Operated by Yarra Trams, the route is coloured pink and extends from Waterfront City to Wattle Park over 16.5 kilometre of double track via Harbour Esplanade, Flinders Street, Richmond, Burnley, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Camberwell and Surrey Hills.

Most of the line currently used by route 70 was initially built and run by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT) in 1916–17.

[2][3] On 6 June 1999 it was diverted to operate via the Exhibition Street extension with a four-lane divided road built over the Jolimont Yard, enabling Batman Avenue west of Melbourne Park to be closed with route 70 extended to terminate at the intersection of Flinders and Spencer Streets.

[7] On 5 December 1999, at the City end, the route was amended to terminate at new sidings west of Spencer Street.

[13][14] The route begins at Waterfront City, and runs along Docklands Drive, Harbour Esplanade and Flinders Street in the city, behind Melbourne Park at Richmond and then along Swan Street and Riversdale Road through Hawthorn and Camberwell to the eastern end of Wattle Park, terminating at Elgar Road.