to the DFO from there.

 

As a suggestion if your on the Majestic Princess arriving on the Tuesday, I would recommend going to the Queen Victoria Markets in Elizabeth St in the CBD.

Just take the same tram and get of at the Elizabeth St stop, then either walk down to the Market, or get the tram down Elizabeth St to the market.

Trams in the CBD are free.

The reverse is to go back to Collins St where you got off the 109 tram, and take a 109 back to the port.

 

Unfortunately the QV markets are not open Mondays & Wednesdays.

 

Regards

John

 

 

Edited August 1 by Ozwoody

[MicCanberra]

On cruise ship days, Melbourne put a bus 109 to take you to the city, so as to not overload the tram with cruise ship passengers, it is the same cost but leaves from on the pier which saves walking the 300m to the tram stop. The 109 bus takes you to the 124A tram stop, which is by the casino on the south bank. From there you can get free trams around the CBD or walk to the DFO.

[clairebearinaus]

The Port Melbourne 109 tram also stops at Southern Cross railway station, above which is another DFO-style shopping mall called Spencer Street Outlets. It's only another 2 tram stops from where you'd get off to go to DFO.

 

The website will help her decide whether it has the stores she wants (there's a TK Maxx which is a big draw) but it's definitely a shorter walk from the tram stop to the shops than going to DFO South Wharf. 

 

But to answer your original question, yes taxis and ubers will be available. 

[possum52]

3 hours ago, Muffinz said:

 

None of the excursions in Melbourne really appeal to us, but my dear wife has found out there is a DFO shopping outlet in Melbourne - and it looks like it's only about 3km from the cruise terminal?

Would there be Taxi's / Uber at the cruise terminal that we could get to the DFO and back?

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, clairebearinaus said:

The Port Melbourne 109 tram also stops at Southern Cross railway station, above which is another DFO-style shopping mall called Spencer Street Outlets. It's only another 2 tram stops from where you'd get off to go to DFO.

 

The website will help her decide whether it has the stores she wants (there's a TK Maxx which is a big draw) but it's definitely a shorter walk from the tram stop to the shops than going to DFO South Wharf. 

 

But to answer your original question, yes taxis and ubers will be available. 

 

You and your wife could do both the DFO at South Wharf and then go up to Spencer Street Outlets by using the tram from Port Melbourne. Or using a taxi or Uber.