Summer is here and the school holidays have wrapped up, so it’s time to plan some quick escapes from the city! Melbourne is a great starting point for exploring Victoria – with some of the best scenic places in the state just a short trip away. We’ve picked four of the best day trip destinations to inspire your next adventure.
Dandenong Ranges
Ideal for: A quick and easy trip
Distance from Melbourne CBD: 30 kilometres
Activities: Hiking, picnics, train-rides
Want a day out without spending the whole day in the car? Then the Dandenong Ranges, at just 30 kilometres from the CBD, is your ideal easy day-trip destination. The Dandenongs are one of Melbourne’s best hidden secrets, with tall forests of mountain ash and incredible green scenery that will have you feeling much further from home. The winding roads of the Dandenong Ranges National Park offer some of the most enjoyable scenic driving experiences Victoria has to offer.
Escape from the summer heat with a trip to one (or more!) of the stunning gardens within the park: from the incredible collection of over 15,000 rhododendrons at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens to the perfect picnic spots and water features offered by the Alfred Nicholas and nearby George Tindale Gardens. If an active day out is on the agenda, head for the Kokoda Track Memorial Work for 1,000 steps over a 3-kilometre round trek that will test your fitness levels as you ascend through a cool valley through tree ferns and manna gums. Round out your adventure in the Dandenongs with a trip on the iconic 100-year-old steam train known as Puffing Billy – there’s even special trips for the Thomas the Tank Engine enthusiasts of the family!
Want some more road trip inspiration? Discover the ultimate Yarra Valley self-drive itinerary!
Hanging Rock
Ideal for: A taste of the great outdoors
Distance from Melbourne CBD: 75 kilometres
Activities: Scenic driving, hiking, mountain biking
It takes under an hour on the Calder Freeway from Melbourne to arrive at the stunning Hanging Rock, leaving you plenty of time to stretch your legs and enjoy the spectacular scenery and rare rock formations of the Macedon Ranges. There’s walking trails, picnic spots and lots to learn at the Hanging Rock Discovery Centre. The backdrop for Peter Weir’s lauded film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’, the site is also a popular music venue. Time your road trip to coincide with a local market or horse race day.
Extend your drive and enjoy the winding roads leading to Mount Macedon and the Macedon Regional Park for great scenery and cool green surrounds. Stop in at the town of Macedon on your way back down to pick up a bottle of locally distilled artisan gin and enjoy the tasty local produce on offer.
Mornington Peninsula
Ideal for: A day away at the seaside (or a long weekend)
Distance from Melbourne CBD: 108 kilometres to Sorrento
Activities: Beaches, food, wine, art
Perfect for a romantic road trip or a family adventure, the Mornington Peninsula is a destination that has something for everyone. For those with an interest in art, stretch your legs about an hour east of Melbourne at the McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery at Langwarrin before continuing to the terrific Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery in Mornington. You’ll be spoilt for food choices along the way, with many of the region’s acclaimed wineries also hosting some of the most delicious food experiences Victoria has to offer.
Stop for a stroll along the beach at Mount Martha to take in the iconic rainbow-coloured bathing boxes before heading for the Peninsula Hot Springs to unwind in the natural geothermal waters. Or continue on to Sorrento to swim with wild dolphins! And if you’re keen to take in more than one of best road trips from Melbourne, enjoy the car ferry trip to the pretty seaside town of Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula before heading back to Melbourne. There’s so many options to explore – we’d recommend stretching this one out to a long weekend!
Ballarat
Ideal for: A trip back in time
Distance from Melbourne CBD: 110 kilometres
Activities: Sovereign Hill, wineries, local produce
Ballarat offers a great day out for families and is just an hour and fifteen minutes west of Melbourne. Enjoy the drive up the Western Highway before panning for gold at Sovereign Hill, a living museum goldfields town that recreates the Gold Rush period of the 1850s. Sovereign Hill has been named Australia’s ‘best major tourist attraction’ no fewer than four times, and you’ll understand why after you’ve seen costumed characters bring shops, hotels, theatre, school, factories and gold diggings to life! Watch skilled craftsmen at work in the blacksmith’s forge, the candleworks, the confectionery factory (try the raspberry drops!), and more. If you’ve got an extra day up your sleeve, stay into the evening and experience the brand new multi-million dollar sound and light show, ‘Aura’.
If wineries are more your style, take a drive through the nearby Pyrenees Wine Region, known for its shiraz and cabernet-sauvignon. With over 20 cellar doors within easy reach, and 5 wineries boasting 5-star reviews in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion, the Pyrenees have plenty to offer those with a taste for local produce.
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Which road trip tops your list? Share your dream road trip from Melbourne with us on our Facebook page and tell us all about your adventures next time you’re in for a service.
Plus, we’ve got plenty more itineraries to check out, including the ultimate Melbourne to Merimbula road trip!
