Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria and the second-most populous city in Australia. It's also widely regarded as the country's culture capital! Melbourne and southeast Victoria offer a wealth of experiences for travellers seeking diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. We decided to visit Melbourne and southeast Victoria for the summer holidays and here is our itinerary for 10 days in Melbourne and Southeast Victoria.
The Itinerary - A Sneak Peek!
Following is a quick overview of the itinerary:
| Day | Key Highlights/Attractions |
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| Day 1 | • Travel to Melbourne on the XPT Train. • Visit Chinatown. |
| Day 2 | • Explore Melbourne CBD via I'm Free Tours. • Visit Melbourne Skydeck. |
| Day 3 | • Enjoy great views at Kalorama Park Lookout. • Visit upper and lower Olinda Falls. • Take a guided tour of the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. |
| Day 4 | • Visit Alfred Nicholas Garden. • Visit Sherbrooke Falls. • Enjoy your favourite movie in IMAX Melbourne, the world's largest screen! |
| Day 5 | • Hike to La La Falls. • Visit Rainforest Gallery (Donna Buang). • Enjoy spectacular views from Mt. Donna Buang observation tower. |
| Day 6 | • Visit St. Kilda beach followed by a visit to the Bathing Boxes of Brighton Beach. • Visit The Big Wave, The Big Tap and The Big Koala. • Enjoy mind-blowing illusions, puzzles and mazes at A Maze'N Things. • Explore Nobbies Ocean Discovery Centre and boardwalk in Phillip Island. Enjoy spectacular views from Southpoint and South Coast Lookouts. • Enjoy the Penguin Parade. |
| Days 7 & 8 | • Visit The Big Cows. • Visit South Point, the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. • Camp in one of the remotest hike-in campsites. |
| Day 9 | • Get on a cruise and explore Wilsons Prom from a different view. • Become a kid enjoying the squeaky music of the Squeaky Beach. • Spot Aussie wildlife by walking the Prom Wildlife walk. |
| Day 10 | • Drive back to Sydney via an unsealed winding mountain road with spectacular views and a unique driving experience. |
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Day 1 - Sydney to Melbourne
Driving from Sydney to Melbourne takes around 9 hours while it takes an hour and a half to fly between the cities. Instead of driving or flying to Melbourne from Sydney, just for a change, we took the XPT day train from Sydney Central Station and had a great time. Read our post below to learn more about this train journey.
Sydney to Melbourne on the XPT Day Train
Upon arriving at Melbourne Southern Cross Station, we checked into our hotel and after a short rest break, we headed to Chinatown for dinner.
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While the dinner itself was very delicious, the queues at the restaurants were crazy and had a very long waiting time. We aren’t sure if this is usual in Chinatown or if it was because of the summer holidays but we noticed that every single restaurant was at capacity! After a scrumptious dinner, we headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Day 2 - Melbourne CBD
After breakfast, we headed to the State Library of Victoria for a free tour of Melbourne CBD.
Though technically it's NOT free, Melbourne Sights Free Tour from I’m Free Tours is a “pay what you think it’s worth” tour that accommodates people of any budget. This walking tour commencing at 10:30AM in front of the State Library of Victoria (next to the Sir Redmond Barry statue) takes 2.5 to 3 hours with a short coffee/rest break halfway and discovers the history of Melbourne, from its Indigenous beginnings to the city it is today. The tour uncovers the stories behind Melbourne’s landmark buildings, scenic gardens, people & events and concludes outside Hamer Hall. Booking is essential and can be made via their website. I should say that the walking tour was quite informative and we strongly recommend our readers to try this tour to get to know more about Melbourne. The tour goes on rain or shine; simply, look out for the tour guide wearing a green T-shirt, outside the State Library of Victoria building.
Note: I’m Free Tours also offers a Culture Capital Tour that uncovers the secrets behind Melbourne’s famous culture and takes you through some of Melbourne’s best-hidden laneways, arcades & architecture.
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We then headed to Centre Place to have our lunch in one of its many nice restaurants.
