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.

Similarly just walk east along a road that has an on-ramp onto the freeway, the walk should take a maximum of 15 minutes. Its pretty doable to get to Sydney within the same day as long as you leave Melbourne early enough in the morning. Follow the signs to Seymour (Road 55) and don't get confused with the different numbers on the signs, Seymour should be always right. Alternately, you can catch a 40 minute train from Melbourne Central Station or Southern Cross Station towards Seymour to Wallan. Wallan is just outside Melbourne and from the train station it's a 10 minute walk straight onto the Hume Highway.

=== Direction [[Traralgon]], [[Bairnsdale]] (East) ===Take If you're headed to Canberra follow the directions above onto the Hume Hwy. Once you have a train lift that is taking you to Yass or further it's best to ask the end of driver if he/she can take you into Murrumbateman (a small town which is a 10-15 minute drive after the Pakenham line to Pakenham, then exit onto the station Barton Hwy (theres only one platform25) off the Hume Hwy). From there all traffic must slow down and go straight along the street ahead (should if you're coming from Melbourne) it'll be Henry st)late in the day when everyone is commuting back to Canberra. Henry st turns left follow Alternatively, there is a large service and truck-stop station just outside of Yass but if it then turn right at 's late in the first right, should day most people are commuting back South and it could be king st. Follow that to the Princes Highwayawhile (and dark) before you find someone headed into Canberra.

Cross the highway and follow ''Some'' hitchhikers claim that it is very possible indeed to the right for like 100m more or less stick your thumb out anywhere on ''Sydney Road'' and just get lifts towards ''Sydney'' from there should be a dirt area where cars can pull over.

This spot has worked for me=== East towards [[Traralgon]], but after [[Bairnsdale it would be harder to get picked up, if you want to go to ]] (and [[Sydney, I would recommend ]] the scenic way) via the Hume [[Princes Highway rather than the coast road.]] ===

=== Directon = 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 around 100m where there 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. === 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.

If you get a ride going to Ballarat it's a good idea to get dropped off at the BP gas station around 5 km before Ballarat.* 'Rockbank'(Last verified: April 2014)' is in Myki zone 2, so it'll cost you around 6,50 $ on weekdays and 3,50 $ on weekends. The trip takes about 30 minutes + 15 minutes walking, but the train goes only about every 2 hours, so check the timetable on [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ metlinkmelbourne.com.au] beforehand.

If you get a ride going to Ballarat make sure to be dropped off at the BP gas station 5 or so kilometers before Ballarat.* ''(Last verified: December 2012)'' === Direction Southwest along the Great Ocean Road ===

=== Direction Northwest towards [[Bendigo]], [[Mildura]] === Catch the Craigeburn bound train to Essendon and from there get on bus 483 towards Sunbury. Just bear in mind that the 483 bus leaves every 80 minutes on weekdays so make sure to click the link below to see the timetable by clicking [http://ptv.vic.gov.au/timetables/line/2256/ here]. 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/McD's as that's a really good place to find long lifts (North-West15 minute walk) or hitch directly from the busstop (beware of cops) . === Southeast towards [[Wilson Promontory]] ===

Catch the Craigeburn bound train You can start to Essendon and from hitchick there get on bus 483 towards Sunbury. Just bear in mind that I had to wait 15 minutes for my first lift and I took 7 lifts to reach the 483 bus leaves every 80 Wilson promontory national park (each time waiting less than 15 minutes on weekdays so make sure to click ) Cross Korumburra, Leongatha, and Foster. In Foster, cross the city walking (it not a really big town) and follow the signs "Wilson Promontory". and you can start again C445 or wak until the link below C446 which goes to see the timetable by clicking [http://ptv.vic.govpark.au/timetables/line/2256/here]

If you get a nice busdriver you might be able to convince him to drop you off at the BP gasstation== Food, public transport, sleep ==Find more info on [http:/Macdonalds rest area in between the stops Calder Park and Duncans lane/nomadwiki. If he doesn't want to then get dropped off the stop called --> Duncans laneorg/Calders Freeway. From there you can either choose to walk back to BPen/McDonalds as that's a really good place to find long lifts (15 minute walk) or hitch directly from the busstop (beware of cops).Melbourne Nomadwiki]!

== Public Transport =Food===Trashwiki link: [[trash:Melbourne]]

[https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodnotbombsmelbourne/ Food Not Bombs Melbourne Metro trains can be a bit tough to blackride] cooks and serves vegan lunch and dinner on Mondays, but it's totally doable once you figure out how - and really worth your while ''Dinner on Tuesdays and'' definitely more ethical than going along with the company's extortional scheme of making you pay 6A$ just for a card that then you have to top up with money to be allowed to ride! Thursdays.

In most stations (except central===Regional Trains===Regional Victorian V/major stations Line trains have conductors that have barriers with somebody guarding; find a blind spot to hop over the barrier or wait until the guard is distracted check myki cards and walk through paper tickets on the wheelchair gates) you can just walk onto the platform train, and the train - perfect for just going between suburbsbecause of this blackriding is not so easy. Occasionally However, there's ticket inspectors on the is a way to take vline trains, rather heavy-handed fellows and not especially politewith a full fare myki for $7. If you're not Ozziewant to take a train to just say Traralgon for example, howeverwhich normally costs about $20 offpeak and $30 peak full fare, there's not really any way they can make you pay just buy a fine - except if you live in Australia new myki card and put $1 credit on it, touch on and give them jump on the train. When the conductor scans your real addressmyki card on the train, but who would do that?! Donthey don't show them proper IDcare how much credit is on the card, they are just checking that the balance is not zero or negative, show them something with your name and that you have touched on it (like a . As long as there is some credit on the card) and then give there should be no problem. If the conductor comments on your low credit, just tell them a fake address. They might make you ring somebody were running late for the train and didn't have time to confirm top it up and that address (they tend you will top it up when you get to find entries such as "mum" in your phone; they can really be aggressive)destination. When you do arrive, but if you set up somebody who knows there are security watching people touch off, just touch off as normal which fake address will make the balance go to give about -$13 if you'll be goldentraveled during offpeak period, or -$23 for peak, and then just throw the card away. Enjoy!

[http://lentilasanything===Urban Camping===It is possible to find hidden bush places to urban camp in Studley Park, and along Merri Creek or Yarra River.com/ Lentils as Anything] offers yummy yummy vegan/vegetarian food at a number of locations around Melbourne. The grub Be aware camping in these areas is probably not permitted by donation, so if you're skint you can eat for free. It's really worth supporting the effortcouncil, thoughbut travelers and homeless do sometimes camp in those areas.