Rental car (Hertz):Intermediate SUV AWD (Kia Sportage or similar) — Inclusive Rate $557.80. Pickup Tullamarine May 31, return at Hertz CBD branch 8 Franklin St on Jun 4 (~5 days). 5 seats, 4 luggage, 6.2 L/100km. Gold = skip-the-counter.
Jun 4 CBD drop sequence: Pull up at UNO Melbourne (111 A’Beckett St) FIRST — drop family + bags, spouse handles early check-in. Then solo-drive ~2min (one block north) to Hertz at 8 Franklin St. Walk back via Melbourne Central PTV Hub for Mykis. Total ~30min vs ~15min lugging suitcases through the CBD.
Uber XL on Jun 9: UNO Melbourne → Tullamarine ~30min, ~AU$70 for family of 4 with luggage. Pre-book the night before.
Free Tram Zone: CBD phase (Jun 4–8) uses free trams within Spencer / La Trobe / Spring / Flinders boundary. Outside the zone, tap on with Myki.
Pelago combo tour (Jun 5): Pickup 287 Lonsdale St 08:30 — ~5min walk south from UNO. No PT or car needed that day.
🎫 Myki cards (iPhone family)
Mobile Myki is NOT on Apple Wallet — still Android-only via Google Wallet as of 2026. Apple Pay contactless works on a few train lines (Craigieburn/Upfield/Ballarat/Seymour + City Loop, full adult fare only) but doesn’t cover trams or your Sandringham-line Brighton Beach trip. Buy physical Myki cards on arrival.
🎉 Kids under 18 travel FREE on Victorian PT since 1 Jan 2026 with a Youth Myki ($5 one-time fee, no fares ever). Get one for the 9yo. The 4yo stays free without any card (under-5 rule).
Buy on Jun 4 at Melbourne Central Station PTV Hub (staffed) on the walk back from Hertz return:
• 2× Adult Myki ($6 card + AU$30 balance each)
• 1× Youth Myki ($5 card, $0 balance — bring 9yo’s passport as ID just in case)
• Total ~AU$77 vs ~$130+ without the Youth Myki freebie
See the Bookings tab for the full booking checklist organised by urgency.
Top sells-out risks: Pelago combo tour, Zonzo lunch, Hertz pickup, Lady Protea / UNO Melbourne nights.
Where to Stay
This trip uses 3 booked stays: Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport (Night 1, May 30) → Lady Protea, Warburton (Nights 2–5, May 31–Jun 3) → UNO Melbourne at 111 A’Beckett St CBD (Nights 6–10, Jun 4–8 — inside Free Tram Zone, ~5min walk to Hertz CBD branch).
Browse all listings on the Explore tab → Accommodation section.
🛍️ Shopping — must-buys for Singaporeans
All walkable from UNO Melbourne (111 A’Beckett St). Best shopping window: Sat Jun 6 morning or Sun Jun 7 flex day.
Kmart CBD (211 La Trobe St, ~4min walk) — same Perth-style deals. Kids’ basics, household, toys.
Chemist Warehouse (343 Little Bourke St, ~5min walk) — the real winner. Blackmores, Swisse, Bioglan, Aesop, Sukin, Cancer Council sunscreen. 50–60% cheaper than Watsons/Guardian SG.
QV Centre (~3min walk) — UGG store, Cotton On, Daiso, Coles
Myer Bourke St & Melbourne Central — Aesop, Jurlique, Uniqlo (cheaper than SG), Muji
DFO South Wharf (15min tram, outside Free Tram Zone) — Country Road, R.M. Williams, Polo, Nike outlets
Top buys vs SG prices: Blackmores Bio C 1000mg ~$15 (vs ~$35 SG) • Swisse Hair Skin Nails ~$20 (vs ~$45 SG) • Genuine UGG boots $150–250 (vs $400+ SG) • Manuka honey ~half SG price • Aesop ~30% off Sephora SG • Aussie wine half SG price at Dan Murphy’s
💰 Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS): claim 10% GST back on purchases >AU$300 from a single retailer (same ABN), bought within 60 days. Bring receipts + unworn goods to TRS counter at MEL airport before security on Jun 9. Use the TRS app to pre-fill the claim & skip the queue. abf.gov.au/trs
Skip: Akubra hats, souvenir didgeridoos/boomerangs, tourist-stall Tim Tams (buy at Coles instead).