After a delectable lunch, we took the City Circle Free Tram to explore CBD at our own pace. When it comes to free tram travel in Melbourne, you have the following options:
- Travel on any tram is free in the Free Tram Zone that extends from Queen Victoria Market to Docklands, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Melbourne CBD Free Tram Zone map can be found here.
- Otherwise, travelling on the City Circle Tram (aka 35 City Circle) is also free, where you can hop on and hop off these historic trams as often as you like.
Note: You don't need a myki card if you're only travelling in the city's Free Tram Zone or on the City Circle Tram. However, if you intend to use a myki card for travel outside these areas, we recommend visiting Public Transport Victoria's website to learn more about obtaining a myki card, loading funds, fares, and other important details.
We then went back to our hotel for a short rest break. In the evening, we visited Melbourne Skydeck, the highest observation deck in the southern hemisphere!
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Details about tickets and experiences can be found in their official website. The views from the Skydeck were spectacular and the kids really enjoyed the VR Plank Experience. We then had our dinner and headed back to our hotel.
Days 3 & 4 - Dandenong Ranges
After breakfast, we hired a rental car, checked out of our hotel and headed to the Dandenong Ranges.
Our post below provides you with a detailed 2-day itinerary to visiting the Dandenong Ranges.
2 Days in the Dandenong Ranges
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In the evening of Day 4, we drove into the city to enjoy a movie in IMAX Melbourne, home to the world’s largest cinema screen, measuring 32 metres in width by 23 metres in height! Underground discounted parking is ample and is located under Melbourne Museum.
The massive screen did provide an immersive cinematic experience and the adults and the kids alike thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Information about sessions and tickets can be found in IMAX Melbourne’s website.
Day 5 - Yarra Ranges
Nestled in the heart of Victoria, the Yarra Ranges offer a stunning blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage that is sure to captivate visitors of all ages and interests. There are also several tour operators that offer guided trips to the Yarra Ranges from Melbourne, which can be a great option if you prefer to have someone else handle the logistics.
After breakfast, we headed to La La Falls in Warburton. You can read more about visiting La La Falls in our post below:
Journey into Tranquility: Exploring the Hidden Beauty of La La Falls in Warburton
We then headed into Warburton for lunch, only to find that all restaurants were super busy during lunchtime with huge waiting time. With everyone being very hungry after the strenuous hike and not wanting to wait any longer for the food, we headed further west to Millgrove where we found Millgrove Fish and Chips and the food turned out to be super good! The shop next door sells awesome ice-creams that you must try as well!
We then headed to Rainforest Gallery (Donna Buang) on the way to Mt Donna Buang summit.
The elevated platform at the entrance of the walkway hangs 15 metres above the forest floor and allows visitors to take in the beauty of the rainforest. This 40-metre-long platform is fully accessible from the carpark.
Climb down a set of around 100 stairs from the elevated platform and you will enjoy a 20 minute walk through the magnificent rainforest on an elevated walkway. This walk through the rainforest offers multiple viewing platforms for you to pause and enjoy the sights and the sounds of the nature.
Our next and the final stop for the day was Mount Donna Buang.
The summit features several walking trails as well as an observation tower that is 21 metres high and offers spectacular panoramic views. While we didn’t have time to try the walking trails, we definitely enjoyed the views from the lookout tower.
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Here’re few other famous attractions in the region for you to explore, if you have got more time:
- Healesville Sanctuary is a popular wildlife park located in the heart of the Yarra Ranges that offers visitors the chance to see some of Australia's most iconic animals up close and personal. The sanctuary is home to a diverse array of native species, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and platypuses, as well as a variety of exotic birds and reptiles. Visitors can explore the sanctuary's lush bushland setting and enjoy daily wildlife shows and presentations.
- Cement Creek Redwood Forest is a hidden gem in the Yarra Ranges that is not to be missed. This enchanting forest features towering Californian Redwood trees that were planted in the early 20th century and have since grown to impressive heights. Visitors can stroll through the forest's peaceful trails and marvel at the majestic trees, which create a unique and awe-inspiring atmosphere. Whether you're a nature lover, photography enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Cement Creek Redwood Forest is a must-visit attraction in the Yarra Ranges.
