Don't just read about Melbourne getaways... get out and try one! These day trips from Melbourne are paved with cool things to see and do, and driving means you won't miss a thing along the way. Just choose your direction and hit the road.
E-scooters have been the topic of some contention lately in Melbourne – the state government finally made privately-owned e-scooters legal in 2023, but in August 2024, the City of Melbourne abruptly cancelled its contract with e-scooter operators. But if you've loved being able to scoot around since the trial began back in early 2022, you still can. Read on for everything you need to know.
As it stands now, you can't use rental e-scooters in Melbourne's CBD, since the council introduced the ban that came into effect in September. But you can still use them in inner city suburbs that fall into other municipalities, namely the City of Yarra and the City of Port Phillip. This includes neighbourhoods like St Kilda, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond and Carlton North (but not Carlton). But when you come to the City of Melbourne boundary, the e-scooter will stop working, and you'll have to jump on a tram for the rest of your journey.
There are two e-scooter companies operating in Melbourne, Lime and Neuron. The lime scooters are white with green accents, and the Neuron are bright orange. To start scooting, you need to download the Lime app or the Neuron app (or both, which is probably the smart thing to do).
When you find a scooter, scan the QR code with the in-app scanner. If the scooter is available and charged, it will then unhook the helmet for you and you can get on your way. You can use the Lime or Neuron apps to find available scooters near you, and you can reserve one for 10 minutes while you get to your ride. Both apps charge $1 to get them started and 54 cents per minute, or have bundle deals if you're wanting to ride for longer. The scooters can end up being pricier than public transport, but if you're looking to just zip a few blocks away they can make for the ideal transport option.
