Melbourne Day Trips

The eclectic and alternative nature of Melbourne makes it one of the Australia’s most desirable vacation destinations. The vibrant town has all sorts of a sweet nightlife options, complete with a stack of solid establishments to wet the whistle and fill the belly.

But it’d be a mistake to adhere to the boundaries of the city. There are all sorts of places that are worth hitting the road for within just a few hours of Melbourne, and you don’t even have to make any drastic plan changes. Just hop off the plane and grab your stuff as you would. The only other thing you need to get under control is car hire. One of the easiest and safest ways to take care of this is to hire a car at Melbourne airport through DriveNow.  Land, collect your gear, grab the keys and get ready to see what the area outside the capital of Victoria has to offer.

If the weather’s nice it’s hard to beat the Yarra Valley wine region. The area is only about an hour away from the city and provides several stunning scenic settings complete with great grapes. If you’re more into drinking in views than wine, the Great Ocean Road will never steer you wrong. Swing by the shops, grab some snacks and drinks (of the soft variety if you’re driving, of course), and head out on one of the most beautiful stretches of asphalt in Australia.

If you’re a bit salty about setting course for the sea, the Murray River provides a chance to check out another beautiful body of water. Small towns such as Echuca provide a chance to hop off the touring route and get a taste of smaller town life.

Less than two hours south of the city centre is Phillip Island, home to the Phillip Island Nature Park and its famous penguin parade. If you prefer your own time in the snow you can instead head three hours northeast from Melbourne to Mount Buller and hit the slopes.

With a variety of different options just a few hours away, getting behind the wheel in Melbourne opens up a whole new set of opportunities. While the city itself is chock full of fun things to do, consider using it as the start of a journey instead of just a destination.

Gareth

My name is Gareth Leonard, a Marketing Director turned World Traveler with a passion for slow, meaningful travel. I have been traveling the world full-time for the past 9+ years and document it all on Instagram and YouTube. Come join me!