Southbank
by the River
getting to southbank melbourne by public transport

Getting to Southbank Melbourne by Public Transport

The fastest way to reach Southbank by public transport is to catch any Metro train to Flinders Street railway station and walk across the Yarra River, which takes under five minutes. If you would rather not walk, every tram heading south on St Kilda Road stops at Arts Precinct, the first stop over Princes Bridge, and tram routes 96, 109 and 12 stop on Clarendon Street beside Crown Melbourne and the convention centre. Southbank, Victoria sits directly across the river from the Melbourne central business district, so the whole suburb is a short hop from the city's busiest station and tram corridors. The trick is picking the right exit, bridge or stop for the part of Southbank you actually want. This guide from Southbank by the River breaks that down by destination.

Which train station is closest to Southbank?

Flinders Street railway station is the closest station for almost all of Southbank. Every Metro Trains Melbourne line passes through it, so you do not need to work out which line to take from the suburbs. Board any city-bound train and get off at Flinders Street.

The one exception is the western end of Southbank around Crown Melbourne and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Southern Cross Station is a ten minute walk from Crown via Spencer Street Bridge, and it is also where regional V/Line trains and the SkyBus from the airport arrive. If you are coming from regional Victoria or Melbourne Airport and heading to Crown, get off at Southern Cross and walk south down Spencer Street. For Southgate, the Arts Centre or the riverside promenade, stay on to Flinders Street.

Flinders Street has several exits and the one you choose matters. The main dome entrance faces Swanston Street, which puts you at the foot of Princes Bridge. The Elizabeth Street subway brings you out on the river side of the station at Banana Alley, right at the foot of Sandridge Bridge. Look at the exit signs on the platform rather than following the crowd up the main ramp.

Which bridge should you cross from Flinders Street?

Cross the bridge that lands closest to your destination. Five crossings link the city to Southbank within a short walk of the station, and each one serves a different part of the precinct.

Many visitors cross Princes Bridge because it is the obvious one, then walk back west along the promenade to reach Crown. That adds ten minutes. Pick Sandridge Bridge instead and you will arrive at Crown without the detour.

Which tram takes you to Southbank?

Trams in Melbourne are operated by Yarra Trams, and Southbank is served by two separate tram corridors that do not connect with each other inside the suburb. Work out which corridor you need before you board.

St Kilda Road corridor

Routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 and 72 all run from Swanston Street in the city, over Princes Bridge and down St Kilda Road. Stop 14, Arts Precinct, is the first stop south of the river and sits outside Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria. Stop 17, Grant Street, is the one for the Melbourne Recital Centre and Southbank Theatre. Route 1 turns off St Kilda Road onto Sturt Street and runs through the Arts Precinct to South Melbourne, which is handy for the Australian Ballet and ABC buildings.

Clarendon Street corridor

Routes 96, 109 and 12 run down Spencer Street from the city, cross the river and stop at Casino/MCEC on Clarendon Street. This stop is beside the convention centre and a short walk from the Crown entrance on Whiteman Street. Route 96 continues to St Kilda and route 109 continues to Port Melbourne, while route 12 heads through South Melbourne.

Route 58

Route 58 is the only tram that runs through the middle of Southbank. It travels down William Street in the city, crosses Queens Bridge and runs along Queensbridge Street and Kings Way. The Casino/Southbank stop puts you at the Queensbridge Street entrance to Crown. This route is the best choice if you are coming from Flagstaff or the legal end of the city.

Is Southbank in the Free Tram Zone?

No. The Free Tram Zone ends at the river on St Kilda Road. The Federation Square stop on the city side is free. Arts Precinct, one stop later, is not. If you ride a St Kilda Road tram from the city into Southbank without a valid fare you are liable for a fine, even though the trip is only one stop.

This catches out plenty of visitors who have spent the day riding free trams around the Melbourne central business district and assume the river is covered. Check the Free Tram Zone map on the Public Transport Victoria website before you board, or simply walk. Every Southbank destination is within fifteen minutes of Flinders Street on foot.

The City Circle tram, route 35, is free but stays on the city side of the river. It does not enter Southbank.

How do you pay for public transport to Southbank?

Public Transport Victoria runs the fare system, and myki is the ticket for trains, trams and buses. Buy a card at any train station, at 7-Eleven stores or from the machines at major tram stops, then touch on when you board. Melbourne fares are a flat two hour fare with a daily cap, so one touch on at your home station covers the train to Flinders Street and a tram across the river within the two hours.

You do not need to touch off on trams. You must touch off on trains or you may be charged the maximum fare. Payment options have been changing, with mobile myki and contactless card payment being introduced, so check the Public Transport Victoria website for the current methods before you travel.

