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Melbourne is a implausible metropolis to discover full of many world-class eating places, stadiums, galleries and theatres, but it surely’s additionally a implausible base to discover different elements of Victoria and Southeastern Australia.
When town life-style feels an excessive amount of, there are such a lot of unimaginable locations to go to close to Melbourne on a weekend getaway that may restore and rejuvinate you.
As a lot because it pains me to say it’s a New South Welshman, Victoria was the most important shock from our 18-month highway journey round Australia.
The state packs a punch, despite the fact that it’s a small state there’s nonetheless loads to do, from seeing world-famous surroundings to mysterious wildlife and historic landmarks. It’s no shock our one-month journey shortly changed into three!
In case you’re on the lookout for locations to go to outdoors Melbourne which might be excellent for a few days exploration, similar to on a weekend getaway from Melbourne, then these are our favorite spots under.
The place to go for a weekend getaway from Melbourne
1. Wilsons Promontory Nationwide Park
- Distance from Melbourne: 195.4 km (121 miles) by way of M1 and A440
- Drive time: 2.5 – 3 hours
- The place to remain: Tidal River Campground
Surprisingly, we knew virtually nothing about Wilsons Promontory Nationwide Park earlier than our highway journey round Australia, however for Melbournians it’s a well known trip sizzling spot.
It’s so well-known that there’s even a lottery on lodging there within the peak season. Don’t let that put you off, it’s because this coastal wilderness space has restricted lodging and so they need to preserve it pristine, so restrict the quantity of tourists.
We spent three nights in just a little cabin at Tidal River Campground after we visited. And at only a 3-hour drive from Melbourne, it’s an ideal getaway vacation spot!
Wilsons Promenade is common for a purpose. It’s well-known for Squeaky Seaside, so named as a result of the sand is so pure is squeaks while you stroll throughout it. It additionally has these imposing granite boulders at both finish, which we beloved climbing on – for us, it’s up there as one of many finest seashores in Australia.
In addition to Squeaky Seaside, Wilsons Promenade has many distant coastal bushland trails, secluded campsites, mountain peaks and scenic vistas, native wombats, kangaroos and emus working round, and naturally, beautiful seashores.
Norman Seaside is one other seashore value visiting, which is understood for being a snorkelling sizzling spot and permits you to peer under the floor into Victoria’s largest marine nationwide park.
2. Brilliant
- Distance from Melbourne: 321.6 km (199 miles) by way of Nationwide Freeway M31
- Drive time: 3.5 hours
- The place to remain: BIG4 Tasman Vacation Parks
The charming city of Brilliant is our favorite city in Victoria and one in every of our high three cities in Australia, interval. We inform everybody we meet who’s visiting Victoria, you MUST go to Brilliant!
It’s a kind of locations that will get beneath your pores and skin and we’ll return there over and over.
With the Owens River working by city and the alpine surroundings, it reminds us of Colorado and the cafe scene is high notch too – we’re keen on the Blackbird Cafe, Meals Wine Associates, and the Rail Path Cafe.
We additionally LOVE the Brilliant Brewery by the river, which produces glorious craft beer, one of the best cider I’ve ever tasted, and scrumptious pizzas. And your children will love the large playground simply throughout from the beer backyard, win-win!
Apart from the food and drinks, should you love exploring the good outside by foot or bicycle, Brilliant is your city too.
Oh, and while you’re in Brilliant, take a detour to Beechworth and have lunch at Bridge Street Brewers, one in every of our faves in Oz!
3. Marysville
- Distance from Melbourne: 97.4 km (60 miles) by way of Maroondah Hwy
- Drive time: 1.5 hours
- The place to remain: Amelina Cottage
There’s one thing about Marysville! This city was devastated by bushfires on what grew to become often called Black Saturday again in 2009.
Nearly all the city burned to the bottom with many locals dropping their lives, however the way in which the city has recovered is exceptional. The spirit of the individuals is actually one thing to be admired!
It’s solely an hour and a half drive northeast of Melbourne and the drive into Marysville is gorgeous in itself. It makes for a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of town.
As soon as there benefit from the serenity and the pure setting.
Go mountain climbing at Lake Mountain, soak up Steavenson Falls, marvel at Bruno’s Sculpture Backyard, go trout fishing at Buxton Trout Farm, style wines at Buxton Ridge Vineyard and a lot extra.
For foodies, you’ll love all of the home made cooking you may get right here. You possibly can have breakfast at Fraggas Cafe, dinner on the Black Spur Inn, and let your children burn off some power taking part in at Gallipoli Park.
We stayed on the charming Amelina Cottage, which was a simple stroll into city.
4. The Nice Ocean Street
- Distance from Melbourne: 103 km (64 miles) by way of M1
- Drive time: 1.5 hours
- The place to remain: Mantra Lodge
You possibly can’t go to Melbourne with out leaping behind the wheel of your automobile, or hiring a automobile and driving top-of-the-line highway journeys on this planet.
In case you haven’t been earlier than, it’s the proper vacation spot close to Melbourne for a weekend getaway, interval.