- Go wine tasting - the Yarra Valley is renowned for its wineries and vineyards, and there are plenty of opportunities to sample local wines and gourmet cuisine.
- Take a hot air balloon ride - there's no better way to experience the stunning scenery of the Yarra Valley than from the air.
Day 6 - Melbourne Beaches and Phillip Island
After breakfast, we headed to St. Kilda beach, which is Melbourne’s most famous beach.
Both the foreshore and the waters were very busy and the views were beautiful. Due to the tight schedule, we ended up spending only an hour or so but if you’ve got more time in the region, it’s worth spending a day at the beach here!
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Brighton Beach was our next stop.
The distinctively decorated bathing boxes turn the Brighton Beach into an immediately recognisable, iconic attraction in Melbourne and is a sight to behold!
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After lunch, we headed to Phillip Island to spend the rest of the day there. You can read about our itinerary for Phillip Island in our post below:
A Day in Phillip Island
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Do note that if you're visiting St. Kilda and Brighton beaches in the morning, you won't have enough time to follow the Phillip Island itinerary provided above as it's a full day itinerary so we'd recommend you to skip the visitor centre and Chocolate factory to make up for the lost time. However, if you have got an additional day to spend in the region, we'd recommend that you spend a full day visiting St Kilda Beach & Brighton Beach and spend the next day in Phillip Island.
Days 7 & 8 - South Point, the southernmost point of the Australian mainland
We got up early in the morning and headed straight to visit South Point, the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. Our post below provides you with a detailed itinerary to visit this beautiful place located within the Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Visiting South Point - the southernmost point of the Australian mainland
Day 9 - Wilsons Promontory National Park
After breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and headed to Wilsons Promontory National Park. Known for its rugged granite mountains, white sand beaches and abundant wildlife, Wilsons Promontory (also fondly known as, The Prom) is the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland and is a must-visit place in Victoria. Read our post below to learn more about this beautiful place and what it has to offer to its visitors.
A day trip to the Wilsons Promontory National Park
After thoroughly enjoying what Wilsons Prom had to offer us, it was then time for us to leave back to Sydney. Wilsons Prom to Sydney (via Cooma) takes 11 hours approximately however we wanted to stay for the night somewhere on the way and we chose Omeo, a little Victorian town on the Great Alpine Road, the highest year-round accessible sealed road. Omeo was more of a detour for us and took an additional hour overall to reach Sydney however we strongly recommend you to try this route on your way back to Sydney, if you dare to and you will know why when you read further! The drive to Omeo itself was spectacular!
Day 10 - Melbourne to Sydney
After breakfast, we started from Omeo to Sydney and soon we entered C545 (Benambra–Corryong Road), which takes you through the gorgeous Alpine National Park on an unsealed narrow winding road for around 80 kilometres. While we had to be extra cautious navigating this unsealed narrow winding road, we thoroughly enjoyed the drive as well as the spectacular views that the road offered us! We had no issues navigating the road with a 2WD on a dry summer day however the drive would have been challenging in wet weather. This was a very unique experience that we would have missed if we had driven to Sydney straight from Wilsons Prom via Cooma.
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We safely reached Sydney in the evening and returned our rental car the next day!
A note about the 12 Apostles and the Great Ocean Road:
While many visitors to Melbourne prioritize a visit to the 12 Apostles, we wanted to fully appreciate the beauty of the Great Ocean Road and subsequently visit 12 Apostles, over the course of a day or two. However, due to time constraints, we decided to postpone our visit to the 12 Apostles for a later time. We believe that the journey is just as important as the destination, and we're looking forward to experiencing both on our next trip to the Great Ocean Road.
While many visitors to Melbourne prioritize a visit to the 12 Apostles, we wanted to fully appreciate the beauty of the Great Ocean Road and subsequently visit 12 Apostles, over the course of a day or two. However, due to time constraints, we decided to postpone our visit to the 12 Apostles for a later time. We believe that the journey is just as important as the destination, and we're looking forward to experiencing both on our next trip to the Great Ocean Road.
Our Itinerary
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