Melbourne is Australia’s second largest metropolis and sometimes the spot in Australia that surprises and impresses individuals probably the most. With just a few days in Melbourne, you’ll have loads of time to see the town’s essential sights and spend time attempting out all of its seashores.

After that, you might really feel the urge to hurry off to a different a part of Australia. Nonetheless, there’s worth in sticking round as there are numerous nice issues to see in Victoria exterior of Melbourne, and sometimes the best approach to see them is on a day journey. The perfect day journeys from Melbourne present you all the nice issues Australia has to supply, from wildlife and nature to pristine shoreline. You’ll be amazed at how straightforward it’s to see a few of the greatest locations to go to in Victoria all from the consolation of your base in Melbourne.

1. Nice Ocean Highway 

There’s actually no higher place to begin than with probably the most traditional Melbourne day journeys, the Nice Ocean Highway. This stretch of shoreline southwest of Melbourne is the perfect place to spend your day because of its rugged and beautiful seaside surroundings. The massive attraction alongside the route is the Twelve Apostles, an space of rocky cliffs and offshore rocky stacks which were worn away by erosion. A part of the attraction of this area is the street itself because the Nice Ocean Highway affords view after view as you go between seashores and small seaside cities. You’ll need to cease in at a few of these cities, like Apollo Bay and Anglesea. There’s additionally the peaceable rain forest of Nice Otway Nationwide Park, residence to strolling trails, waterfalls, and koalas.

Getting there: A day journey down the Nice Ocean Highway is greatest achieved as a street journey, as you possibly can’t cease alongside the way in which correctly with public transport. So if you happen to don’t have your personal wheels, it’s greatest to go together with an organized tour.

Guide Nice Ocean Highway Tour

2. Healesville Sanctuary 

In case you’re occupied with seeing plenty of Australian wildlife, you possibly can’t miss Healesville Sanctuary. Situated to the northeast of the town, this wildlife sanctuary specializes within the preservation and breeding of endangered native animals. The sanctuary is split up into tracks and enclosures, every specializing in a unique species or animal habitat. All the favored Australian animals could be seen right here, together with kangaroos, wombats, emus, and dingoes, plus a fantastic array of birdlife, reptiles, and amphibians. The sanctuary can also be one of many uncommon locations the place you possibly can see platypus. Many vacationers go to Healesville to work together with the animals, which could be achieved via the Shut-Up Encounter program with koalas (no touching), and Kangaroo Shut-Up program, the place you possibly can feed them.

Getting there: Though solely a brief journey from Melbourne by automobile, reaching Healesville Sanctuary by public transport requires a mix of trains and buses that takes as much as three hours. If you wish to assure entry, ebook your tickets prematurely.

Guide Tour to Healesville Sanctuary

3. Phillip Island

One other implausible a part of Victoria that’s nice for seeing all types of wildlife is Phillip Island, south of the town. Loads of locals will let you know it’s among the many greatest locations to go to from Melbourne. The comparatively small island is greatest identified for its colony of cute fairy penguins that emerge every night throughout the ever-popular Penguin Parade. Earlier than all that occurs, first head to Phillip Island Wildlife Park to see indigenous animals, together with kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats. You can too feed the kangaroos when you’re there. Close by is the Koala Reserve, the place you possibly can see the sleepy critters of their pure habitat. You can too take a ship cruise out to Seal Rocks simply off the coast. There you’ll see an enormous variety of fur seals lounging about.

Getting there: Phillip Island is simply too tough to achieve utilizing public transport from Melbourne. Your greatest guess for a go to is with a guided tour.

Guide Tour to Phillip Island

4. Yarra Valley

There are glorious wine areas unfold round Australia, and the Yarra Valley is without doubt one of the greatest in Victoria. Day excursions from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley are a well-liked choice as you not solely get to pattern some world-class wine but additionally get to see the sumptuous countryside. Pretty rolling hills coated in sprawling vineyards make the area a deal with for the eyes in addition to for the style buds. The Yarra Valley boasts a pleasant mixture of big-name wineries in addition to smaller boutique ones, that means you’ll possible discover some acquainted names and pattern some wines you’ve by no means heard of earlier than. Most wine excursions will take you to no less than just a few wineries for wine-tasting and a cellar tour, and can characteristic a scrumptious lunch that showcases the area’s native produce.

Getting there: The one approach to correctly discover the wine area with no automobile is by taking a bunch wine tour.

