Melbourne is the central hub of trendiness in Australia. The city offers endless opportunities to experience exquisite dining, beautiful art, and lively sporting events. You can explore the streets of Victoria’s capital city and admire the colorful wall art that lines the alleys, or you can pop into one of Melbourne’s many coffee shops and watch the street life go by. There are so many different things to do in Melbourne that the very best way to get the most out of your time in the city is to hire a motorcycle and explore at your own pace.
The overall ambience of Melbourne is very laid-back, and it’s continually voted as one of the most livable cities in Australia. The music and art scene reflect the Aboriginal heritage of the region and offer a unique and exciting cultural experience for travelers of all ages. For tourists who are interested in history, there are plenty of museums detailing the city’s history, severa of which offer free admission. No matter how long you plan on staying in Melbourne for, you’re going to find it difficult to leave.
Here is everything you need to know about hiring a motorcycle in Melbourne. Most things here can also be applied if you are renting a scooter. This guide includes:
- Whether it’s safe to drive a motorcycle in Melbourne
- The price of motorcycle hire in Melbourne
- The best places to rental a motorbike
- Whether you need an international driving permit to rent a motorbike in Melbourne
- The Great Ocean Road route
What are some safe driving tips for Melbourne, Australia?
Driving in Melbourne is typically very safe, as the streets are very well policed. However, it’s still always best to practice extreme caution when adjusting to the driving norms of a foreign country. Unlike the United States, Australians drive on the left side of the road, which means that right-hand turns will require you to cross oncoming traffic. If you’re driving in Australia for the first time, take it slow and be very aware of your surroundings.
Riding a rental motorcycle is definitely a quicker mode of transportation within the city limits of Melbourne than driving a car. Lane splitting is fairly easy on most of the roads within Melbourne city; however, you must indicate before overtaking someone, or else you may get pulled over and fined. Always be very cautious when overtaking another vehicle, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the roads of Melbourne.
Parking within Melbourne city is pretty easy to find and is usually free as well. Most of the popular sites around the city have free car parks that typically aren’t overcrowded.
What does motorcycle hire usually cost in Melbourne?
Most motorcycle rental shops in Melbourne offer a wide range of different kinds of motorbikes and scooters at a range of different prices. If you’re looking for a proper motorcycle, you can expect to pay around $80 per day on the low end. That will get you a 125cc motorbike, such as a Honda CB125e.
If you’re looking for a more powerful motorcycle, you can easily find a high-end BMW or Harley Davidson for a higher price, or a mid-range motorbike for a little less money. Whatever motorcycle you end up renting, make sure that it’s covered by insurance. A repair cost could make your vacation a whole lot more expensive if your motorbike is uninsured.
Where can you find motorbike rental in Melbourne?
There are plenty of places through the city to find motorcycle rental; however, your best bet is to go to the center of the city near the Docklands neighborhood and the University of Melbourne. Here you’ll find the greatest concentration of rental shops, and you’ll probably find a motorbike to rent by just walking around.
If you plan on flying into Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, you’ll be able to find several motorcycle hire services just outside the terminals. You can also book a rental motorbike online and have it delivered to the airport.
Do you need an international driving permit to hire a motorcycle in Australia?
If you have a valid driver’s license from your home country that’s written in English, you’re allowed to drive in Australia for up to 3 months. After that, you’ll need to get a license from an Australian state to keep driving.
If your driver’s license is not in English, you’ll need to get an international driving permit to operate a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle, in Australia. If you want to apply for an international driving permit, you should do so at least two weeks before arriving in Australia, as that’s how long it typically takes to come in the mail. You can fill out the application here, and there is an application fee of $20.
Once you have your international driving permit, it will be valid for one full year.
There is a big motorcycling community in Melbourne!
If you feel like hanging out with the local riders, take a 5 minute ride from the city center into Collingwood and Abbotsford to check out the local scene. Head to Oxford Street Garage to checkout their custom motorcycles and have a chat to owners, Tim Petheram, Georgia Murphy, and Pablo (their pug) over a cup of Melbourne's best coffee. They are super friendly and will give you insights into what's happening in the city during those dates, local laws (like being able to park on the footpath) and the best places to go on two wheels.
You could also, head around the corner to Moto Est., another local moto business selling high quality, stylish moto gear or over to Kustom Kommune, Australia's first communal motorcycle workshop. Here you'll meet other locals with a shared passion for motorbikes. Hang out for a bit or grab some local craft beer from the brewery across the road for later.
Heading north, the Naked Racer Cafe is home to a range of classic moto and auto memorabilia. Have a peak around then stay for a coffee or bite to eat at their classic biker style bar.
What is the Great Ocean Road tour?
Now that you know all of the necessary information for renting a motorcycle in Melbourne, it’s time to talk about the one thing you absolutely must do on your rental motorbike: drive the Great Ocean Road.
The Great Ocean Road is easily one of the most scenic drives in the world, and people travel from all across the globe to experience it. So, if you plan on visiting Melbourne anyway, it would be a shame if you didn’t experience any of the majestic expanses of coastline that the Great Ocean Road has to offer.
The road runs along the southwest coast of the state of Victoria next to the Southern Ocean. The drive offers plenty of beach destinations to stop and relax at, such as Bells Beach or white-sanded Angelsea.
You can stop at a charming old fishing village in Lorne to get a sense of the more pastoral side of Australia. And, of course, you can’t miss out on seeing the 12 Apostles, an impressive natural landmark that can be seen off the coast of Princetown. If you want to get even closer to the 12 Apostles, you can take a helicopter tour that will take you right up to them!
More than anything, the best thing to do on the Great Ocean Road is just drive, feel the breeze on your face, and look around. The official start of the road is about 60 miles outside of Melbourne, and driving the entire 413-mile length of the road would take you about 9 hours. There are plenty of hidden gems to experience along the way, though, so take your time.
Explore Melbourne by Motorcycle
Regardless of how long you plan to stay in Melbourne, renting a motorcycle and getting out of the city center is one of the best things you can do. If you have time, make sure you get out on the Great Ocean Road. No matter what you do, though, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your time in Melbourne.
Do you still have questions about scooter rentals in Melbourne? No worries, you can always contact us by phone, email, or our website's live chat.
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