This submit could include affiliate hyperlinks. We could obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, if you happen to make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.

Melbourne is a improbable metropolis to discover full of many world-class eating places, stadiums, galleries and theatres, but it surely’s additionally a improbable base to discover different elements of Victoria and Southeastern Australia.

When the town way of life 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 largest 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 rapidly changed into three!

If you happen to’re on the lookout for locations to go to outdoors Melbourne which are good for a few days exploration, reminiscent of on a weekend getaway from Melbourne, then these are our favorite spots beneath.

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 nearly nothing about Wilsons Promontory Nationwide Park earlier than our highway journey round Australia, however for Melbournians it’s a widely 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 is because this coastal wilderness space has restricted lodging they usually need to maintain it pristine, so restrict the quantity of tourists.

We spent three nights in a little bit cabin at Tidal River Campground once we visited. And at only a 3-hour drive from Melbourne, it’s an important getaway vacation spot!

Wilsons Promenade is well-liked for a cause. It’s well-known for Squeaky Seaside, so named as a result of the sand is so pure is squeaks once you stroll throughout it. It additionally has these imposing granite boulders at both finish, which we cherished 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, gorgeous seashores.

Norman Seaside is one other seaside value visiting, which is understood for being a snorkelling sizzling spot and permits you to peer beneath the floor into Victoria’s largest marine nationwide park.

2. Vibrant

• 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 Vibrant 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 Vibrant!

It’s a kind of locations that will get beneath your pores and skin and we’ll return there again and again.

With the Owens River working by way of city and the alpine surroundings, it reminds us of Colorado and the cafe scene is high notch too – we’re a fan of the Blackbird Cafe, Meals Wine Pals, and the Rail Path Cafe.

We additionally LOVE the Vibrant Brewery by the river, which produces glorious craft beer, the perfect cider I’ve ever tasted, and scrumptious pizzas. And your youngsters will love the massive playground simply throughout from the beer backyard, win-win!

In addition to the food and drinks, if you happen to love exploring the nice outdoor by foot or bicycle, Vibrant is your city too.

Oh, and while you’re in Vibrant, take a detour to Beechworth and have lunch at Bridge Highway 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 turned referred to as Black Saturday again in 2009.

Nearly all the city burned to the bottom with many locals shedding their lives, however the best way the city has recovered is exceptional. The spirit of the individuals is really 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 the town.

As soon as there benefit from the serenity and the pure setting.

Go climbing at Lake Mountain, absorb 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 may have breakfast at Fraggas Cafe, dinner on the Black Spur Inn, and let your youngsters burn off some power taking part in at Gallipoli Park.

We stayed on the charming Amelina Cottage, which was a straightforward stroll into city.

4. The Nice Ocean Highway

• Distance from Melbourne: 103 km (64 miles) by way of M1
• Drive time: 1.5 hours
• The place to remain: Mantra Resort

You may’t go to Melbourne with out leaping behind the wheel of your automotive, or hiring a automotive and driving top-of-the-line highway journeys on the earth.

If you happen to 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 Highway stretches over 250 kilometres to Warrnambool and attracts tens of hundreds of tourists yearly.

Discover seaside cities, stroll by way of 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 in the future, decelerate and admire all it has to supply. There are a lot of cities alongside the Nice Ocean Highway to cease at, we advocate staying the evening in Lorne, which makes for an important central base. We stayed on the Mantra Resort proper on the seaside.

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 Resort 

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 the town.

I vividly bear in mind the sundown on Dromana Seaside being as spectacular as wherever in Victoria, and our pub lunch on the Portsea Resort had nearly as good a view as wherever for a beer backyard.

Different issues we advocate 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 cherished was the Peninsula Sizzling Springs, which rapidly changed the Excessive Tea on the Langham Resort in Melbourne as being the perfect 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 motorbike racing, however after spending a soothing eight days on the island we are able to guarantee you it provides a lot extra.

Phillip Island is among the most stunning close to Melbourne and is understood for one factor; the penguin parade.

Although it feels like some type of carnival, it’s actually only a identify 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.

Once you take within the penguin parade expertise, get there early and discover The Nobbies, which has spectacular views over the Bass Strait – it will likely be windy although!

The parade is a ticketed occasion, but it surely’s nonetheless wonderful to see them of their pure surroundings.