Guide Tour to Yarra Valley

5. Grampians Nationwide Park

Though it’s fairly a visit from Melbourne, many vacationers can’t go up the chance to see the Grampians Nationwide Park. This nationwide park in western Victoria is a well-liked vacation spot with Melburnians as a result of its dramatic panorama stuffed with sheer mountain ridges. To essentially admire the Grampians, it’s greatest to start with a go to to the Brambuk, the Nationwide Park & Cultural Middle that tells you concerning the area and its aboriginal heritage. It’s then time to hit the mountaineering trails, the place you’ll have the chance to see some picture-perfect waterfalls like Mackenzie Falls and Silverband Falls. Persevering with on, you’ll work your manner as much as the unbelievable panoramic views of forest and mountains provided by Boroka Lookout and Reeds Lookout.

Getting there: Aside from driving your self there, the one approach to do a worthwhile day journey to the Grampians is with an organized tour. Both manner, it’s going to be a protracted day.

Guide Tour to Grampians Nationwide Park

6. Wilsons Promontory

On the southernmost level of mainland Australia lies Wilsons Promontory, one other coastal vacation spot boasting seashores and nature. Wilsons Promontory Nationwide Park covers the area, that means there’s loads of spots untouched by human civilization. Most guests make their approach to the attractive Squeaky Seaside, the place the white quartz sand does certainly squeak beneath your ft. Simply up the coast lies Whisky Bay, the place beachside boulders create fascinating surroundings. Inland, you’ll discover a great deal of implausible mountaineering trails, better of that are the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Stroll and the hike up Mt. Bishop. As you discover the nationwide park, maintain your eyes peeled for native wildlife, particularly wombats and kangaroos.

Getting there: There aren’t public transport connections that may get you into Wilsons Promontory Nationwide Park, so your solely choice is to go together with a guided tour.

Guide Tour to Wilsons Promontory

7. Dandenong Ranges

A few of the nearest mountains to Melbourne are the Dandenong Ranges, the place you’ll discover an unlikely mixture of enjoyable locations to go to. These low-lying mountains relaxation proper on the sting of the town and are nice if you happen to’re searching for a scenic nature drive or mountaineering spot. The ranges are coated in lush rain forest that make them a pleasant escape from the town, and but the area is greatest identified for its man-made attraction: the cherished Puffing Billy Steam Practice, which dates to the flip of the century and is in style with children and adults alike. There are additionally fascinating little cities hidden away within the ranges, just like the artsy city of Sassafras, with its vintage shops and close by Olinda. Each characteristic fairly just a few cafés and tea homes the place you possibly can unwind and deal with your self to a Devonshire tea.

Getting there: Native trains usually run from Melbourne to the Puffing Billy Railway. From there, you’ll must depend on pretty common native buses to discover the area. Alternatively, you possibly can take a guided tour that handles transport for you.

Guide Tour to Dandenong Ranges

8. Ballarat 

Ballarat is a good alternative to see a little bit of Australian nation life. Principally a giant nation city in look and ambiance, this metropolis northwest of Melbourne has loads of character and historical past. Ballarat is most well-known for Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum that recreates life throughout the gold-rush period of the 1850s. On a go to, you’ll see reproduction properties and shops from that period, together with an apothecary, candlemaker, and confectionery retailer, in addition to underground excursions of the gold mines. You can too get your picture taken in interval clothes, strive your luck at gold panning, take a stroll across the metropolis to see its colonial structure, or seize a craft beer at Hop Temple.

Getting there: Ballarat is without doubt one of the greatest aspect journeys from Melbourne due to how straightforward it’s to achieve. Hourly regional trains go there from Melbourne, taking 1.5 hours. If you wish to safe your ticket to Sovereign Hill, you possibly can ebook tickets on-line.

Guide Tour to Ballarat

9. Mornington Peninsula

Comply with the shores of Port Phillip Bay east from Melbourne and also you’ll quickly attain the Mornington Peninsula and all that it has ready for guests. Though stuffed with numerous locations and points of interest, the Mornington Peninsula is greatest identified for its spectacular seashores at locations like Rosebud and Sorrento. There are additionally different stunning nature spots to be explored, together with the Mornington Peninsula Nationwide Park and mountaineering alternatives corresponding to Mount Martha and Arthur’s Seat. For a extra relaxed method, think about the peninsula’s many wineries or a dip within the beautiful Peninsula Sizzling Springs. Households will discover enjoyable issues to do right here as effectively, particularly the backyard mazes at Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens and Enchanted Journey Backyard.

Getting there: Whilst you can take a practice to Frankston and get buses from there, exploring completely different elements of the Mornington Peninsula with public transport is tough. It’s far simpler to go together with a guided tour, which can aid you match every thing in.