Starting 90 minutes outdoors of Melbourne in Torquay, the Nice Ocean Street stretches over 250 kilometres to Warrnambool and attracts tens of hundreds of tourists yearly.
Discover seaside cities, stroll by rainforests to waterfalls, spot koalas, swim at scenic seashores, and stand in awe as you’re taking within the well-known Twelve Apostles.
No matter you do, don’t do that drive in at some point, decelerate and recognize all it has to supply. There are numerous cities alongside the Nice Ocean Street to cease at, we suggest staying the evening in Lorne, which makes for an ideal central base. We stayed on the Mantra Lodge proper on the seashore.
5. The Mornington Peninsula
- Distance from Melbourne: 74.5 km (46 miles) by way of M1
- Drive time: 1 hour
- The place to remain: Portsea Lodge
We camped for every week on the Mornington Peninsula and while it’s solely an hour’s drive from Melbourne, we felt like we have been 1,000,000 miles away from town.
I vividly keep in mind the sundown on Dromana Seaside being as spectacular as anyplace in Victoria, and our pub lunch on the Portsea Lodge had pretty much as good a view as anyplace for a beer backyard.
Different issues we suggest embody the coastal headland stroll round Sorrento (Millionaire’s row), take pleasure in takeaway fish & chips on the waterfront of Sorrento, and take the youngsters to the neighborhood playground on the Rye Foreshore.
One other place we beloved was the Peninsula Scorching Springs, which shortly changed the Excessive Tea on the Langham Lodge in Melbourne as being one of the best mummy/daughter date ever.
6. Phillip Island
- Distance from Melbourne: 141 km (87.6 miles) by way of M1
- Drive time: 2 hours
- The place to remain: Amaroo Park
We thought Phillip Island was all about penguins and bike racing, however after spending a soothing eight days on the island we will guarantee you it provides a lot extra.
Phillip Island is without doubt one of the most lovely close to Melbourne and is understood for one factor; the penguin parade.
Although it appears like some type of carnival, it’s actually only a title given to the time of day when the Little Penguins come as much as the shore at sundown of their numbers – waddling in a type of parade trend.
Whenever you take within the penguin parade expertise, get there early and discover The Nobbies, which has spectacular views over the Bass Strait – will probably be windy although!
The parade is a ticketed occasion, but it surely’s nonetheless superb to see them of their pure setting.
The primary city of Cowes Seaside is an efficient place to base your self and has a good cafe and restaurant scene. The seashore right here is family-friendly as is scenic Smiths Seaside.
Different issues I like to recommend to do on Phillips Island are a go to to The Koala Conservation Centre, the Chocolate Manufacturing facility, Amaz’N Issues, and the Grand Prix circuit.
7. The Bellarine Peninsula
We’d by no means heard of is the Bellarine Peninsula earlier than visiting. Once more shocking, contemplating it’s solely simply over one hour south of Melbourne and near the beginning line for the Nice Ocean Street.
Due to a advice from one other Melbourne pal we jumped on the automobile ferry from Sorrento and headed for Queenscliff.
The city of Queenscliff is a historic seaside village with a great cafe scene. We additionally beloved the sluggish tempo of life in Barwon Heads and exploring the cafe and restaurant scene there, take a look at On the Heads and the Starfish Bakery.
Different good cities on the Bellarine embody Level Lonsdale and Ocean Grove – the most important city on the Bellarine and the closest browsing seashore to Melbourne!
If you end up heading south from Melbourne in direction of Geelong and Nice Ocean Street, take into account exploring the Bellarine Peninsula.
We stayed on the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon for 3 weeks, and it had turn out to be one in every of our favorite caravan parks and base for exploring the Bellarine.
8. The Grampians
- Distance from Melbourne: 257 km (160 miles) by way of Nationwide Freeway M8
- Drive time: 3 hours
- The place to remain: Grampians Eco YHA
Among the finest strolling and mountain climbing locations in Victoria is merely three hours from Melbourne.
The Grampians Nationwide Park is a rugged mountain vary and is famend for its breathtaking rocky views, wealthy tradition and beautiful wildflower shows.
The primary we’d heard of the Grampians was from a Swedish backpacker in Thailand who stated it was his favorite place on this planet to rock climb. Simply one other lovely place in Victoria that not often will get talked about.
We conquered the summit of the 4km Pinnacle’s Stroll with our women, aged 6 and a pair of on the time, and it was one in every of my favorite days of our Australia journey.
Halls Hole is a superb city to base your self within the coronary heart of the Grampians, we stayed on the Grampians Eco YHA, which was family-friendly and an eco-retreat.
9. Canberra
- Distance from Melbourne: 669 km (415 miles) by way of Nationwide Freeway M31 and Hume Hwy/M31
- Drive time: 6-7 hours drive (however flights are one hour)
- The place to remain: Quest Canberra
Canberra is the capital of Australia and likelihood is, you’ve in all probability by no means heard of it! Although it’s the capital metropolis, it doesn’t get the identical advertising that massive cities like Sydney or Melbourne do.