The primary city of Cowes Seaside is an effective place to base your self and has an honest cafe and restaurant scene. The seaside 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 unit, 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 Highway.

Due to a advice from one other Melbourne buddy we jumped on the automotive ferry from Sorrento and headed for Queenscliff.

The city of Queenscliff is a historic seaside village with a superb cafe scene. We additionally cherished the gradual tempo of life in Barwon Heads and exploring the cafe and restaurant scene there, try On the Heads and the Starfish Bakery.

Different good cities on the Bellarine embody Level Lonsdale and Ocean Grove – the biggest city on the Bellarine and the closest browsing seaside to Melbourne!

If you end up heading south from Melbourne in direction of Geelong and Nice Ocean Highway, contemplate exploring the Bellarine Peninsula.

We stayed on the BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon for 3 weeks, and it had change into 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 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 gorgeous 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 the earth to rock climb. Simply one other stunning 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 good 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 chances are high, you’ve most likely by no means heard of it! Although it’s the capital metropolis, it doesn’t get the identical advertising and marketing that huge 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 sights of its personal which are effectively value taking a weekend journey to see.

For one factor, it has some exceptional, world-class museums. The Nationwide Gallery of Australia is among 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 art work and the opposite, native. Each buildings are a marvel of recent structure.

Canberra is well accessible by direct flight which takes only one hour. Take a look at Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas for flight instances. If you happen to drive, it would take round 7 hours, which isn’t perfect for a day journey.

Since Canberra is within the New South Wales state, you’ll must plan forward to incorporate this in your weekend getaway from Melbourne.

10. Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is a area simply outdoors the town of Melbourne that surrounds the Yarra River. It’s recognized for its wine cultivation and climbing trails.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for stress-free locations to go to close to Melbourne, you possibly can’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 beneath.

After all, you may as well discover river cruises that take you into the Yarra Valley area if you happen to’re not trying 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

Positioned simply outdoors Melbourne is the city of Healesville. The city is surrounded by stunning nature, parks and climbing trails. The primary cause to go to Healesville although is for the Healesville Sanctuary.

This can be 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 the perfect place to see native species to Aus reminiscent of Koalas, Kangaroos, Wombats, Wallabies, Dingos and Platypuses.

The zoo is devoted to animal conservation and serving to animals who face extinction.

If you happen to’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 affordable distance of Melbourne CBD, then we advocate spending a weekend staycation at St Kilda Seaside.

That is Melbourne’s seaside resort space and is legendary for its cafes and eating places alongside St Kilda highway and the gorgeous 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 the town with out escaping the town, it is a good spot to go to close to Melbourne CBD.

Getting round Melbourne and Victoria

If you happen to’re undecided the best way to get to all these wonderful locations, then one of the best ways is by automotive. Since plenty of these sights are nationwide parks or situated within the wilderness, you’ll must drive round them both manner, so it’s not value making an attempt to do it on public transport otherwise you’ll waste your valuable time.

If you happen to’re arriving internationally and don’t have a automotive, then you could find nice offers utilizing DiscoverCars.com. It’s the world’s greatest automotive rental reserving service and it compares all the main 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 sights.

It even has the Metropolis Circle Tram, which is a free tram service that connects the highest sights. Listed below are all of the sights you possibly can entry by taking this line:

• Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Constructing
• Melbourne Aquarium
• Docklands
• Parliament Home
• St Paul’s Cathedrale
• Flinders Road Station

You may both change to a paid tram service to get to different sights (or stroll). It’s not removed from the Metropolis Circle Tram to sights just like the Australian Centre for the Shifting Picture, the Nationwide Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market or any of the parks reminiscent of Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Melbourne may be very walkable and also you don’t really want to pay for public transport.

Earlier than You Go

So there you will have it, these are the highest locations close to Melbourne for a weekend getaway. As you possibly can see, there’s plenty 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 listing.

Earlier than you go, ensure that to take a look at our different guides on Melbourne beneath. Town is one in every of our favourites in Australia and shouldn’t be skipped, so do ensure you plan a while exploring the inside metropolis, too.

Different Melbourne Ideas

Do you want extra inspiration that will help you plan your subsequent journey to Melbourne? Check out these different assets:

Pin To Save It On Pinterest