Melbourne for Digital Nomads: Your MOST Comprehensive Guide

Is Melbourne for digital nomads? Most visitors choose to begin their Australian adventure in Sydney in search of beautiful beaches with the bonus of the Blue Mountains nearby. Whereas in the south, Melbourne (Australia’s most populous city), boasts an extremely liveable environment with the Great Ocean Road within reaching distance for a quick getaway.

Australia is a multicultural nation; there is no bigger melting pot than Victoria’s capital, Melbourne. This diversity is visible in the city’s expansive food scene, so join the local Melbournians in tasting and experiencing culture around every corner.

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QUICK REFERENCES

Planning in a hurry? Check these top tips on Melbourne for digital nomads…

Recommended SIM card: Check out Airalo for either a local, regional or global eSIM. Airalo is the world’s first eSIM supplier, so you can purchase the most suitable prepaid data plan before you’ve even arrived.

Best Accommodation: Experience a warm welcome at lyf, be centrally located at Europa Hostel or be productive at Selina in St Kilda or Central Melbourne.

Insurance for Nomads: SafetyWing is travel insurance for nomads, by nomads. If you are unsure how long you’ll be travelling for, or you haven’t committed to any destination just yet, SafetyWing is convenient, flexible and simple.

Best Tours: Explore the surrounding area of the city with one of the best-organised trips on the Great Ocean Road.

Melbourne for Digital Nomads

Melbourne is a world-renowned popular tourist destination, whether digital nomads are visiting for business or simply enjoying the place as a tourist, it is truly a comfortable city with modern amenities that unfortunately, come at a cost. Melbourne for digital nomads is not cheap! In fact, the cost of living would be on par with cities such as Singapore, London and New York.

Money

The national currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD), which is otherwise called, the ‘Aussie Dollar’. It consists of plastic notes of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100; plus coins of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $2 denominations.

Tipping is a voluntary act in Australia to show appreciation for good service, but generally (and in comparison to America and Europe), there isn’t much of a tipping culture in Melbourne. In my experience, it’s only really noticeable in high-end restaurants and bars, though many card machines offer the option of adding a percentage to the payment of the consumer’s choosing.

Travelling to a foreign country with a different currency? You can avoid cash machine transaction fees by paying with the local currency via a Wise debit card.

Visas

There are two main visa options for digital nomads in Australia. The Visitor Visa is generally the simplest to obtain for short-term travel with a quick processing time and low application fees. This will allow multiple entries and stays of up to three, six or twelve months. Digital nomads will not be able to work for an employer operating in Australia through this visa, but they can work online for a foreign employer. The alternative, for long-term stays, is the working holiday visa. This allows visitors to live and work in Australia for one year. To be eligible, you must be between 18 and 35 years old and be from a qualifying country. Most visitors use this visa in combination with a casual job with an Australian business to fund their travels, but immigration policies also state that visa holders are permitted to work for a foreign business not operating in the country too.

Safety

Melbourne is considered to be a very safe city. In fact, it is one of the safest cities in Australia and has been ranked as one of the top ten safest cities in the world. In my experience as a solo female traveller, I’ve always felt extremely safe whether it be night or day in the city.

Transport

Melbourne has a great network of public transport links with trains, buses and trams that are all, equally, easy to navigate. Each transport service is paid for by touching on and off with a Myki card. There are plenty of Myki machines positioned on platforms and in stations where you will be able to purchase the card and top-up as you go along. You can also top-up, and check routes, times and your balance, on the PTV website or app. The card costs 6 AUD (4 USD).

🚕 Taxis – Taxis are easy to spot in Melbourne as they illuminate a light on the cab roof when they are available for hailing. The cars are painted yellow, silver or white. Keep an eye on your fare that will be displayed on the meter in front. The ridesharing app, Uber, is also very popular in Melbourne (as well as Ola and Didi).

🚌 Bus – Buses run frequently between major hubs of the city, including shopping centres, sports venues, tourist attractions and schools. These bus routes intersect with train and tram lines, which enables passengers to connect with ease across the network. Buses are the main form of transport for the outer suburbs. Fares will be deducted from the Myki card as you ‘tap on’ and ‘tap off’.

🚴 Bike – Melbourne ranks as one of the best cities in the world to see by bicycle with more than 135 kilometres of on and off-road routes. Uber and Lime offer a bike share service which you can access via their apps. These bikes are noticeably dotted around the city.

🚋 Tram – Melbourne contains a very extensive network of trams; one of the advantages is the city’s Free Tram Zone. This area includes the city centre and extends from Queen Victoria Market to Docklands, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Look out for the ‘Free Tram Zone’ sign at tram stops to identify the zone boundaries. The stations within the Free Tram Zone are also announced over the tannoy.

🛴 Scooter – Lime provides shared electric scooters for hire as an accessible, environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to move around the city. Thousands of boldy-branded scooters are scattered throughout the streets, so download an app, find your ride and unlock it to take off.

🚗 Car – With well-kept roads and clearly marked lanes, driving in Melbourne offers a convenient way to explore the city and its surroundings. Thankfully, renting a car in Australia is a reasonably simple process with companies such as RentalCars and DiscoverCars.