Hertz car rental — Intermediate SUV AWD (Kia Sportage or similar), Inclusive Rate AU$557.80. 5 seats / 4 luggage / 6.2 L/100km. Tullamarine pickup May 31 09:30. Jun 4 CBD return: drop family + bags at UNO (111 A’Beckett St) FIRST, then solo-drive ~2min to Hertz at 8 Franklin St. Gold member = skip the counter. ⚠️ Bring the DBS Woman’s World Card (booking card) for pickup — Hertz will verify it.hertz.com.au
Werribee Open Range Zoo — Sun May 31. Free Safari Bus is walk-up only (no booking), queue at Safari Station ~15min before posted departures (10:40 / 11:30 / 12:20 etc, more frequent on weekends). Kids under 16 free at the gate on weekends. zoo.org.au/werribee
Pelago combo tour — Puffing Billy + Phillip Island, 08:30 pickup at 287 Lonsdale St Jun 5 (booked). ~5min walk south from UNO.
✅ Rayner's Orchard tractor tour — BOOKED: 10:30 slot Jun 3 (morning anchor). Peach Cafe pre-order: 2× Kids Cone (peach ice cream) + 1× Farm Style Scone w/ jam & cream after the tour. Add coffees on the day. raynersorchard.com.au
Zonzo Estate lunch — 13:00 booking Jun 3 (after Rayner’s, before Chocolaterie). zonzo.com.au
Lady Protea, Warburton — 4 nights May 31–Jun 3. Confirm with host: any heating beyond the fireplace (split system in bedrooms?) for the cold June overnight temps. ladyprotea.com.au
UNO Melbourne — 5 nights Jun 4–8 at 111 A’Beckett St (booked). Inside Free Tram Zone, ~5min walk to Hertz CBD branch, ~12min walk to Hotel Windsor (Jun 5 tour pickup). unomelbourne.com
Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport — Night 1 May 30. Holiday Inn IHG
🟡 Pre-book online — cheaper / convenient
✅ Healesville Sanctuary — BOOKED: Tue Jun 2 (weekday quiet). Show Zoos Vic digital member card at the gate. zoo.org.au/healesville
Yering Station — Wed Jun 3 afternoon stop after Zonzo lunch (~5-10min south of Zonzo, same Yarra Glen cluster). Cellar door + Matt’s Bar walk-in, no booking needed. yering.com
SEA LIFE + Melbourne Skydeck combo — Jun 7 Sun. Online combo saves ~AU$20/pp.
Uber XL pre-booking — Jun 9 UNO Melbourne → Tullamarine, ~AU$70. Book the night before for a guaranteed XL.
🟢 Walk-in / pay at venue
Luna Park Jun 4 — pay per ride or buy Unlimited wristband at gate
Melbourne Museum Jun 6 — kids under 16 always free. Adults ~AU$15 at door.
Scienceworks Jun 7 — kids under 16 always free. Adults ~AU$15. Book the planetarium slot online though.
Yarra Valley Dairy — walk-in cheese tasting (optional, not on the Jun 3 plan but easy to swing by if time permits)
Brunetti, Innocent Bystander, The Healesville Hotel, New Shanghai — book the popular ones (Innocent Bystander, New Shanghai farewell dinner); walk-in for breakfast spots
⚪ Free — no ticket needed
Maroondah Reservoir Park, Warburton Redwoods, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, Southbank Playspace, St Kilda Beach + Pier penguins, Carlton Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Brighton Beach bathing boxes, Bourke Street Mall, ACMI general entry, Birrarung Marr playground
🐯 Zoos Victoria membership — should you?
How it works: Zoos Victoria has no Family tier. You buy per-adult memberships at $149/year (~$12.45/month). Kids under 16 from the same household enter free with a member, on any day.
1-Adult Membership ($149): member adult free both visits + 2 kids free both visits (household benefit) + other adult $109 = AU$258
2-Adult Memberships ($298): both adults free + 2 kids free both visits = AU$298 ($23 more than single visits)
Verdict: 1-adult membership saves AU$17 on this trip alone, plus 12 months of free re-entry for the member adult + both kids across Melbourne Zoo, Werribee & Healesville. Buy 1, not 2. Verify current pricing.
💳 Transport setup
Myki card or contactless credit/debit — for trams/trains outside Free Tram Zone
Daily fare cap — ~AU$13.75 family weekday, ~AU$9.65 weekend/PH
Uber app — required for Jun 4 + Jun 9 transfers, set up before arrival