5 Incredible Day Trips From Melbourne

While Melbourne’s laneways may hold a bounty of cultural and culinary delights, branch out from the city and you’ll discover wonder in almost every direction and all within easy day-tripping distance. 

Whether you’re seeking the greenery of towering rainforests, quaint villages, a seaside retreat infused with laidback luxury or a world-class wine region producing innovative drops – all that stands between you and these adventures is a clear calendar and the open road.

For nature-based luxury… visit Portsea and Sorrento

Less than two hours by car south of the city, the twin holiday sirens of Portsea and Sorrento (just a five minute drive apart) on the Mornington Peninsula beckon daytrippers summer after summer. 

Pick up a ready-to-go panino from Italian-inspired Sorrento providore Stringers before beelining for historic Point Nepean National Park, where you can rent a bike from BayPlay (opposite the visitors’ Information Centre). Cycle through secluded beaches including Cheviot Beach – named for the SS Cheviot which sank there in 1887 – while exploring heritage-listed buildings along the way. 

For outdoor serenity, the iconic geothermal mineral waters of Peninsula Hot Springs await; a spa and bathhouse offers the ultimate (and literal) nature immersion. Back in Sorrento, a meander through seaside boutiques followed by an orecchiette Pugliese at Itali.co, the Peninsula outpost of the St Kilda institution of the same name, will round out the evening.

For bountiful wildlife… visit Phillip Island 

Jump in the car at dawn and head south for two hours and you’ll be pulling into Phillip Island just in time for a double shot of coffee at G’Day Tiger. Located north of the beach, this sleek, industrial café pours a Melbourne-standard brew without the city rush.

Work up an appetite on the Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk for an uninterrupted view of the Pinnacles (dramatic pink granite structures reaching up from the sea) before satisfying your hunger with a woodfired prawn pizza at Saltwater, a relaxed eatery with ocean vistas perched on the Newhaven Jetty. 

A 20-minute drive across the island will bring you to Cowes Jetty, where the Phillip Island Seal Cruise departs most afternoons at 2pm, offering a chance to spot seals two kilometres off the coast at Australia’s largest fur seal colony. 

From here, you’ll race the sun back to shore to watch at a distance as thousands of aptly named Little Penguins make their dusk commute homeward to cosy beach burrows in the nightly – and hugely popular – Penguin Parade.

For bucolic beauty and fine food… visit the Dandenong Ranges

An hour’s drive east from Melbourne, this geographical anomaly – the result of a volcanic eruption more than 300 million years ago – is a gloriously green country escape with city trappings such as topnotch distilleries (try GinFinity at Belgrave), chic boutiques (see Olinda Collective, below), very good coffee (Lorna Cafe in the foothills at Ferntree Gully) and one of the most sought-after restaurant reservations in the state: Chae. 

Chae began in the Brunswick apartment of chef Jung Eun Chae as a six-seat operation serving traditional Korean dishes based upon umami-heavy fermented sauces, pastes and pickles. The restaurant still only serves a lucky six diners per night, but Chae has room to pickle, ferment and grow vegetables in her kitchen garden. The experience involves four to five courses with matching handmade drinks, served from Chae’s circular kitchen where nothing is wasted. Feeling lucky? Guests enter their name in a monthly lottery to secure a booking. 

To work up an appetite, spend some time at the Botanic Garden where, depending on the season, you’ll either meander through large blankets of rhododendrons (Australia’s largest collection), lose yourself in rust-and-amber-hued glades or marvel at cherry blossoms, azaleas or camellias. 

Continue up the range to the region’s most elevated village (in altitude), Olinda, to pick up an award-winning pie from Pie in the Sky (they offer gluten-free versions, too), before meandering through the charming row of boutiques in town. Olinda Collective – showcasing the work of more than 30 local artists – is a must-visit. 

For stress-melting relaxation… visit Daylesford

In the heart of Victoria’s “spa country” lies the picture-perfect village of Daylesford. A 90-minute drive north-west of the city, it’s surrounded by a treasure-trove of natural mineral waters that give the luxe locale its allure. 

As far as pampering goes, The Lake House encompasses a day spa, accommodation, cooking school and its eponymous two-hatted restaurant, a crowd favourite that plates up seasonal modern-Australian produce in the shade of towering stringybarks. 

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, less than 10 minutes north of Daylesford, offers an impressive list of soothing experiences, including outdoor creekside bathing and a mineral hammam, where a three-step detoxification process entails a scrub-down with macerated black olive soap that will leave you feeling renewed. 

Indulge in a languid lunch at Frank & Connie’s Kitchen, a nan-style eatery inside a gorgeous weatherboard home dishing up hearty meals made for sharing. The beef chou farci – tender cabbage leaves stuffed with braised beef and buttery mashed potatoes – is a highlight.

On the way out of town, stop into The Stockroom Kyneton. This former butter factory now houses Victoria’s largest privately owned contemporary art space, showcasing works by local talents such as Anthea Kemp and Mark Rodda.

For a gourmet adventure… visit the Yarra Valley

The spoils of the Yarra Valley, 30 minutes south-east of Melbourne, are on display no matter the season, but how you enjoy them will differ depending on when you go. 

Fruit picking in one of the region’s many local growing orchards is possible year-round, with Rayner’s Orchard offering U-pick adventures throughout the seasons. For cherries (November-December) and other berries (October-April), The Cherry Boys in Wandin North and Blue Hills Berries & Cherries in Silvan are two top picks for a fruit fix.

The Yarra’s most famous export: wine. Book ahead at the light-drenched dining room at Seville Estate for an unforgettable lunch showcasing local stars such as Sher Wagyu rump cap and Long Paddock cheese, then hit up the cellar doors at Victoria’s first vineyard, Yering Station. Try something different like the Marsanne at Pimpernel Vineyards (where grapes are dry grown and hand-picked) before topping off the day at Yarrawood for its casual, family-friendly atmosphere and cool-climate drops..