Discover 8 best Day Trips from Melbourne

Just visiting a city and not getting into its depth is something one needs not to do, especially when they are figuring out ways to explore it. Not all nations have a city like Melbourne that is as perfect as it is, especially for day-tripping. Within a matter of a few hours, one can find himself out of this mesmerising town, making their way through some prehistoric rainforests, experiencing wildlife from so close, seeing some of the best wildlife sanctuaries, coastal attractions, wine valleys, and even appreciating a world-class piece of art.

These attractions are only a few to name from the long list of trips one can pay a visit to make the most of their free time out of their busy lives. Melbourne, being one of the cities in Victoria, has a lot to offer, but still, one needs to expand their boundaries to experience something new. Not just for summer, but we’ll make your trip ready to prepare round-the-year plans, leaving you with plenty of reasons to go out of the city.

1. Daylesford

How Far: 111.5 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Food, Shopping, Spa, Art

Just a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne, Daylesford is one of the most outstanding options to consider while planning a trip. You can easily reach here via train, taxi, or driving on your own, each one costing a bit different from the other. Availing a bus proves to be the most economical option of all.

On your trip, there’s a lot to see and admire. Lake Daylesford, Hepburn Mineral Springs, Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, The Convent Daylesford, and Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve are a few places worth giving attention to and spending time at.

Plenty of reasons exist that make this town a nirvana of relaxation. More than 80% of the nation’s total mineral springs are present in this very region, making it the most obvious choice to get a spa treatment if needed.

How To Reach: The possible ways of reaching here from Melbourne includes either availing a bus, train, taxi service or reaching here after driving on your own.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Lake House Restaurant	4 King St Daylesford 3460
	Cliffy's Emporium	30 Raglan Street Daylesford, VIC 3460
Where To Drink	Daylesford Cider	155 Dairy Flat Rd, Musk VIC 3461, Australia
	Radio Springs Hotel	1 High St, Lyonville VIC 3461, Australia
Where To Stay	Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat	124 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs VIC 3461, Australia
	Daylesford Art Motel	2 East St, Daylesford VIC 3460, Australia
Must Visit Attractions	Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa	Mineral Springs Reserve Rd, Hepburn Springs VIC 3460, Australia

2. Mornington Peninsula

How Far: 76.4 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Picturesque Landscape, Beach, Vineyards, Golf Courses

Located at just a short travel distance from Melbourne, it takes only around 1 hr 8 min to reach this wonderland, making it a one-stop destination for those looking to spend their coastal holidays on a cosy winter escape. It features an easy 90-minute drive from the south of the Melbourne CBD when done on your own. In case someone is fully sure of reaching here, driving on their own proves to be the most desirable option for them.

On your trip here from the Mornington Peninsula, you can easily see more than 100 pieces of art made by well-known Australian artisans. To experience everything in a more calm and precise manner, you can hire an e-bike or take advantage of the shuttle service offered here to properly explore everything available.

The rugged coastal landscape and incredible views that this place has to offer are worth paying a visit to at least once in your life. Giving you some more idyllic views comes the overlooking part of Port Phillip Bay, which is truly magnificent in a lot of ways.

How To Reach: If opted for the train facility, you will need to go with the metropolitan train service from the Southern Cross Station in Melbourne reaching Frankston and joining by Hastings to Stony Point on the Westernport Bay. You can easily locate a bus operating from Melbourne to almost all villages of the Mornington Peninsula. Those who will use the ferry as their transportation method will get to see some of the best scenic attractions and could also spot some dolphins.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Red Gum BBQ	87 Arthurs Seat Rd Red Hill 3937
	Laura	3649 Frankston-Flinders Rd Melbourne 3916
Where To Drink	Montalto	33 Shoreham Rd Red Hill South Melbourne 3937
	Flaggerdoot	166 Balnarring Road Merricks North 3926
Where To Stay	Jackalope Hotel	166 Balnarring Road Merricks North Melbourne 3926
	Lindenderry at Red Hill	142 Arthurs Seat Rd Red Hill Melbourne 3937
Must Visit Attraction	Peninsula Hot Springs	140 Springs Ln, Fingal VIC 3939, Australia

3. Great Ocean Road

How Far: 208.5 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Tourist attraction, Food, Pubs, Sunrise View

For those having plenty of time to spend their long vacations, setting a trip to Great Ocean Road from Melbourne is the best thing they could do. Located just 1.5 hours away from the Melbourne CBD, this dream destination of yours requires frequent stopping while reaching your final destination, as made compulsory by several bucket-list-worthy experiences you will get in here.

Viable means of reaching here are either availing of the bus service or reaching here via a train. One can always opt to drive and reach here on their own if they like, which will take around four hours on average.

This adventurous road stretches to over 243 km (150 mi), becoming a perfect and charming route backed by several delightful restaurants serving luscious and palatable food, native wildlife sceneries, and the sizable coastline’s attractions.

