Changes

=== Direction [[Sydney]] ===For a lift to Sydney via the [[Hume Fwy Highway]] (M31) catch a suburban train to Craigieburn (which is also the last stop on the line of the same name) Walk north down Hothlyn Drive and Walters Street about 10mins, until you get to a nice set of traffic lights with an onramp to the Hume Hwy. Here the cars must slow down for the lights and there is a lane for traffic to pull over.

If you're headed to Canberra follow the directions above onto the Hume Hwy. Once you have a lift that is taking you to Yass or further it's best to ask the driver if he/she can take you into Murrumbateman (a small town which is a 10-15min 15 minute drive after the exit onto the Barton Hwy (25) off the Hume Hwy). From there all traffic must slow down and (if you're coming from MelMelbourne) it'll be late in the day when everyone is commuting back to Canberra. Alternatively, there is a large service and truck-stop station just outside of Yass but if it's late in the day most people are commuting back South and it could be awhile (and dark) before you find someone headed into Canberra.

=== Direction [[Traralgon]], [[Bairnsdale]] (East) ===Take a train to the end of the Pakenham line ''Some'' hitchhikers claim that it is very possible indeed to Pakenham, then exit the station (theres only one platform) stick your thumb out anywhere on ''Sydney Road'' and go straight along the street ahead (Henry St). Henry St turns left, follow it, then turn right at the first right into King St. Follow that to the Princes Highwayjust get lifts towards ''Sydney'' from there.

=== East towards [[Traralgon]], [[Bairnsdale]] (and [[Sydney]] the scenic way) via the [[Princes Highway]] === ==== Option 1 ====Take a train to Officer Station (on the Pakenham line), exit the station and walk south down Officer South Road, turn right at the roundabout and walk (or hitch) west down Rix Road about 1km, then turn left and walk south to the end of Stephens Road North. You should find yourself facing the Princes Freeway with a large wall leading away from you to the right. Follow this wall on the freeway side for about 500m and you will come to the BP Service Station (Officer) on the freeway. It is very easy to get a ride east from here by ask drivers filling up with petrol or in the carpark, its not unusual to get a ride within the first few people you ask. The walk from Officer station to the BP service station takes about 30 minutes.*''(Last Verified: January 2017)'' ==== Option 2====Take a train to the end of the Pakenham line to Pakenham Station, exit the station (theres only one platform) and go north straight up Henry St. Henry St turns left, follow it, then turn right at the first right into King St. Follow that north to the Princes Highway. Cross the highway and follow it to the right for like around 100m more or less and where there should be is a dirt area where cars can pull over.*''(Last Verified: January 2014)''  A possibly better (but as of yet unverified) alternative to Option 2 may be to walk south-east down Bald Hill Road from Pakenham Station, turn right at the first roundabout and head south down Koo Wee Rup Road to the Princes Freeway On Ramp. There should be ample room for cars to stop on the side of the road on the on ramp. ==== Other Options ====It is possible to start hitching closer to the city at on ramps along the Monash Freeway although it might take a few shorter rides to get to the first service station at Officer. Some options are:*One hitchhiker has successfully got rides at the last traffic lights on Batman Avenue before the start of the Monash Freeway, right near the Rod Laver Arena. *The Warrigal Road on ramp (walk to it from Holmesglen Station) sees a lot of traffic and there is a small space for cars to stop on the on ramp.*Take the 901 bus to the Stud Road on ramp. One hitchhiker swears by this spot. There is a lot of east bound traffic here, the traffic doesn't go too fast, there is heaps of visibility, and there is lots of room for cars to pull over. Its easy to get a ride to the BP service station at Officer about 25km from there.

Between Bairnsdale and Eden, there is a long stretch with no bigger towns in between. Be prepared for longer waiting and possibly need to sleep outside. Not the fastest way in order to get to Sydney, but definitely doable, and loads of interesting spots at the coast along the way. For a more direct connection to [[Sydney]], the [[Hume Highway]] is better recommended rather than the scenic coast road. === Directon West towards [[Adelaide]] (West) ===

Take a train from Southern Cross in direction Ballarat and get off at '''Rockbank'''. Walk ''Rockbank'' is in Myki zone 2, so it'll cost you around $6.50. If you yet haven't got a Myki card, they won't let you board the train without and no paper tickets are available. So be aware of another $6 for the card. The trip takes about 30 minutes, but the train goes only about every 2 hours, so check the timetable on [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ metlinkmelbourne.com.au] beforehand. Once in Rockbank, walk into the village, eastwards into Westcott Parade and turn left at the roundabout or into Elizabeth street. Walk along the highway until you see a bus stationstop. This place is a good hitchhiking spot where cars can stop easily.However, if you don't mind walking for another 1-2 km, there will be a Service Station further down the road (you are able to see the big McD's sign from the bus stop). There it'll be easier getting a ride by talking to the people.

* ''(Last verified: December 2012April 2014)''

=== Direction Southwest along the Great Ocean Road (South-West) ===

=== Direction Northwest towards [[Bendigo]], [[Mildura]] (North-West) === 

If you get a nice busdriver you might be able to convince him to drop you off at the BP gasstation/Macdonalds rest area in between the stops Calder Park and Duncans lane. If he doesn't want to then get dropped off the stop called --> Duncans lane/Calders Freeway. From there you can either choose to walk back to BP/McDonalds McD's as that's a really good place to find long lifts (15 minute walk) or hitch directly from the busstop (beware of cops). == Public Transport ==

In most stations (except central/major stations that have barriers with somebody guarding; find a blind spot Catch the train to hop over the barrier or wait until the guard is distracted Cranbourne and walk through get out at the wheelchair gates) you can just last stop. There, walk onto 15 minutes on the platform and Gippsland Highway to the train - perfect for M420 just going between suburbs. Occasionally there's ticket inspectors on after the trains, rather heavy-handed fellows and not especially polite. If you're not Ozzie, however, there's not really any way they can make you pay a fine - except if you live in Australia and give them your real address, but who would do that?! Don't show them proper ID, show them something intersection with your name on it (like a credit card) and then give them a fake address. They might make you ring somebody to confirm that address (they tend to find entries such as "mum" in your phone; they can really be aggressive), but if you set up somebody who knows which fake address to give you'll be golden. Enjoy!the C047

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Trashwiki link: [[trash:Melbourne]]