Categories: Travel

10 Day Trips In Melbourne Worth The Drive

Melbourne is not just about the city centre and being the food and sports capital of Australia. There are many places close to Melbourne worthy of a drive. These places are some of Victoria’s wonders of the world. Here are 10 day trips in Melbourne worth the drive. These are wonders of Victoria!

1. Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is a stretch of coastline, perfect for a trip destination. Around 200 kilometres from Melbourne, along this road, you can encounter a range of landmarks. From the iconic twelve apostles, national parks, to the huge waves of the well-known Bells Beach.

2. Phillip Island

Phillip Island is about 140 kilometres from Melbourne. Phillip Island is a home for wildlife lovers. You can see penguins waddling up the beach at the well-known ‘penguin parade’, koalas in their natural habitat, fur seals at the iconic ‘seal rocks’ and hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies at Phillip Island Wildlife Park.

3. Morning Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. Home not only to prime real estate but beaches, heritage buildings and seaside scenery. Towns you can take a visit to include Sorrento and Portsea. Other sights you can take is the Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry and the Peninsula Hot Springs.

4. Wilson Promontory

Wilson Promontory, also known as ‘the prom’ by locals, is the state’s largest coastal wildness area. A wonderful place for nature lovers. About a three-hour drive from Melbourne, you will encounter scenery of beaches, rainforests and granite peaks. At Wilson Promontory Nature Park, you may also encounter some of the wildlife including wombats, emus, and many types of birds.

5. Daylesford

Daylesford, around 115 kilometres from Melbourne and the perfect escape to enjoy a day of relaxation. In this quaint country town, there are mineral springs, wellness centres and day spas. There are also many award-winning restaurants. On your day here, you can enjoy some relaxation and delicious food.

6. Lorne

Around 138 kilometres from Melbourne lies Lorne, it is a favourite amongst the seaside resorts. You can go swimming and surfing at the beach to shopping at the boutiques and bookstores. Other sights in Lorne include Teddy’s Lookout offering beautiful views of the Victorian coast, and Erskine Falls, full of nature and waterfalls.

7. Ballarat

Just over an hour away from Melbourne is Ballarat, a townhome to many attractions and a developing foodie scene. One of the most famous attractions in Ballarat is Sovereign Hill. Sovereign Hill recreates the Gold Rush days, where you can dig for gold or shop in the heritage buildings.

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8. Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock is a wilderness escape less than an hour northwest of Melbourne. See the location for the iconic film Picnic at Hanging Rock. Hanging Rock reserve is a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic or take a hike. You may also see wildlife from wallabies and koalas to echidnas and wombats.

9. Beechworth

Beechworth is one of the longest places for a day trip, 284 kilometres from Melbourne. But, this town is worth the drive just to have a culinary adventure. Two stops must be the iconic Beechworth Bakery to try their trademark bee-sting cake and Provenance, where the chef Michael Ryan has worn multiple hats in various Age Good Food Guides.

10. Healesville

Healesville is home not only to gorgeous scenery where you can drive around all day to have a delicious foodie fix. There are many places to stop in Healesville, including the Healesville Sanctuary where you can visit up to 200 species of native animals, to Yarra Valley Dairy a place to taste delicious handmade cheese.