Top Victoria Day Trips

Travelers short on time in the Melbourne area don't need to miss out on one of Australia's greatest coastal road trips. This Great Ocean Road day tour includes many of the route's highlights, including the Twelve Apostles, Apollo Bay, and London Bridge. And, because this itinerary is the reverse of what many travelers take, you'll be skipping the worst of the crowds.

Visit the wineries in the Yarra Valley without having to drive yourself on this hop-on hop-off bus service from Melbourne. The valley is rich in wineries, and it’s up to you to choose which ones to visit—up to four—without having to worry about driving. Have as many tastings as you want (at your own expense), knowing you have a driver to take you to the next one, and to get you back to Melbourne safely. Note: buses loop around every hour and some venues might require bookings.

Discover the beauty of the Great Ocean Road on this full-day adventure tour from Melbourne. As you cruise along the coast in search of the best lookout spots—like the 12 Apostles—keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the wild. You’ll also go on a guided walk through a forest with some of the tallest trees in the world, stop for a swim at Apollo Bay, and visit Loch Ard Gorge.

Spend a full day exploring the landmarks of the Great Ocean Road. Watch the sunset at the famous Twelve Apostles rock formation, pass the Otway Ranges and spot koalas, explore landmarks in Port Campbell National Park and more. Known as one of Australia's most beautiful drives and one of Victoria's most popular destinations, the Great Ocean Road offers great photo ops of coastal scenery, picturesque seaside towns and pristine wilderness—a must-do excursion from Melbourne.

Discover Australia's Great Ocean Road—where coastal views and lush rainforests meet—on this full-day adventure from Melbourne. Heading out from the urban landscape of the city, keep your eyes peeled for koalas, walk through rainforests, and visit local landmarks like the Memorial Arch. A local guide is on-hand to fill you in on the area's history—something many travelers miss out on. Once you've refueled with lunch (own expense) in the beautiful town of Apollo Bay, marvel at the Twelve Apostles (a set of giant limestone stacks), and explore other panoramic views, including the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge.

The Great Ocean Road's main stops draw crowds by midday, so timing your visit to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge around the buses takes local know-how. Ride it in reverse in a small group instead, reaching the headline sights ahead of the crowds with more time at each. Hotel pickup from Melbourne's CBD and Southbank sorts the start, so you spend the day looking rather than driving.

Explore the culinary delights of the Yarra Valley on this group tour from Melbourne, highlighting the region’s wine, gin, and chocolate. Your driver navigates the course, so you can sit back in your air-conditioned vehicle as you ride from place to place. There are a few options to choose from, depending on your preference. Note that your alcohol is included in the price, but other food products are up to you.

Combine visits to two prominent nature attractions outside Melbourne without having to organize your own transport with this full-day shared tour to Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula. Drive to the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park to see its broad range of Australian wildlife. Then head to Phillip Island for the evening penguin parade, stopping at several coastal spots along the way.

Visitors often miss some of Melbourne’s best attractions because they don’t know how to reach the city's outer locations. This full-day tour makes visiting easy by handling the transport for you. Travel from the city out to the Dandenong Ranges to ride the famous Puffing Billy steam train, then go see all sorts of native Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary.

See a side of Melbourne that way too many tourists don’t get to see, and immerse yourself in a side of Australia’s history that you don’t want to miss. Ride the Puffing Billy Railway, which first opened back in 1900, with your legs dangling over the open carriages and soak up the lush rainforest views that you don’t get anywhere else.

See the best of Phillip Island on this group tour from Melbourne, where all the details are taken care of so you just need to relax and take in the sites. Keep your eyes peeled for kangaroos, koalas, and the adorable tiny penguins who populate the island. Make sure your cameras are charged for photos at beautiful viewpoints, like at Cowes, and more.

