Melbourne is situated in a beautiful part of Australia with plenty of scenic landscapes and great beaches in the surrounding area. Here are some of the best day trips from Melbourne, including information on self-driving the day trips and taking public transport or tours.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission but at no extra cost to you.
Great Ocean Road Day Trip
The Great Ocean Road is an iconic Australian road trip that’s not to be missed. Spanning over 240 kilometers along the southeastern coast, this route is famous for its dramatic coastal cliffs, pristine beaches, and the world-famous Twelve Apostles.
If you are hiring a car to drive the route yourself, I would recommend driving the most direct route to Port Campbell or the London Bridge rock formation. Make your way back towards Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. Be sure to stop at Loch Ard Gorge, The Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Cape Otway and the sea side town of Lorne.
This is a lot of driving in one day so I would highly recommend an early start. Alternatively you could stay over night in Port Campbell to break up the driving.
555km, 8 hours
Tours start from £47, click here to view prices and availability
Brighton Beach from Melbourne
Brighton Beach, Victoria is famous for its colourfully painted beach huts. You could easily spend a day or few hours here relaxing and strolling up and down the beach, picking out your favourite beach hut. Brighton is not too far from Melbourne, so is easy to reach by public transport.
21 mins, 14km each way
25 mins on the train towards Sandringham from Flinders Street Station, 12 min walk from station to the beach
St Kilda Day Trip
St Kilda beach is even closer to Melbourne than Brighton Beach. Whilst it doesn’t have the colourful beach huts, St Kilda does boast an iconic pier. If you’re lucky you might even see penguins hanging out under the boardwalk! You will also be able to see sweeping views of the city skyline from St Kilda Pier.
St Kilda is also a vibrant beach town with plenty of shops, cafes and of course fish and chips! Whilst there, you can also visit the retro theme park, Luna Park. Here you can ride the world’s oldest continually operating rollercoaster! Entry tickets range from $20-$55 AUD, depending on the number or rides you want to experience.
12 mins, 7km each way
96 Tram or various buses, 20-35 mins
Yarra Valley Day Trip from Melbourne
You can find lots of exciting activities hidden in the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley. The region is famous fo its vineyards so if you are a wine fan, be sure to pay a visit and take a wine tour and tasting session. If chocolate is more your thing – definitely visit Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery for some heavenly chocolate! This is also a great spot for gifts, you’ll find chocolate in all shapes and sizes and you can even watch it being made.
There are also several walking routes and hikes you can enjoy in Yarra Valley. Such as the Yarra Valley Trail near Yering which passes through an old train station.
1 hour drive
Tours start from £47, including a hop on, hop off option. Click here to check prices and availability.
Dandenong Ranges National Park from Melbourne
On the outskirts of Melbourne, Dandenong Ranges National Park is a sanctuary for nature lovers. Here you will find dense forests and if you’re lucky you might spot a wallaby! Don’t miss out on the 1000 steps Kokoda Memorial Track. It is quite a climb but the views are worth it!
40 minutes, 38km
Tours start from £100
Yarra Ranges National Park Day Trip
Yarra Ranges is a little further from Melbourne that the Yarra Valley. The drive to the national park is spectacular. You will drive across the green Yarra Valley then along the forested Black Spur Drive. Make sure you stop off at Steavenson Falls, this can be a short or slightly longer walk as there are a few view points to visit.
If you want to add another activity to this day trip, you could easily add a stop to Healsville Sanctuary. The sanctuary features a variety of Australian animals.
2 hours, 120km
