If you're unsure about any information on this page, double check by going to the Metlink website, and check for any maintenance works, which usually take place on weekends.
All routes start from the city, to provide the most general and broadly applicable route. And remember, just because you managed to get there with public transport, it doesn't follow you'll be able to use the same method to get back.
A note also on the introduction of myki - remember to touch and touch off. It is easy to forget to touch on when using trams, but it is important to do so. Myki works in such a way that when a ticket inspector scans your card, if their scanning device registers your card as unvalidated, they must report it to the Department of Transport - the machine does not allow them to show discretion.
BENTLEIGH GREENS - Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham - Seriously not recommended.
Located opposite the Moorabbin DFO, in theory this should be fairly easy to get to - but sadly the opposite holds true. Once you leave the train network, local bus services are poor, with very low frequency at night and weekends. If you insist on making the effort, here's how.
- Catch the Frankston line out to Cheltenham Station.
- From there catch the 828 bus - the same bus stop services buses going in opposite directions, so be sure you ask the driver which direction they're going (using DFO or Moorabbin Airport as reference helps). That's the easy part.
- Getting back is worse, especially on Friday nights. Though the bus does run late on Friday nights, they finish at about the end of a match, making using them for getting home a risky proposition. Weekends are a little better, but intervals are an hour apart - and buses may go past earlier than what is timetabled.
DANDENONG THUNDER - George Andrews Reserve, South Dandenong - Surprisingly convenient
Some may have qualms about a Saturday night in Dandenong, but getting to and from this venue is actually quite easy.
- Catch either the Pakenham or Cranbourne lines to Dandenong Station.
- Right outside the entrance is the bus stop for the 901 Smartbus. Make sure it's heading towards Frankston, and ask the driver to let you off at the nearest stop to the corner of Kirkham Road and Trewin Streets - there's a cemetary nearby. It's not a long bus ride, and the buses run late and at 30 minute intervals.
GREEN GULLY - Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs - Not recommended
I've never taken public transport here, which should be a pointer as to its inconvenient location.
- Catch the Sydenham/Watergardens line out to St Albans Station.
- Take the 418 bus towards Caroline Springs, and get off at the corner of Green Gully and Driscolls Roads - it's near a set of traffic lights. It's not a long bus trip, and it runs late, but the intervals are awful, eventually getting to beyond an hour.
HEIDELBERG UNITED - Olympic Village, Heidelberg Heights - Good, but with some inconveniences
My early experiences were poor, but there have been substantial improvements since then. There are still some annoyances though, as you'll see.
- Catch the Epping train to Preston Station.
- Then catch the 903 Smartbus (Altona to Mordialloc) to Northland Shopping Centre. It takes about 15 minutes from Preston. Buses come at varying intervals between 20 and 35 minutes.
- This is where it gets annoying - you'll be on the back side of the complex, meaning you'll have to walk east through the shopping centre, past the car park until you find the small bridge at the back of the complex that goes over the creek. The gate on the main road may no longer be in operation - so you may have to walk around the back of the ground (north side) until you get around to the main entry.
- Getting back is fine, as the Smartbus runs late and at similar intervals to the rest of the day. However, as Heidelberg tend to play games late on Sundays (after 5:00PM), the shopping centre goes into lockdown by the time games have finished, requiring a longer walk as you're forced to go around the buildings rather than through.
HUME CITY - Epping Stadium, Epping - Don't bother
Hume is playing out of Epping for the 2012 season. Unlike their co-tenants in Moreland, however, Hume are playing on Friday nights instead of Sunday afternoons. Bus services stop very early on Friday nights, well before a match will end, and thus we do not recommend using public transport for this fixture. If you still want to use public transport to get there, please see the Moreland Zebras entry.
MELBOURNE KNIGHTS - Knights Stadium, North Sunshine - Pretty much don't bother
I've never taken public transport here. Knights Stadium is so difficult to get to with public transport, that Metlink had this to say on getting there with its journey planner.
Journey Planner could not find a public transport stop within 10 minutes time of destination. Search time has been increased to 20 minutes.
I've heard of people that once walked from Albion Station, which I would not recommend. For whatever it's worth, Metlink also gives the following advice.
- Catch the Sydenham/Watergardens train to Sunshine Station.
- Take the 903 Smartbus towards Mordialloc Shopping Centre.
- Get off at Gee Street/McIntyre Road, walk about 1340 metres to Berkshire Road and Cumberland Streets.
And that's where it leaves off. You then have to walk north for a few more minutes, and there you are. Being a Smartbus service, it runs late, but you'd be better off getting a cab or paying the parking fee for a mate who'll drive you there.
MORELAND ZEBRAS - Epping Stadium, Epping - Doable, but allow plenty of time
I have never taken public transport to this ground.
- Catch a train on the South Morang line out to Epping Station
- Take the 575 bus to Epping North, and get off at the corner of Viewgrand Boulevard and Harvest Home Road
- It's then seems like a bit of a walk to the ground along Harvest Home Road.
- Buses run at 40 minute intervals.
NORTHCOTE CITY - John Cain Memorial Reserve, Thornbury - Highly recommended
This venue is surprisingly easy to reach by public transport despite its location.
- Catch the 250 La Trobe University bus from Lonsdale Street (outside Melbourne Central), and after about a 30 minute trip, you'll end up at the Darebin International Sports Complex, with the lawn bowls greens out front.
- The buses run at about 30 minute intervals, and also run late, so it's easy to get home. The bus also goes past Rushall and Dennis stations, which makes it even more convenient for locals.
OAKLEIGH CANNONS - Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh - Highly recommended
Right up there among the easiest grounds to get to and from.
- Take either of the Pakenham or Cranbourne lines to Huntingdale Station.
- Walk up Railway Avenue, past the indoor soccer complex, until you can see the brighter lights. Huntingdale Station is reasonably well lit, which makes getting back little problem, if any.
RICHMOND - Kevin Bartlett Reserve, Richmond - Fine, but more difficult than it should be.
There are two options, both of which require some walking, but not too much.
- Option one is to take the Glen Waverley line out to Heyington Station, and negotiate the very poorly lit streets of Burnley, to find the bridge which crosses the freeway. The ground will be clearly visible from the bridge.
- Option two, the far better one in my opinion, is to catch the Route 70 Wattle Park tram from outside Flinders Street Station, and get off at stop no. 18. From there, walk south through the carpark of what seems to be a half university campus, half corporate outpost, and trust that you will eventually find your way there.
SOUTHERN STARS - Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham - Seriously Not Recommended
See Bentleigh Greens entry.
SOUTH MELBOURNE - Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park - Full Marks
By far the most convenient of the VPL grounds to get to using public transport. It's good to be back!
- Catch any train to Spencer Street Station aka Southern Cross Station.
- From the corner of Spencer and Collins Streets, catch the Route 112 St Kilda tram and get off at the top of Clarendon Street. Being an inner city tram service, there are no issues getting back to the city.