Many Melbourne highlights, such as Puffing Billy and the penguins of Phillip Island, are far from the city and tricky to visit on your own. But this seamless full-day tour makes it easy for you to go. Relax as the bus takes you out to the Dandenong Ranges and down to the coast while your guide arranges your steam train tickets and the timing to see the adorable penguin parade.

Enjoy the beautiful scenery and delicious wines of the Yarra Valley on this small-group, half-day tour from Melbourne. Leave the organizing to someone else and relax as you visit three of the area's best boutique wineries—Helen & Joey Estate, Payten and Jones, and Soumah—for tours and tastings. Round-trip transfers are included for a seamless experience, and you can even upgrade your day with an optional gin tasting experience.

Travelers short on time can still experience one of Melbourne’s best day trips with this afternoon tour to Phillip Island. After a free morning, travel in the early afternoon to Phillip Island, with time for some sightseeing before watching the famous penguin parade at sunset. For people not sure what to do in the morning, you can choose to include a morning trip to ride the Puffing Billy steam train.

There are plenty of great Yarra Valley wine tours to choose from, but some of them feel a lot more rushed than others. With this tour, you move at a chilled-out pace, checking out three specially selected wineries with the option to indulge in a cheese platter or charcuterie at one of the stops to fuel up. Note that lunch is not included on this tour.

Reaching the Puffing Billy railway in the Dandenong Ranges takes some sorting from central Melbourne, especially without a car. Ride out with transport arranged, then board the heritage steam train through the ranges, with the open-sided carriages that the line is known for. At the Lakeside Visitor Centre, walk around Emerald Lake Park and stop for food (own expense) before returning.

Getting out of Melbourne and down to Philip Island takes a couple of hours at the wheel, and doesn’t leave much opportunity to take in the sights en route. Leave the driving to a guide and check off two wildlife encounters in just one day as you travel there by coach. Watch the “penguin parade”—fairy penguins making their way to their burrows—from an exclusive viewing platform, and visit the Phillip Island Koala Reserve to see the Australian marsupial up close.

Cross Melbourne with ease as you check off the highlights in a matter of hours—a time-efficient option for travelers with a limited stay in the city. From the Victorian-era Fitzroy Gardens to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), bustling Chinatown, and the colorful Brighton Bathing Boxes—see plenty without any of the hassle of itinerary planning, all while a guide fills in the details.

Spend the day indulging your love of good food, good wine, and good times on this social day trip to the Yarra Valley. The flexible itinerary is designed to split up the group at certain points to tailor the tour to your tastes. Visit multiple venues—from wineries, breweries, cider houses, gin distilleries, or chocolate factories—with all tastings included. Enjoy a mix of hidden gems and some well-known spots, plus a choice of two restaurants to purchase lunch.

Exploring the Great Ocean Road in one day can be overwhelming, but this group tour takes you straight from the city center to attractions like Loch Ard Gorge, the Twelve Apostles, the Razorback rock formation, and the town of Apollo Bay, where lunch is at your own expense. This National Heritage-listed road promises incredible sea views from your comfortable coach seat.

Experience the scenic Yarra Valley on the Puffing Billy train. This full-day trip takes you through the Dandenong Ranges to Emerald Lake, the Healesville Sanctuary Zoo, and the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. At the last stop you can enjoy free samples and chocolate shopping. This trip starts and ends at The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne.

Discover some of Australia’s most photographed landscapes on this full-day tour of the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne. Let someone else handle the driving and make plenty of view and rest stops, spot wild koalas along the way, and browse the shops in seaside towns like Apollo Bay. Enjoy a walk through Great Otway National Park, learn how the Shipwreck Coast earned its name, and marvel at the 12 Apostles and the pristine Loch Ard Gorge.

Experience the Great Ocean Road in a relaxed small group, with an expert local guide bringing the journey to life through stories, local knowledge and insights along the way. Travel from Melbourne in comfort and discover some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastal scenery, from the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge to the rainforest of Great Otway National Park, with opportunities to spot wild koalas along the route.