How To Reach: Of all the available transportation options, availing a bus service seems to be the best one as it will be the most economical one from all the other methods. But those looking to reach here on a short time, driving on your own will be the best way.

4. Phillip Island

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	The Salty Dog Fish & Chippery	1/150 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne VIC 3232, Australia
	Ipsos Restaurant and Bar	48 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne, Victoria 3232 Australia
Where To Drink	Aireys Pub	45 Great Ocean Road Aireys Inlet VIC 3231
	Sow and Piglets	18 Tregea St, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 Australia
Where To Stay	Burnside Camp	60 Ellimatta Road, Anglesea, Victoria, 3230
	Waves Luxury Suites	29 Lord Street, Port Campbell, Victoria, 3269
Must Visit Attraction	Great Otway National Park	Victoria, Australia
	12 Apostles	Great Ocean Road & Booringa Road, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 Australia

How Far: 141.8 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Wildlife Experience, Local Food, Wine, Charming Heritage

If you are a nature lover, planning a day trip to Phillip Island must be your priority. Not only this, but this place has a lot to offer in terms of the wildlife experiences one can get, combined with some of the most spectacular landscapes one will see after coming here.

It takes around 2 hours for anyone to reach here depending upon the mode of transportation they use. Trains and buses travelling a bit of a long route make the whole journey a bit long, so most people prefer using their means of transportation.

Some of the things one needs to include in their to-do bucket list while coming to

Phillip Island includes seeing the famous Little Penguin Parade and witnessing some of the best cultural events taking place. If you are a watersports lover, surfing is the best option for you, as it’s home to some of the best surf spots in Victoria as well.

How To Reach: Opt for a V/Line bus service if short on cash as it will cost only around $10.60 for an adult ticket. If coming on your own, choose the M1 motorway to make the most of your journey.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Outback Chef's Wild Food Farm	Wild Food Farm, 30 Rhyll-Newhaven Road, Rhyll, Phillip Island, Vic 3923
Where To Drink	Westernport Hotel	161 MARINE PARADE SAN REMO, VIC
Where To Stay	Five Acres	46 Mchaffies Lane Ventnor VIC 3922 Australia
Must Visit Attraction	Penguin Parade	1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands VIC 3922, Australia

5. Yarra Valley

How Far: 36.0 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Wine, Gardens, In-Air Experience

Featured by just less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, reaching Yarra Valley for your day trip will serve you with the best of the inherited gardens that are linked to Australia’s first of the international opera stars, namely Dame Nellie Melba.

Being situated at a corner of Victoria hasn’t stopped it from capturing the attention of locals as well as tourists who easily get drowned in the spectacular descending vineyards it hosts. Plus the charming townships that this place has combined with the Dandenong Ranges can’t be missed as well.

Reasons for making this the best out of all the day trip options for people in Melbourne are so many, but to name a few, it includes being a manufacturer of some of the best cool-climate wines. If you have made up your mind to explore the diversity that this place has to offer, then get rolling and come here as early as you can.

How To Reach: Featuring around 133 weekly bus/train services, reaching here from Melbourne isn’t hard at all and that too is very economical.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Giant Steps	336 Maroondah Highway Healesville 3775
	Innocent Bystander	316-334 Maroondah Hwy Healesville Melbourne 3777
Where To Drink	TarraWarra Estate	311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road Yarra Glen 3775
	Yering Station	38 Melba Hwy Yarra Glen 3775
Where To Stay	Balgownie Estate	1309 Melba Highway Yarra Glen Melbourne 3775
Must Visit Attraction	Hot Air Ballooning	1309 Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen, Australia

6. Ballarat

How Far: 115.0 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Art Galleries, Wildlife, Food

Many of the travellers are of the view that Sovereign Hill is the only thing worth viewing while paying a visit to Ballarat, but that’s not true at all. Ballarat Wildlife Park, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and Funfields Theme Park are some of the additional tourist attractions that need to be on the go-to list.

For those coming here, it’ll take them around 1.2-hour based on the transportation medium used. In total, there are around 35 stops worth seeing and spending some time at. On your trip to Ballarat from Melbourne, you can also reach the beachside of St Kilda, where there are a large number of families, backpackers, and joggers daily.

The best time to reach here is during the colder months, during which this location bursts with various fun activities to get engaged in. The options to eat and drink here are numerous, including ready-to-eat meals and dining options as well. Woowoo Karung Regional Park is one of the newest additions to the list of Ballarat’s newest parks, made here for all tourists and visitors.

How To Reach: Make use of the bus service that will cost around $6 – $65 depending upon the age of the individual availing it. Subsequently one can also opt for the train service that varies from $7 – $10, again depending upon the age of the individual availing it.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Vegas and Rose	96 Humffray St North Ballarat Melbourne 3350
	L'espresso	417 Sturt Street, Ballarat, VIC, Australia 3350
Where To Drink	Hop Temple	24-28 Armstrong Street North. Down the laneway,
Where To Stay	The Provincial Ballarat	121 Lydiard St North, Ballarat, Vic 3350 Australia
Must Visit Attraction	Art Gallery of Ballarat	40 Lydiard St N, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia
	Ballarat International Foto Biennale	12 Lydiard St N, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia

7. The Grampians

How Far: 257.5 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Wildlife, Adventure, Hiking

Another up on the list of the best places to visit on a day trip from Melbourne is the Grampians National Park that is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Victoria, Australia. Trains and buses are two of the most popular options when coming here to plan a trip from Melbourne. The shortest time it takes to reach here is by driving on your own, which will make it a 3.5-hour drive.

