Station Pier cruise terminal serves as the gateway to Australia’s second-largest city and is located about 30 minutes from the center of Melbourne by car. But before you head straight to Melbourne CBD, spend a few hours on neighboring Melbourne Beach and explore the trendy suburb of St. Kilda.
Monopoly Dreams Melbourne brings the classic board game to life through interactive challenges and themed attractions. Wander through Mr. Monopoly’s mansion, tackle a laser maze, try carnival-style games in Monopoly City, and catch a multi-sensory 4DX cinema adventure featuring Melbourne landmarks—and that’s just for starters. Families will particularly love this unique new attraction in the heart of Melbourne Central.
Immerse yourself in the culture of the Wathaurung people, the original inhabitants and Traditional Owners of Geelong (Djilang in Wathawurrung). Narana, which means to listen and understand deeply, offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere to learn about the world’s oldest living culture and inspire reconciliation and respect.
With its mix of Italianate and Australian Regency architecture, manicured gardens, and antique furnishings, Como House offers a glimpse into aristocratic life in 19th- and 20th-century Melbourne. Dating back to 1847, the lavish home once belonged to the Armytage family and was a popular venue for high society events.
The South Wharf may be a small area south of downtown Melbourne, but it packs a punch. The area presents as a modern destination, and its roots go back to the time when tall ships filled the harbor. Cargo sheds of yesteryear have new life as hip restaurants and bars, alongside global retailers and the city’s busy convention center.
Located in Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, Mount Macedon is one of the highest peaks in the Macedon Ranges at 3,284 feet (1,001 meters). It forms a part of the 5,878-acre (2,379-hectare) Macedon Regional Park, which offers scenic hikes and drives, wonderful views, a range of wildlife, and both natural and cultural points of interest.
Located only 1.5 hours from the teeming streets of modern, fast-paced Melbourne—Phillip Island is known for its wildlife and rural, undeveloped shores. The fact that the island has remained so wild is in large part due to the Phillip Island Nature Parks—a group of five family-friendly attractions, plus conservation areas that preserve and promote the island’s wildlife wealth.
One of many wineries on the Bellarine Peninsula raising the Geelong wine region’s promising reputation, Bennetts on Bellarine combines a casual atmosphere with stunning bay views. On a large open-air deck, you can enjoy wine tastings of shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and sémillon, paired with a menu crafted around local produce and woodfired pizzas, plus occasional live music.
Also known as the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, Ballarat’s Gold Museum is an excellent resource for understanding life and culture during the Victorian Gold Rush. There is a focus on the Ballarat region, so you can conceptualize the area’s diversity before, during, and after the Great Gold Rush.
In the eastern reaches of the Yarra Valley, the Blue Lotus Water Garden has 14 acres (5.5 hectares) of gardens, lakes, and wetlands, blooming with colorful lotus flowers and water lilies. A fun attraction for the whole family, it’s also home to horticultural marvels such as the golden lotus and a 2000-year-old Japanese flower.
The Australian National Aviation Museum (also called the Moorabbin Air Museum) is home to a collection of aircraft, engines, models, uniforms, and other memorabilia from Australia’s aviation heritage. With more than 30 aircraft on display—and many allowing hands-on exploration—aviation and history enthusiasts, school groups and kids, can get to know a diverse collection of all things that take to the sky, from gliders to historical commercial aircraft, and much more.
From fashion boutiques and vintage shops to art galleries and cozy cafés, plus a vibrant nightlife scene, the Chapel Street Precinct is where locals come to eat, drink, and shop. Stretching through four different Melbourne neighborhoods, the legendary street is full of character and abuzz with activity at all hours.
Located on the waterfront, The District Docklands is an indoor/outdoor shopping destination in the Docklands suburb of Melbourne. The urban, modernized mall features a transparent all-weather roof and offers an array of retail, dining, and entertainment options alongside immersive experiences and events. Shop The District Market for fresh food vendors, or stock up on supplies with locals at the country’s first Costco.
The first vines were planted at Fergusson Winery more than half a century ago, and it’s since made a name for itself producing fine Yarra Valley wines. Today, the family-run winery sits amid 20 acres (8 hectares) of rolling vineyards, where you can enjoy wine tastings and dine on seasonal Italian cuisine at the winery restaurant.
Part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Sherbrooke Forest is known for its wildlife—its most famous resident is the lyrebird, which can mimic dozens of sounds, including other bird songs, car alarms, and camera shutters. It’s also well known for its abundance of tree ferns and mountain ash, the tallest flowering tree in the world.
From the Sydney Opera House to the Melbourne Arts Centre, the Australian Ballet puts on shows all around the country, performing everything from contemporary ballets to classics such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Founded in 1962, it’s Australia’s leading ballet company, based along Melbourne’s Southbank.
The waterfront Geelong Botanic Gardens is home to a beautiful collection of Australian and international plants and flowers. The gardens are easily accessible from many of the city’s other attractions along the foreshore and are free to enter, so you can stroll, take a picnic, and learn about the many plants, whatever your travel budget.
Melbourne’s Carlton Brewhouse is a working brewery and pub serving food and drink, including some of Australia’s best-known and loved beers. Visitors can take tours to learn more about local brewing or hang out in the beer garden with a plate of pub fare washed down by Carlton Draught, Crown Lager, or Victoria Bitter.
A small but perfectly formed and magically secluded beach, Refuge Cove forms part of Wilsons Promontory National Park, an area of wilderness that includes South Point, mainland Australia’s southernmost point. It's a lovely spot to break a hike or camp for the night with golden sands, stripy rocks, shady gum trees, and gin-clear waters.
A short hop from Melbourne, Adventure Park Geelong is Victoria’s biggest water park and a popular spot to cool off from the summer sun. The park’s 24 attractions offer something to suit all ages, from thrilling waterslides and carnival rides to a lazy river and splash pools.
In the northern reaches of the Yarra Valley, Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm is Australia’s first commercial trout farm, dating back to 1958. Sustainable and ecofriendly, the farm not only sells its produce to local markets and restaurants but is a popular family attraction, offering visitors the chance to fish, walk, and barbecue by the lakes.
Once the hideout of “gentleman” bushranger (outlaw) Harry Power, Powers Lookout offers views across the mountains and valleys of Victoria’s High Country. The Powers Lookout Scenic Reserve is home to a range of wildlife, including superb lyrebirds and wedge-tailed eagles, which you can sometimes spot from the lookout.
Looming large off the tip of Wilsons Promontory—mainland Australia’s southernmost point—this massive skull-shaped rock is reminiscent of a movie villain’s lair. Sheer granite cliffs on all sides make it nearly impossible to access, but intrepid travelers can view its mysterious mass and enormous cave from the water on a day cruise.
Stretching almost 22 miles (35 kilometers) across the Bellarine Peninsula, the Bellarine Rail Trail takes cyclists on a scenic ride from Geelong through quiet countryside to the bayside town of Queenscliff. This bike trail follows the region’s historic train line, providing a cycling route that’s suitable for all levels of riders, including beginners and families looking to avoid riding on roads.
Geelong’s 1850s Cunningham Pier has had many uses throughout the years, including as a railway line, a naval depot, an event center, and a dancefloor. Nowadays, it contains cafés, restaurants, and bars, and plays a role in many of Geelong’s large public events. Offering great views across Corio Bay and the foreshore, Cunningham Pier is a must-visit destination in Geelong.