I imply, how can Canberra compete with the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG) or Melbourne Zoo?
Though it doesn’t get the fanfare that Melbourne does, Canberra has some points of interest of its personal which might be nicely value taking a weekend journey to see.
For one factor, it has some exceptional, world-class museums. The Nationwide Gallery of Australia is without doubt one of the finest artwork galleries within the nation to see aboriginal and Australian artwork in its everlasting assortment.
It has two buildings, the NGV Australia and NGV Worldwide – one shows worldwide paintings and the opposite, native. Each buildings are a marvel of contemporary structure.
Canberra is definitely accessible by direct flight which takes only one hour. Try Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas for flight occasions. In case you drive, it should take round 7 hours, which isn’t ultimate for a day journey.
Since Canberra is within the New South Wales state, you’ll have to plan forward to incorporate this in your weekend getaway from Melbourne.
10. Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is a area simply outdoors town of Melbourne that surrounds the Yarra River. It’s recognized for its wine cultivation and mountain climbing trails.
In case you’re on the lookout for stress-free locations to go to close to Melbourne, you may’t go unsuitable with a go to to wine nation in Yarra Valley. There are 90 vineyards and 35 wineries right here, so you might simply spend a day or weekend hopping between them.
One other distinctive factor to do in Yarra Valley is take a dawn sizzling air balloon experience. There’s something so magical about watching the dawn from the air and seeing its rays glisten over the vineyards under.
In fact, you may as well discover river cruises that take you into the Yarra Valley area should you’re not seeking to spend a lot time right here.
11. Healesville
- Distance from Melbourne: 64.2 km (40 miles) by way of Nationwide Freeway M3 and Maroondah Hwy
- Drive time: 1 hour drive
- The place to remain: Healesville Flats
Situated simply outdoors Melbourne is the city of Healesville. The city is surrounded by lovely nature, parks and mountain climbing trails. The primary purpose to go to Healesville although is for the Healesville Sanctuary.
It is a zoo devoted to Australian wildlife. It’s a small zoo and can solely take 2-3 hours to see all of it, but it surely’s one of the best place to see native species to Aus similar to Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Wallabies, Dingos and Platypuses.
The zoo is devoted to animal conservation and serving to animals who face extinction.
In case you’re on the lookout for a household pleasant vacation spot for a weekend getaway, this could be our best choice.
12. St Kilda Seaside
- Distance from Melbourne: 6.8 km (4 miles) by way of Princes Freeway
- Drive time: quarter-hour drive
- The place to remain: The Prince
Okay, so St Kilda isn’t precisely outdoors Melbourne, however we perceive that some individuals don’t prefer to spend all their time travelling, so if you wish to be inside an inexpensive distance of Melbourne CBD, then we suggest spending a weekend staycation at St Kilda Seaside.
That is Melbourne’s seaside resort space and is known for its cafes and eating places alongside St Kilda highway and the beautiful St Kilda Pier.
It’s additionally the place you’ll discover Luna Park, the primary theme park in Melbourne with rollercoasters and fairground rides.
If you wish to escape the hustle and bustle of town with out escaping town, it is a excellent spot to go to close to Melbourne CBD.
Getting round Melbourne and Victoria
In case you’re undecided the way to get to all these superb locations, then one of the best ways is by automobile. Since lots of these points of interest are nationwide parks or positioned within the wilderness, you’ll have to drive round them both approach, so it’s not value attempting to do it on public transport otherwise you’ll waste your treasured time.
In case you’re arriving internationally and don’t have a automobile, then yow will discover nice offers utilizing DiscoverCars.com. It’s the world’s largest automobile rental reserving service and it compares all the key manufacturers like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and Europcar.
Inside Melbourne itself, it’s very easy to get round. Melbourne has a tram service that connects a lot of the high vacationer points of interest.
It even has the Metropolis Circle Tram, which is a free tram service that connects the highest points of interest. Listed here are all of the points of interest you may entry by taking this line:
- Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Constructing
- Melbourne Aquarium
- Docklands
- Parliament Home
- St Paul’s Cathedrale
- Flinders Avenue Station
You possibly can both change to a paid tram service to get to different points of interest (or stroll). It’s not removed from the Metropolis Circle Tram to points of interest just like the Australian Centre for the Transferring Picture, the Nationwide Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market or any of the parks similar to Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Melbourne may be very walkable and also you don’t actually need to pay for public transport.
Earlier than You Go
So there you’ve gotten it, these are the highest locations close to Melbourne for a weekend getaway. As you may see, there’s lots of selection to select from.
From seeing penguins of their pure habitat to exploring small, quaint cities, to basking within the wine nation – you’ll discover one thing for everybody on this record.
Earlier than you go, be certain that to take a look at our different guides on Melbourne under. Town is one in every of our favourites in Australia and shouldn’t be skipped, so do be sure you plan a while exploring the inside metropolis, too.
Different Melbourne Suggestions
Do you want extra inspiration that can assist you plan your subsequent journey to Melbourne? Check out these different sources:
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Which of those getaways from Melbourne would you most prefer to take? Tell us within the feedback.
