More Things to Do around Melbourne
Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles
If you can take only one tour while you are in Melbourne then a Great Ocean Road Tour would be it. The Great Ocean Road starts about an hours drive from Melbourne and is 240 klm in length. The No. 1 attraction along the road is the 12 Apostles, a series of limestone pillars, just past Port Campbell. These amazing formations have been formed by erosion on the sea cliffs and this erosion is continuing with only 8 of the Apostles still standing. The relentless seas help this area earn the name ‘Shipwreck Coast’, over 600 ships have sunk in this area with less than one third of them ever found. Don’t think the Great Ocean Road is just the 12 Apostles, along the way you will pass Bells Beach (world famous for surfing), The Great Otway National Park and Lorne (10 waterfalls within 10 minutes). Tours normally allow time for wildlife spotting with kangaroos and birds most common, and although they maybe slow moving you will need the help of your keen eyed tour guide to spot the koalas. Most Great Ocean Road Tours leave around 7am and return after 8.30pm at night and travel from Torquay to Allansford. There are lots of other options:
- Early departure tours which leave and return around an hour earlier
- Reverse direction tours meaning you miss most of the crowds, but have the longer drive at the start of your day.
- Sunset tours, most of these tours depart mid morning and do not return till after 11 pm, well worth it to see the sunset on the 12 Apostles.
- Extended tours, because you have more time to explore.
If you need more information on the Great Ocean Road read our Ultimate Guide here.
The Yarra Valley
Take a wine tour to the Yarra Valley and you will understand why Victoria’s first wine growing region is now recognised as Australia’s premier cool climate wine region. There was a period of around 40 years from the 1920’s where the grape vines were all turned into grazing pastures. Over the past 50 years grapes have returned to the Yarra Valley and there are now over 80 wineries producing world class wines.
Being just an hour from Melbourne you can easily sample the best wines Yarra Valley has to offer in a single day. We always recommend a guided tour, as they will take away the problems of deciding which winery to visit as well as giving you the freedom to sample a few wines before making any purchases.
There is more to the Yarra Valley than wine and some tours include cheeses & chocolates, beer & cider tours or for that surreal early morning experience drift across the vineyards in a hot air balloon.
Mornington Peninsula
A tour to the Mornington Peninsula is like taking a sea change break an hour from Melbourne. If you are looking to get away from Melbourne city then Mornington Peninsula has a bit of everything in a nice understated way. Wineries, gourmet foods, day spas and a little adventure all vie for your attention.
Although known for its Pinot Noirs the cool climate wineries also produce lovely Chardonnays and Pinot Gris. Wine production in the area has been a stop start affair till the late 1970’s and since then has grown to around 200 wineries, with local wine tours taking in a selection of wineries.
Strawberries and chocolates go together everywhere including on tours of the Mornington Peninsula, but few places can boast a dairy specialising in goat’s cheese (Main Ridge).
If it is a day of pampering you desire then the Mornington Peninsula will indulge you with a set of Hot Springs. The perfect way to unwind at the start of your holiday or prepare for returning to work at the end.
For some people adventure is more the go and Mornington Peninsula has plenty of adventure on tap. Go ziplining through the trees and get lost in a garden maze, swim with dragons (ok they’re sea dragons) or maybe you would prefer an adventure on the water?
Phillip Island
Phillip Island is about 100 klm from Melbourne and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The two main reasons people flock to Phillip Island seem in direct contrast, a motorsports complex and the island’s wildlife, more specifically, its colonies of penguins.
Every evening the fairy penguins come ashore to roost for the night and with them come the tourists to watch this evening spectacle. It is not just the penguins that call the island home there is a colony of sea lions and the island is popular for whale watching in season.
Dandenong Ranges
Tour to the Dandenong Ranges and be enthralled by the charm of an area that has maintained the feel of bygone era. The focus is very much family fun with a wildlife park and steam train the most popular attractions.
No trip to the Dandenong Ranges would be complete without a ride on the Puffing Billy Steam Train. It is not just the children that enjoy the thrill of this historic steam train as it covers the 24 Kilometers from Belgrave to Gembrook across old wooden bridges, through eucalypt forests and with views across Port Phillip Bay.
If it Australian Wildlife you want to see then visit Healesville Sanctuary, which specialises in native Australian animals in natural settings. As well as koalas and dingos they even have a platypus breeding program. Combine this with a steam train ride for a fantastic family day.
Want to find out more about Melbourne? See our Melbourne Travel Guide. Including our favourite tours, latest specials, travel information and plenty more.
Ride a Tram
Melbourne’s Tram network has been in operation since 1884, and as well as a tourist must do they are also a very convenient way to get around the city. Added to that you can ride a tram within the CDB area for free, see the map of the free tram zone here. Many Melbourne Tours leave from St Paul’s Cathedral, which is near the Federation Square tram stop, giving you another excuse to ride a tram.
At night specialty restaurant trams run and you can combine fine dining with a ride on a restored colonial tramcar.
Please note that as of Jan 2019 the Colonial Tramcar is undergoing extended maintenance.
Melbourne’s Lanes and Arcades
Melbourne’s network of lanes and arcades provide a historic insight into the design of the city. The pattern was laid out in the late 1830’s with wide streets to accommodate the bullock carts of the day and a grid of service lanes behind. Over the years some of the lanes were roofed in, to become the arcades. Here you will find bars and cafes, small art galleries and a range of retailers who might be out of place on main street. The popularity of the area has seen an increase in traditional retailers moving in
Hosier Lane is a great place to go for urban art, and Centre Place is where you will find the graffiti and street art used often to promote the Lanes and Arcades.The multitude of ‘Corporation’ Lanes are slowly being renamed to help tourists navigate the area and recognise some icons of Melbourne. Of course the best way to learn all about the history of the Lanes and Arcades and to be guided around is on an organised tour.
If the bargains of outlet shopping are more your style then there is also a tour just for that.
Melbourne Sporting Events
Melbourne is a sporting mad city, so much so that they even invented their own version of football. If you are in Melbourne during AFL season don’t miss the opportunity to watch this fast paced game. But it is not just their home grown game that attracts the fans.
Melbourne also hosts Australia’s round of the Formula 1 championship, a Grand Slam Tennis round and International cricket. The city also houses the National sports museum.
With so much sport on offer, take a guided sports tour for the inside running on how Melbourne hosts all these amazing events.
Fine Dining in Melbourne
For many visitors to Melbourne their dining experience is limited to the excellent restaurants and bars that line Southbank. Close proximity to the casino, bustling city atmosphere and a range of cuisines has earned Southbank an enviable reputation.
Southbank only scratches the surface of dining experiences in Melbourne. Chinatown and Hawkers Hall vie for those seeking an authentic Asian experience, where as Lygon St in Carlton has a strong Italian influence.
With restaurants such as Attica and Vue de monde rating regularly as some of the best in Australia it is little wonder the choice of restaurant for your evening meal while in Melbourne is always a hotly debated topic.
Melbourne does lay claim to have had Australia’s first espresso machine, whether this is true or not the city’s multicultural influence has seen a vibrant cafe culture emerge. From Lygon and Brunswick streets to the Lanes and Arcades of the CBD coffee pulses through Melbourne’s veins.
Look for the popular cafes and if you have to wait take the time to people watch as the most popular cafes attracted the most popular people.
