Getting there
Bus
PTV operates between 5:30am to 8:30pm on a 30-minute service to Mt Helen Campus. Travel time is 25 minutes from the campus to Ballarat city. All bus services arrive and depart from the Ballarat Railway Station and connect with other bus routes and V/Line services. PTV operate two services to Mt Helen Campus, route 21 Buninyong and route 22, Federation University Australia via Sebastopol.
Mt Helen Campus timetable - Buninyong route - 21
Mt Helen Campus timetable - FedUni via Sebastopol - 22
V/Line train and coach
V/Line operate a rail service connecting Ballarat with Melbourne, Ararat and Maryborough. The Melbourne-to-Ballarat service departs from Southern Cross Station and stops at Melton, Bacchus Marsh, and Ballan. V/Line buses connect Ballarat with Geelong and other regional centres. Davis Bus connect with V/Line train and buses from the Ballarat Railway Station.
V/Line train and coach timetables
Cycling
We have undercover secure bike parking with storage for over 60 bikes plus 10 lockable cages. Bike storage is located under P building (near Unisports weights room) and is free for students and staff. Lockable cages are available on request.
Cycling to Mt Helen Campus is safe and serene when you use the Canadian Creek Bike trail. The trail begins in Barkly St Ballarat (near the netball centre and skateboard park) and is a 10km sealed cycling/walking trail with direction signage to Mt Helen Campus.
On arrival you'll have access to lockers, a puncture repair kit and a clothes line to dry cycling clothes. Showers are located upstairs in P building.
Current enrolled students and Mt Helen-based staff have been given access via their ID card. Entry is gained by swiping your card over the sensor. The sensor records who enters and exits the facility thereby making it quite secure. Users also need to abide by the terms and conditions located above the sensor. Contact the Sustainability Officer if your ID card does not open the gate.
Car
Mt Helen Campus is 10km from the Ballarat CBD and travel times are 15 minutes when traffic volume is low and up to 30 minutes in busy periods. It's best to avoid Geelong Rd in school peak times as the road attracts significant congestion. Buninyong/Sebastopol Rd and Yankee Flat Rd are alternatives to Geelong Rd in peak travel times.
Car parking is also limited on the campus with only 1,300 free spaces and 350 permit spaces. The campus map (pdf 978kb) shows the location of the car parks.
Myki
Myki is Victoria's ticketing system for train, tram and bus services throughout the state. Myki is a smart card that uses prepaid credit to pay for your fare. A blank myki costs $6 and can be purchased from newsagents and railway stations. Topping up a myki can be done online through Public Transport Victoria website, or bus drivers can load up to $20 cash into the myki.
Once the card has credit, you simply swipe the myki sensor when boarding and departing all trains, trams, and buses.
Public transport concession cards
Some students are eligible for a 50% discount on all public transport in Victoria, and to receive a concession, you must purchase a VPT concession card. Students who do not have a VPT card and request a concession fare can be fined by patrolling transport officers. A Federation student ID card does not entitle you to a concession fare.
VPT cards cost $9, and students will need to complete the VPT concession form and provide two passport photos. Generally, full-time domestic students are eligible. International students, part-time students, post-graduate students, and apprentices are not eligible for a discount. International students, part-time students, post-graduate students and apprentices are not eligible to a discount.
Arriving by Air
You can arrive at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, the main international airport of Melbourne and the second busiest airport in Australia.
Ballarat Coachlines provides 43 regular weekly Airport Shuttlebus services to Ballarat Railway Station in Central Ballarat from Tullamarine Airport. Ballarat is located approx. 110 km from the Tullamarine airport by road and takes approximately 1h 30m to drive from Melbourne to Mt. Helen.