How To - How To Plan a Day Trip to Melbourne – With the Top-Rated Day Trips on Record

Introduction

The thing about staying in Melbourne is that wherever you may want to go on a road trip, whether it is to the spectacular beaches, the wild outback, mountainous expanses or quirky little towns, you can do it. Everything is just a drive away from Melbourne. If you are looking for the most scenic route to go on a drive, The Great Ocean Road is just there. Whether it is Phillip Island or the Mornington Peninsula, there is so much to see. So let’s begin with the top-rated day trips from Melbourne.

Great Ocean Road

Considered to be the most spectacular stretch of coastline in Australia, the Great Ocean Road is 200 km from Melbourne and a sight to behold. You can drive past cities and national parks, tall rocky mountains and craggy cliffs battered by the oceans. Some of the main highlights you can see by visiting the Great Ocean Road include Port Campbell National Park, Shipwreck Coast, London Arch, the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. If you are in the area with a penchant for wildlife; you can visit Kennett River and see the wallabies and kangaroos at the Great Otway National Park. There are ziplines and treetop walks at the Otway Fly Treetops Adventures if you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to get that adrenaline pumping. Added to this is the majestic views you will see while driving down the Great Ocean Road.

Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade

Check into your Melbourne hotel and ask them about this next great day trip which is the one to Phillip Island to see the Penguin Parade. The island is located about 140 km from Pan Pacific Melbourne and the city centre. While during the day, the island is a spectacular location for hikes and walks, it is at sunset that the real magic happens. The penguins that reside on Phillip Island Nature Park waddle up to the beach for the famous Penguin Parade. It is a sight to behold and one that you must witness at least once in a lifetime. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the Koala Conservation Centre and plan a visit to Seal Rocks where reside one of the largest seal colonies in Australia.

The Dandenong Ranges & the Yarra Valley

A favourite weekend getaway for almost every family living in Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley day tour needs to be done over two days. On the first day, you can drive through the Ranges and enjoy scenic views. It is located about 40 km from Melbourne. There are fantastic hike routes which will take you from Sherwood Forest to Grants Picnic Grounds, William Ricketts Sanctuary and Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens.

Then head over to Yarra Valley to stuff your face at the array of first-class cafés and restaurants which serve food made from fresh ingredients farmed in this lush and bountiful valley. Eating isn’t the only thing though. You can visit the Healesville Sanctuary and the Yarra Valley Dairy if you would like to.

The Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is only 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, making it a great day tour if you aren’t interested in travelling for miles. There are some great coastal landscapes to see from Port Phillip Bay to the heritage of Sorrento and the posh vacation homes by the sea on Australia’s Millionaire’s Walk.

Grampians National Park

And finally, located at 260 km from Melbourne is Grampians National Park. It is a dramatic landscape of waterfalls, sheer cliffs, wildflowers and hiking trails that will take your breath away. You can also learn a lot about the aborigines of the region known as Gariwerd.