If you are visiting for a few days, a myki Explorer pack from the Melbourne Visitor Hub at Town Hall includes a loaded card and discount vouchers. For a single trip from the city, walking is free and often quicker.

How do you reach Crown Melbourne and the convention centre?

Crown Melbourne occupies the western half of the Southbank riverfront, and the convention centre sits beyond it on the far side of Clarendon Street. Three public transport options land you at the door.

For a large event at the convention centre, the Clarendon Street tram stop gets very crowded at closing time. Walking back across Spencer Street Bridge to Southern Cross or along the promenade to Flinders Street is usually faster than waiting for a tram with room on it.

How do you get to the Melbourne Arts Precinct for a show?

Take a St Kilda Road tram to Arts Precinct, stop 14, or walk across Princes Bridge from Flinders Street. Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall and NGV International are all within two minutes of that stop. For the Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank Theatre or the Australian Ballet Centre, stay on one more stop to Grant Street or take route 1 down Sturt Street.

Before an evening performance, allow extra time for the St Kilda Road trams. Between 6pm and 7.30pm they are packed with commuters heading home and arts patrons heading in. The walk from Flinders Street takes five minutes and is more reliable than the tram over that short distance.

After a show, the Arts Precinct stop on the city-bound side is directly outside Hamer Hall. Trams back to Flinders Street and Swanston Street run every few minutes until late. If you are catching a train home, walk across Princes Bridge rather than taking the tram one stop, because you will arrive on the station side at the same time without the queue.

Can you get to Southbank from Port Melbourne or the cruise terminal?

Yes, without changing. Tram route 109 runs along the old Port Melbourne rail alignment from Waterfront City, beside Station Pier where the cruise ships and Spirit of Tasmania dock, straight to the Casino/MCEC stop on Clarendon Street. The trip takes about fifteen minutes and lands you at Crown and the convention centre. This is the most direct link between the cruise terminal and Southbank accommodation.

Bus route 234 also connects Port Melbourne and Garden City to the city along Queensbridge Street, stopping through the middle of Southbank. It runs less often than the tram but serves the residential streets that the 109 misses.

Sandridge Bridge is a reminder of how this corridor used to work. It carried the Port Melbourne and St Kilda railway lines into Flinders Street until 1987, when both lines were converted to light rail and became today's routes 109 and 96.

Does the Melbourne Visitor Shuttle still go to Southbank?

No. The Melbourne Visitor Shuttle was a red hop-on hop-off bus that looped past Southbank, the Arts Precinct and the city's main attractions. The City of Melbourne withdrew it in 2017 after the Free Tram Zone made it redundant. Older guides and printed maps still show it, so do not plan around it.

The nearest replacement for a sightseeing loop is the free City Circle tram, which covers the city side of the river. For Southbank itself, the promenade between Princes Bridge and Crown is a flat twenty minute walk with the Yarra River on one side and the restaurants on the other, and it covers more of the precinct than any bus route did.

How do you get home from Southbank late at night?

Trains and trams run all night on Friday and Saturday nights under the Night Network, so a late finish at Crown or a long dinner on the promenade does not strand you. Trains leave Flinders Street hourly after 1am on every line, and the St Kilda Road and Clarendon Street tram routes keep running at reduced frequency. On other nights the last trains leave Flinders Street around midnight and the last trams finish between midnight and 1am, depending on the route. Check the Public Transport Victoria journey planner for your line before you head out.

Late at night, the walk from Crown to Flinders Street along the promenade is well lit and busy. Sandridge Bridge and Evan Walker Bridge both stay open. The Elizabeth Street subway at Flinders Street closes late at night, so enter through the main Swanston Street entrance under the clocks.

Your Southbank transport plan

Catch any train to Flinders Street and cross the bridge that matches your destination. That single decision saves more time than any tram route.

  1. Heading to Southgate or the promenade restaurants: exit toward the river and cross Evan Walker Bridge.
  2. Heading to Crown Melbourne: use the Elizabeth Street subway and cross Sandridge Bridge.
  3. Heading to Arts Centre Melbourne or the Melbourne Arts Precinct: cross Princes Bridge or take any St Kilda Road tram one stop.
  4. Heading to the convention centre: get off at Southern Cross instead and walk down Spencer Street, or take tram 96, 109 or 12 to Casino/MCEC.
  5. Touch on with myki before you board any tram into Southbank, because the Free Tram Zone stops at the river.

For more on what to do once you arrive, from riverside breakfast spots to the Recital Centre, see the guides at Southbank by the River.

Related guides: Southbank Library Visitor Guide, Boyd Community Hub Southbank Guide.

Related guides: Southbank Melbourne Parks and Green Spaces, Southbank Melbourne Parking Guide.