Karina & Matthew
Victoria
Great Ocean Road
2-4 hours southwest of Melbourne
The Great Ocean Road is often referred to as one of the most scenic drives in the world, hugging the rocky and mountainous coast along the Great Southern Ocean. The road stretches 243 kilometres from Torquay to Warrnambool. The tight curves and switchbacks along the road can be a bit harrowing (especially if you're not used to driving on the left side of the road), but the views are worth it! There are many small towns along the route (such as Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell), and several attractions worth seeing - the most famous of which is the 12 Apostles. If you're not comfortable with the idea of driving here, there are many day trips and overnight tours which leave daily from Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula
1-2 hours south of Melbourne
The Mornington Peninsula is located 1-2 hours south of Melbourne, along the east coast of Port Phillip Bay. Although it is primarily a beach destination, there is plenty to keep you busy in winter as well - including wineries, the Arthurs Seat Gondola (great views from the top!) and the Peninsula Hot Springs. Most Peninsula destinations are best reached by car, however there are tours to some destinations from Melbourne.
Yarra Valley
1-2 hours east of Melbourne
The Yarra Valley is one of Victoria's top wine regions, best known for producing cool-climate wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Daily wine tours from Melbourne will take you to some of the better known wineries. We'd also recommend a stop at Four Pillars gin distillery in Healesville - rated the world's best gin earlier this year!
Macedon Ranges
1 hour north of Melbourne
The Macedon Ranges is a mountainous region just north of Melbourne. There are several villages, wineries, parks and forests to visit - as well as a great view from the top of Mount Macedon. On a clear day you can even see Melbourne! The region is best reached by car, however V-Line (Victoria's suburban train system) Bendigo line trains stop at several of the small villages on the way up to Bendigo. Several tour operators also have tours from Melbourne.
The Grampians
3 hours northwest of Melbourne
Grampians National Park is located high in the Grampians mountainous region, and is great for hiking, rock climbing, and sightseeing. It is one of the largest sandstone mountain ranges in the world and has views unlike anywhere else. The closest town to the national park is Halls Gap, which is reachable by a train and a bus. For those without a car, several tours leave daily from Melbourne to the region.
The Alpine Country
3-4 hours east of Melbourne
The Victorian Alpine country (better known as the Alps) is a mountainous region several hours east of Melbourne. During the winter time, there are several ski lodges and mountains catering to skiers and snowboarders. The Great Alpine Road runs north-south through the region, but can be quite treacherous in the winter (yes - it does snow in Australia!) Most ski resorts offer transportation to Melbourne.
Wilson's Promontory
3 hours south of Melbourne
Wilson's Promontory (known as Wilson's prom) is a national park on a peninsula in Bass Strait. It's known for its striking views, granite mountains, and native wildlife. Plenty of kangaroos and wallabies around here! Unless you have a car, best reached via a tour from Melbourne.
Phillip Island
2 hours south of Melbourne
Phillip Island is a popular holiday destination south of Melbourne. It's best known for the "penguin parade," where you can see penguins returning to shore around sunset every night. It's also a great place to spot native Australian wildlife due to its relative isolation.
Bellarine Peninsula
90 minutes southwest of Melbourne
The Bellarine Peninsula is located just south of Geelong (Victoria's second largest city), where the west coast of Port Phillip Bay meets Bass Strait. It's one of our favourite holiday destinations due to the short drive from Melbourne and large number of things to do. There are several great restaurants and wineries, and many places to get fresh seafood. If you like mussels, we'd highly recommend Portarlington Mussels. It's basically just a roadside shack, but they're fresh out of the water and prepared however you like.