Guide Tour to Mornington Peninsula

10. Geelong 

It might be significantly smaller than Melbourne, however because the second largest metropolis in Victoria, Geelong is unquestionably someplace vacationers ought to concentrate on. Geelong is the gateway to the Surf Coast, and most of the people begin with the town’s waterfront, which contains a good esplanade via parkland and a small swimming space at Japanese Seaside. Whereas there, ensure that to see the enduring Baywalk Bollards, vibrant sculptures that depict Geelong’s historical past, in addition to the artwork deco boardwalk. One of many metropolis’s latest additions is the Geelong Library, which bears a strikingly fashionable design. Main cultural establishments on the town embody the Nationwide Wool Museum, Geelong Gallery, and the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

Getting there: Geelong is without doubt one of the many straightforward practice journeys from Melbourne, with frequent trains operating there from Melbourne. The journey from Southern Cross Station takes roughly an hour.

11. Daylesford 

To simply chill out and unwind, you’ll need to make a journey out to the nation city of Daylesford. Daylesford and close by Hepburn Springs are in style spa cities, because of their pure mineral springs. Each cities supply a broad number of day spas the place you possibly can take a soak and pamper your self. The waters are wealthy in minerals after which heated to be used in spas, whereas different therapies embody therapeutic massage and facials, amongst others. As a city, Daylesford has different charms to supply guests, from its notably fairly surrounding panorama of hills and lakes to the celebrated meals scene that has sprung up for vacationers. You additionally get different good nation city perks like historic structure, vintage shops, and a relaxed tempo of life.

Getting there: It’s potential to achieve Daylesford from Melbourne by taking a practice to Woodend after which altering to a bus. The journey ought to take roughly 2.5 hours.

12. Hanging Rock Reserve 

This beautiful patch of wilderness within the Macedon Ranges is the setting for the novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, which was later was a critically acclaimed movie directed by Peter Weir. Hanging Rock Reserve was really used for the filming of the film, so you might acknowledge the surroundings. In any other case, you possibly can simply benefit from the great panorama of forest and rock columns on prime of this extinct volcano. To achieve the highest reserve requires a fairly steep hike however isn’t notably lengthy. The views and nature alongside the way in which are effectively definitely worth the effort.

Getting there: It’s potential to achieve close by Woodend by bus or practice from Melbourne, with that a part of the journey taking 70 minutes. From there, you’ll must get a taxi over to Hanging Rock.

13. Lorne 

Of the numerous seashore cities that run alongside Victoria’s south coast, probably the most in style is the city of Lorne. That’s as a result of it principally has every thing that makes Victoria’s Surf Coast so particular whereas additionally having nice locations to eat and chill out. Lorne Seaside, proper on the coronary heart of city, has golden sand and lifeguards on look ahead to these swimming and browsing. Additional alongside the coast is Teddy’s Lookout and its magical panorama of the coast alongside the Nice Ocean Highway. Venturing away from the shoreline, you’ve gotten the rainforest of the Otways, the place you possibly can go to the gorgeous Erskine Falls and go mountaineering. In between all this sightseeing, ensure that to go to a neighborhood bakery for a typical Australian snack like a meat pie or go to a fish and chip store and check out the catch of the day.

Getting there: To achieve Lorne from Melbourne, you first must take a practice to Geelong after which a bus from there. All the journey ought to take slightly below three hours.

14. Lake Mountain

Australia won’t seem to be someplace you possibly can go snowboarding, however you’d be stunned by the variety of ski fields in Victoria. Probably the most accessible ski area from Melbourne is Lake Mountain, making it good for a day journey if you happen to’re round from June to September. Lake Mountain is very identified for its cross-country snowboarding, with 37 kilometers of trails to discover. There’s additionally loads of area for toboggan rides and normal enjoyable within the snow. Go to within the hotter months and the world is nice for mountaineering and mountain biking. There may be additionally a flying fox and outside laser skirmish. Simply don’t go searching for a lake; the mountain is known as after George Lake, who was the surveyor-general of the world.

Getting there: Sadly, the one approach to make the complete journey to Lake Mountain is by automobile or by reserving a “Snow Expertise” tour (winter solely).

Guide Tour to Lake Mountain (Winter Solely)

15. Queenscliff 

One final spot alongside Port Phillip Bay that’s price your time is the city of Queenscliff on the very entrance to the bay reverse the favored city of Sorrento. Due to its place on the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff has lengthy been an vital spot. To study extra concerning the city, head to the Fort Queenscliff Museum contained in the fortifications that after protected Port Phillip Bay. Throughout the fort grounds, you’ll discover the Queenscliff Excessive Gentle, mentioned to be the one black lighthouse within the southern hemisphere. One other fascinating little bit of historical past on the town is the Bellarine Railway, an previous steam practice that also operates out to Drysdale each Sunday and public vacation.

Getting there: Visiting Queenscliff from Melbourne means first taking a practice to Geelong after which a bus the remainder of the way in which. The journey lasts simply over two hours.

These are a few of the greatest locations you will discover exterior of Melbourne. You’ll possible need to give your self just a few additional days in Melbourne to suit all these enjoyable day journeys in.