Connectivity

Wifi Speeds

According to Ookla’s SpeedTest, the average download speed for fixed broadband in Australia is 54 Mbps. It is possible to find plenty of free public wifi connections across the city.

Data Plans

The main phone companies in Australia are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Some network providers have greater coverage than others, but Telstra will provide the best signal across further distances.

Buying a data plan directly from the networks can be very pricey, therefore, you could purchase a SIM card from an alternative phone company that operates on the signals from each of the three big providers.

For my part, I bought a ‘Prepaid Starter Pack’ from ALDI in Melbourne. The physical SIM card is included. I was able to choose between a variety of data packages, once I activated the phone number online. I could ‘recharge’ the plan from the ALDImobile app, aldimobile.com.au or visit an ALDI store to purchase a voucher for PAYG credit.

ALSO: How to Get a Job in Australia as a Foreigner (The ULTIMATE Guide)

Trip Planning Tips for Melbourne

Best Time to Visit Melbourne

The best time to visit Melbourne for digital nomads is between March and May, but also from September to November. Unless, of course, you would like to experience the hottest and busiest season of the year, then the summer months will exhibit the buzz that you are looking for.

☀️ Summer (December to February) – The air is warm, sometimes a tad bit too hot, but bars and restaurants will open their windows and doors with some offering outdoor seating. The days are longer with a greater number of daylight hours with a noticeable positive and energetic vibe radiating through the city too. Temperatures can range between 15 and 30 degrees celsius.

☂️ Autumn (March to May) – The days are cooler as leaves from the trees begin to change colour. It’s the shoulder season, so expect fewer crowds. Temperatures can range between 12 and 24 degrees celsius. May is likely to be the wettest month of the year.

⛄ Winter (June to August) – Opposite to counterparts in the northern hemisphere, winter takes place mid-year in Australia. The weather cools down significantly with most of the population layering in their warmest clothing. You can expect temperatures to fluctuate between 6 and 15 degrees celsius. July is typically the coldest month of the year.

Spring (September to November) – Spring is a glorious pick-me-up that most Melbournians need by September; the weather warms, the days are sunnier and there are more hours of daylight, especially after the clocks are changed in October. Temperatures range between 9 and 17 degrees celsius.

How to Travel from Melbourne Airport to the Centre

Melbourne has a few airports but the most popular is the international terminal at Tullamarine Airport. Located just 45 minutes away, there are several options to travel between the airport and the city centre of Melbourne.

🚍 Shuttle Bus – SkyBus operates a frequent express service between Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station in the Central Business District. This journey is approximately 25 minutes, costing 22 AUD (15 USD) one way or 34 AUD (23 USD) return. You can catch the SkyBus any day between 4 am and 1 am from Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4. Book your ticket online to avoid disappointment, otherwise, there is an information desk at the airport and easy-to-use self-service ticket machines too.

🚌 Public Bus – Public Transport Victoria (PTV) runs five timetable services from the transport hub in Terminal 4 on the ground level.

🚕 Taxi – There is a taxi rank located opposite each terminal. Similarly, Uber is available too.

RELATED: The BEST Great Ocean Road Tours from Melbourne

Bonus: Melbourne Recommendations

Working Remotely from Melbourne

Melbourne is a convenient city to open a laptop and work remotely in private and public. The cafe scene in Melbourne is world-class; you will find an abundance of spaces to be productive with great coffee, as well as, many quiet, gorgeous and spacious public libraries.

Recommended Coworking Spaces –

Suggested Coffee Shops & Restaurants –

Other Suitable Spaces –

• State Library of Victoria (CBD)
• Bargoonga Nganjin Library (Fitzroy)

Top Things To Do

Where To Stay in Melbourne

Melbourne city centre and downtown are fantastic locations to base your stay initially, especially whilst you find your bearings. The CBD will provide you with a full city experience, with easy access to attractions and public transport links. On the other hand, if you are planning to stay long-term, you mightn’t find them to be the most liveable areas as they are more business-focused.

Airbnb is the most convenient website to find a mid-term place to stay in Melbourne for digital nomads, particularly if you are staying for less than a couple of months. Gumtree may be the better search engine if you are looking for a longer term.

Below are a few recommendations for short-term stays…

Alternatively, you could have a whole apartment or house to yourself! Why not stay in wonderful homes by house-sitting and caring for adorable pets? This experience would not be for everyone but you could find yourself in free accommodation, whilst you live a more authentic lifestyle in the local area, by joining Trusted Housesitters.

RELATED: How I Became a Digital Nomad Designer in 3 Months

Where To Go After Melbourne

Are you wondering where you could visit during, or even after, living in Melbourne?

Sydney – Take a 1.5-hour flight or 8-9 hour drive to Australia’s second-most populous city, Sydney.

Canggu – A direct flight between Melbourne and Denpasar will have you in Canggu, the digital nomad hub of the world, within a 6-hour flight and 30-minute drive.

Los Angeles – Hop on a direct flight across the Pacific Ocean and you could be in America within 15 hours. Have you considered Los Angeles to be your next destination as a digital nomad?

SIMILAR: Great Ocean Road Campervan Itinerary

Let’s go!
@katie.maree

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