From beaches to breweries, there are so many amazing things on offer in the regions surrounding Melbourne.
Whether you’re travelling with family, or searching for a romantic weekend away, this list of the best day trips from Melbourne has you covered.
Wellness and wellbeing in Daylesford
Drive just 90 minutes from Melbourne, and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Victoria’s wellness wonderland – Daylesford. From the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the traditional owners of the land, to the Swiss Italian migrants who arrived here during the gold rush, this country town has always been a significant place of healing.
Start your visit at Daylesford Day Spa, located in a stunning two-story heritage building. This boutique spa has four spacious treatment rooms, and offers a menu of therapeutic services including facials, organic body treatments, massages and aromatherapy. If you can’t decide, book in for a ‘Head to Toe’ package for a 2.5 hour treatment starting with a foot bath in the Japanese style foot treatment room, before unwinding with a customised massage and an individually formulated collagen or brightening facial treatment.
After a morning of pampering, enjoy a long lunch at the two Chef Hatted Lake House Restaurant from Culinary Director Alla Wolf-Tasker AM. Set on six acres of country gardens, the kitchen works with local suppliers and growers, as well as their own dairy farm, olive grove, orchard, vineyard and bakehouse, to create the seasonal menu. If you’re dining on a Monday, the team offers a complimentary guided tour of the Dairy Flat Farm to match your multi-course a la carte lunch, where you’ll meet the on-site bakers, as well as guinea fowl, geese, peacocks, alpacas and cows.
When dining, you can choose from the award-winning wine list of 13,000 bottles housed in a beautiful cellar, which doubles as a private dining room for special occasions.
If you’re hoping to stay longer, check into the Lake House Hotel and choose from luxury lodges, suites and villas. Each room is fitted with original art from the Wolf-Tasker family private collection and custom furnishings handcrafted by local artisans. Hotel guests can also relax in the solar heated infinity pool overlooking Lake Daylesford, hit a round of tennis on the full-sized court, soak in the hot tub or sauna, and enjoy a cocktail on a waterfront terrace. There is also a library full of books and games, and a firepit by the lake in cooler months.
Daylesford is perhaps most famous for its access to natural mineral springs, which are best experienced at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa. Since 1895, the historic bathhouse has been drawing mineral-rich waters from their natural source. High in magnesium, calcium, silica and sulphur, the waters have been revered for their natural healing qualities since they were first used by the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
Today, you can book Sanctuary Bathing for a quiet, adults-only experience with access to two bathhouse pools, an aroma steam room, magnesium salt pool, spa couches, walk-in cool down pool, dry sauna and hammam. Book in for spa experiences including massages and facials, or stay the night in a Spa Retreat to unwind in a comfortable room with a king bed, kitchen, balcony, fireplace and spa bath.
Phillip Island is a family affair
Phillip Island is less than two hours from Melbourne, and is the perfect day trip for the whole family. With over 100 square kilometres of sandy beaches, iconic wildlife and adventure activities, you’ll find something for everyone.
Start your day on a tour with Wildlife Coast Cruises. The Seal Cruise is a two hour coastal journey to Seal Rocks, which are just two kilometres from the island, and home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony. On average, cruise attendants will see 5000 seals up close, with complimentary morning tea and an informative guide who shares everything you’d want to know about these beautiful mammals.
Animal lovers should also head to the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, where you can watch the largest little penguin colony in the world wander home to their burrows each night. The centre features a cafe and souvenir shop, as well as tiered grandstands overlooking Summerlands Beach, where the penguins appear each evening. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, join the eco-accredited Penguins Premium tour and let your guide take you along a secluded boardwalk for beachfront views of the penguins and informative commentary via personal headsets. There’s also an underground viewing platform, where penguins will waddle right past your face and may even say hello.
After your nature-fix, make sure to check out the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. Inside, you will find a cafe and factory with free samples, as well as Penny’s Amazing World of Chocolate Attraction, which contains a two metre chocolate statue of Michelangelo’s David, a 12,000 piece chocolate mosaic of Dame Edna Everage, and a chocolate village complete with working trains. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also find a powerful chocolate waterfall, where 400 kilograms of melted chocolate flows every three minutes. All visitors receive complimentary chocolate on arrival, and the actual entry ticket is even made out of chocolate.
Finally, finish off your day by heading to the San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Op next to the Phillip Island Bridge, where you can enjoy fresh, mouthwatering fish and chips on the beach. The Co-Op only cooks seafood straight off the boats, and puts on a Pelican Feeding Show every day at midday.
Food and wine abound in the Yarra Valley
Food and wine lovers will rejoice at the abundance of more than 160 wineries and 80 cellar doors on offer in the Yarra Valley, only one hour away from Melbourne.
