Airports
There are two airports in Victoria, Avalon Airport (close to the Corio Campus) and Tullamarine Airport (which is the main international airport for Victoria). When booking flight tickets, you should confirm which airport the flight is arriving or departing from, to ensure a safe arrival and someone to meet you.
In choosing flights, where a homestay provider will be collecting you or dropping you off, consultation with them and consideration of their family and work commitments is important. Flights which go out very early in the morning, or during the day on a weekday may make it difficult for a homestay provider to support transport. In this case, a taxi or a private car service may be a more appropriate option.
If your homestay provider or another trusted person is collecting you from the airport, you should ensure they have your up to date phone number and flight details (including the flight number) so they can track your flight, including any delays. You should also ensure you have their phone number or another way to contact them on your arrival.
If you have issues in the course of your travel, you should ensure you contact your parents, homestay provider or the School’s Overseas Student Manager, to assist you.
Public Transport
Victoria’s public transport system has buses, trains and (in Melbourne’s city centre) trams. Within Melbourne, Metro is the train network provider. To travel regionally (outside of Melbourne) VLine is the regional rail provider. You may use public transport for travel to and from your family or homestay provider home, or on weekends, exeats or during school holidays while you are not at GGS. If you are a Middle School overseas student, you will not be able to take public transport to and from the Corio Campus.
Trains run from around 5am until after midnight on most lines. On Friday and Saturday nights, metro trains and some trams operate throughout the night.
Information about and timetables for the public transport system (buses, trains and trams) are available at Public Transport Victoria.
Public Transport – Ticketing
To travel on any public transport in Victoria you will need to purchase a myki card – you may then use this card to ‘tap on’ and ‘tap off’ on trams and buses, and in train stations. The price of your trip will depend on where you are travelling (ie whether you are travelling only in Melbourne, or regionally). The myki card system allows you to top up your myki card with money at most train stations, newsagents and convenience stores, or to set up an online account to pay online.
If you are under the age of 19, you are able to purchase a child myki card, and pay a concession/reduced fare. If you are aged 17 or 18 years old, you must carry proof of your age at all times on public transport to be able to use a child myki.
You must carry a myki card with a balance at all times while on public transport, and you must touch on and off public transport. Victorian public transport officers regularly conduct checks of passenger mykis and if you have not touched on you may be fined ($300 for adults, and $99 for children).
Your parents, your homestay provider or another person who is familiar with the transport system will assist you to purchase a myki card, arrange a method to top up and show you how to use your myki before you travel alone on public transport. If you have further questions, please speak to the Overseas Student Manager.
Corio Campus – Transport
The School operates a daily bus service to and from the Corio Campus for day students to locations around Geelong, Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula, and Western Melbourne, including Toorak campus for Middle School students only. Middle School weekly boarders may also use the bus service on weekends to travel home.
On exeat weekends and at the start and end of School Term, GGS operates bus services for boarders to locations in Melbourne and to Tullamarine Airport. Information is provided by GGS prior to each exeat or school holiday period.
If you are using the School’s bus system, either to travel home daily or at exeats, you may need to download the BusMinder app. More information about this is available on the HIVE, and your parents will have received details to register you on the GGS BusMinder system.
To get around, you may also use your family or homestay provider’s car, taxis or ride share, or you may walk or ride a bike. For Senior School students on weekend leave, another travel option is the Vline, which is accessed via a 10 minute walk to the Corio Train Station.
Timbertop Campus – Transport
Public transport is not available for travel to Timbertop campus, due to its location.
On exeat weekends and at the start and end of Term, GGS operates bus services for boarders to locations in Geelong, Melbourne and to Tullamarine Airport. Information is provided by GGS prior to each exeat or school holiday period.
If you are departing or arriving outside of the days of scheduled travel, you may arrive or depart Timbertop campus in your family or homestay providers car, or otherwise you may require the assistance of a private transport service. The School has a number of suggested private transport services; their details are available on the Overseas Student Programme Hub.
Bostock House Campus – Transport
The majority of our Bostock House students walk or are driven to Bostock House Campus daily by their parents or guardians. The School operates a bus service from the Corio Campus to Bostock House Campus; for more information please speak to the Head of Campus.
A number of public buses run close to the Bostock House Campus, if needed.
Toorak Campus – Transport
The majority of our Toorak students walk or are driven to Toorak Campus daily by their parents or guardians.
A number of public buses run close to the Toorak Campus, if needed. The Number 58 tram also runs on an adjacent street. The Hawksburn and South Yarra Train Stations are the closest train station to the Toorak campus.
Travelling by Bicycle or Scooter
If you ride a bike or scooter (including an e-scooter or e-bike) you must wear a properly fitted helmet at all times. This ensure you stay safe, and is also required by law – if you are caught not wearing a helmet you may be fined.