On your journey, you need to take a break in the quiet town of Glenthompson to enjoy the best sheep cheese and yoghurt available to all. Along with it, you can also engage in a conversation with the farmhands working there.

If you have some more time, head to the Halls Gap Zoo, which features more than 160 native and exotic species of this Australian nation, making it Victoria’s largest regional zoo. For those fond of water bodies, Wannon Falls, Nigretta Falls, and Silverband Falls must be their main priorities while traversing their trip.

How To Reach: Most people go with the option of availing the bus service that costs them around $100 – $130. For those short on time, prefer coming on your own to spend more time visiting this place instead of remaining stuck in traffic.

Category	Name	Address
Where To Eat	Salinger's Cafe	98 Main Street, Great Western, 3374, Australia
	Great Western Hotel	101 Main Street, Great Western, 3374, Australia
Where To Drink	Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co.	115 Grampians Road, Halls Gap, 3381, Australia
Where To Stay	Grampians Under the Stars	18 Heath Street, Halls Gap, 3381, Australia
Must Visit Attraction	Grampians Personalised Tours & Adventures	154 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381, Australia
	Grampians Hiking Day Tour	100 St. Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia

8. Bellarine Peninsula

How Far: 90.6 km from Melbourne CBD

Good For: Families, Coastal Scenery, Surf Spots

Often referred to as the cousin of the Mornington Peninsula, it’s a lesser-known peninsula that is located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Having the same kind of offerings, Mornington Peninsula also offers the same kind of dining, drinking, and gorgeous beach-based experiences to its visitors.

The average time it takes for an individual to reach here from the Melbourne CBD is around 1.5 hours. For those lovers travelling by ferry, they would need to visit this place. Despite having an uneven coastal region, it still has a lot to offer all of its visitors and is more economical than its eastern cousin.

If you are someone who gets a kick by visiting some exceptionally well-prepared beaches, wineries, luxury accommodations, or even great food, then the Bellarine Peninsula to be on your go-to list. If you plan on coming here with your kids and family, opt to pay a visit to the Jirrahlinga Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to echidnas, reptiles, kangaroos, dingoes, and more.

How To Reach: The cheapest of all the options is to make use of the line 56 bus that will take around 2.5 hours. Reaching here via a taxi also seems feasible as it will only take around 1.2 hours in that case.

Category	Recommendation	Address
Where To Eat	Queenscliff Brewhouse	2 Gellibrand St Queenscliff Melbourne 3225
	Merne	650 Andersons Rd Drysdale Melbourne 3222
Where To Drink	Curlewis Winery	55 Navarre Rd Curlewis Melbourne 3222
	Jack Rabbit Vineyard	85 McAdams Lane Bellarine Melbourne 3221
Where To Stay	Lon Retreat	25 Gill Rd Point Lonsdale Melbourne 3225
	Campbell Point House	Matthews Rd Leopold Melbourne 3224
Must Visit Attraction	Visit Jirrahlinga	Dingo Conservation Centre, Chewton VIC 3451, Australia
	Adventure Park	1251 Bellarine Hwy Wallington Melbourne 3221

These hikes represent some of the finest hidden gems near Melbourne, and if we were to include them all in this post, it would never end!

We trust that our guide to the best day trips from Melbourne has assisted you in planning your future getaways!

Are you still looking for the best day trips options from Melbourne but confused as to which one to choose? Or you’re looking for new places to visit in and around Melbourne or just looking to reach somewhere out of the city only? If yes then don’t worry as we’re here to assist you in every possible way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I Go 2 Hours From Melbourne?

One of the best trips that can start from Melbourne CBD in under two hours includes The Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and more.

How Do I Get From Melbourne To Phillip Island?

On can take the V/Line bus service if short on cash as it will cost only around $10.60 to them that too for an adult ticket. If coming on your own, choose the M1 motorway to make the most of your journey.

How Far Is It From Melbourne Airport To Daylesford?

The best options for everyone to go on a day trip in Victoria include a trip to Daylesford, Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley, Phillip Island, or the Mornington Peninsula.

Do You Need A Car For The Mornington Peninsula?

Located at a distance of around an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, the Mornington Peninsula is accessible via train, car, bus, and ferry as well.

Is there a ferry from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula?

Yes, go for the Searoad Ferries, which is Australia’s favourite car and passenger ferry service that goes from the southern end of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay and gets connected to the Great Ocean Road as well as the Bellarine in the Mornington Peninsula.

Day Trips From Melbourne