With so many incredible wineries to choose from, we suggest joining the Australian Wine Tour Company for a tour of the entire region. They partner with incredible local vineyards, and a genuine Wine Expert joins you for the whole day to guide you through each tasting. Your tour guide will pick you up from your Melbourne accommodation before chauffeuring you to four wineries for guided tastings. You will also enjoy lunch at Balgownie Estate with a complementary glass of wine to accompany your meal.
For the freshest home-grown cherries, stop in at CherryHill Orchards. Here, between November and January, you can pick your own cherries from two orchards and visit the Farm Gate Store for cherry-flavoured drinks, cherry ice cream, and lawn games in the sun. There is also an on-site cafe, where you can stock up on supplies for a picnic overlooking the orchard, and let your kids run around in the play area.
Of course, no trip to the Yarra Valley would be complete without stopping at Seville Estate, one of the most popular cellar doors in the region. Established in 1972, the winery has made a name thanks to its cool-climate varieties made from 100 percent estate grown fruit. Sample top drops at the cellar door, where you can choose from a flight of the Estate, Reserve, or full range. If you’d like to spend longer in the Yarra Valley, Seville Estate also offers boutique homestead and vineyard accommodation with a complimentary tasting. Groups can also book a private lunch at the restaurant, where a private chef will curate the perfect menu to match your wine selection.
Immerse yourself in nature in the Dandenong Ranges
Although the Dandenong Ranges is located in the Yarra Valley, it deserves a day trip of its own. Start your trip at the Dandenong Ranges National Park, which features the famous 1000 step climb of the Kokoda Walk, built to emulate the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Plaques along the way share stories of the WWII soldiers who fought on the trail in 1942. Other walking and biking trails include the Stables Track Loop,which takes you to the Doongalla Homestead. This former grand homestead and gardens burned down in 1932, but once looked out as an impressive 32-room mansion. Today, you can still see the stone steps that approached the house, as well as the remains of the garden.
Olinda, one of the highest villages in the Dandenong Ranges, is another must-visit. Once the home of famous painter Arthur Streeton, the town is now home to several master artists. Stop by the Touchstone Craft Gallery, which sells work from more than 250 local artisans, and enjoy home-made scones at Ranges Cafe & Bar, where the owner has been making every cake by hand for years.
Olinda is also the location of the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, which features 50 hectares of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and towering trees. Take the main 3.5 kilometre garden circuit to see the ornamental lake and soak up views over the Yarra Valley. You can also bring a picnic basket to enjoy lunch on the lawn, and join a guided tour on the open-air people mover, a year-round ride that offers a 25-minute commentary of the garden’s best features.
End your visit at SkyHigh Mount Dandenong, an award-winning bistro on the uppermost peak of the ranges. Whether you’re after a morning coffee, casual lunch or elegant dinner, you’ll find incredible views over the Melbourne skyline. Kids will love finding their way through the SkyHigh Maze, filled with sculptures, illusions, and four secret squares where they can stamp a passport to collect a prize. SkyHigh also boasts a colourful garden, giant chair, lookout, and lots of local wildlife.
Meet beautiful animals in the Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is the perfect coastal holiday destination, and is less than an hour from Melbourne.
Bayplay Adventure Tours host several ocean experiences in the Peninsula. Snorkel with Weedy Sea Dragons, learn to scuba dive, or even kayak in the dolphin sanctuary with the chance to see dolphins and seals up close. The team caters to all ages and abilities, and there’s also an option to rent equipment for a self-guided experience with loved ones.
At Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, you can meet more than 70 iconic Australian animals. Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, cuddle koalas, or pat a dingo – the choice is yours. The friendly keepers host daily tours and demonstrations, so you can learn all about your favourite animal while watching a feeding or show. The Tasmanian Devil keeper talk is always a favourite, as you join the keepers at the enclosure for interesting facts about this endangered species.
For a relaxing wander through stunning gardens, head to McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery. The park was established in the 1930s, when painter Harry McClelland purchased 16 hectares of bushland and built a studio to paint in. Harry’s sister wanted him to turn the land into a place for culture and arts that the whole community could enjoy, and when she died in 1961, Harry honoured her wish. Today, the park boasts a collection of more than 100 outdoor sculptures, 3000 artworks, as well as exhibitions, public programs, a design store, and a cafe that celebrates local design and produce. Throughout the year, you may be lucky enough to join one of several art talks, workshops, or monthly music performances.
To discover the best day trips from Sydney, click here.
Travel to Melbourne
Rex flies to Melbourne. Book your flights here and check out the route map below.
