We’ll do the planning, so you can do the holidaying. Unsure what to get up to in Melbourne, or how to tackle one of Victoria’s brilliant self-drive routes? Dip into our suggested itineraries below…
Itinerary One: Melbourne
© Federation Square, Melbourne
Itinerary One: Melbourne
Day one
* Breakfast at Bowery by Williamsburg in the CBD * Hidden Secrets Tours * Lunch at Supernormal * Exhibition at the NGV * Cakes and coffee at Duke’s Coffee Roasters * Stroll in the Royal Botanic Garden * Dinner at Tonka * Sleep at Ovolo Laneways
Day two
* Breakfast at Cumulus Inc * Go for a stroll around Fed Square * Explore the laneways and their boutiques * See an exhibition at ACMI * Visit the Melbourne Museum
* Grab sushi from Sushi Monger * Hop on the free City Circle Tram and listen to the audio commentary * Hop off at Southbank and whiz up the Eureka Tower * Cocktails at Lui Bar
* Dinner at Vue de Monde * Sleep at Ovolo Laneways
Day three
* Breakfast at Mammoth * Check into Coppersmith * Take a picnic to Albert Park Lake or have lunch in beachy St Kilda * Browse South Melbourne’s boutiques * Grab a bite to eat at South Melbourne Market * Cocktails at Hercules Morse * Dinner at Tempura Hajime or the Roving Marrow * Sleep at Coppersmith
Day four
* Head to Fitzroy for breakfast at Hammer & Tong * Wander around Gertrude Street and Brunswick Street * Admire the street art and shops * Have a vegan lunch at Smith & Daughters * Nip into one of the art galleries * Splash around Fitzroy Pool if it’s hot * Have dinner (and absinthe?) at Le Bon Ton in Collingwood * Sleep at Coppersmith
Day five
* Breakfast in South Melbourne * Walk to Carlisle Street, then hop on a tram up Chapel Street • Explore fun-loving Prahran and Windsor * Browse the shops on Chapel Street * Have lunch at Tokyo Tina * Hop on a tram to the CBD * Have cocktails on the rooftop of Curtin House * Stay for dinner at Cookie * Sleep at Coppersmith
Itinerary Two: The Great Southern Touring Route
© Gibsons Beach, Great Ocean Road
Itinerary Two: The Great Southern Touring Route
Leg one: Melbourne to Cape Otway
* Breakfast in Melbourne * Drive to Torquay * Visit Surfworld * Have a surf lesson
* Stroll on Bells Beach • Explore Anglesea and Lorne * Have a meal at Brae * Sleep at Brae * Have brunch at Wye River General Store and Café * Go koala-spotting at Kennett River
* Stretch your legs at Apollo Bay * Drive to Cape Otway
Leg two: Otway to Warrnambool
* Go on the Otway Fly Treetop Walk • Drive to Gibson Steps • Admire the 12 Apostles
• Go on a helicopter tour • Visit Warrnambool • Scout for whales on Logan’s Beach
* Explore Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve • Drive to Port Fairy • Eat at Merrijig Inn or Coffin Sally • Stay at Drift House
Leg three: Warrnambool to the Grampians
* Breakfast in Port Fairy • Drive to the Grampians * Explore the Grampians National Park
* Go on a walk around MacKenzie Falls • Visit Halls Gap * Explore Brambuk Cultural Centre * Eat at Royal Mail Hotel • Climb Mount Sturgeon or Mount Abrupt • Stay at Royal Mail Hotel
Leg four: the Grampians to Ballarat
* Breakfast at Royal Mail • Drive to Ballarat • Stay at Craig’s Royal Hotel • Visit Sovereign Hill • Explore Ballarat Wildlife Park • Visit Daylesford • Have dinner at Lake House • Stay at Lake House
Leg five: the Grampians to Melbourne
* Breakfast at Lake House * Drive to Hepburn Springs • Drive to Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
• Drive back to Melbourne: an hour and 20 minutes away
Itinerary Three: The Bays and Surf Coast Touring Route
© Ultimate Penguin tour, Phillip Island Nature Park
Itinerary Three: The Bays and Surf Coast Touring Route
Leg one: Melbourne to Phillip Island
* Breakfast in Melbourne • Visit the Nobbies Centre * Take a Wild Oceans EcoBoat to Seal Rocks * Visit the Koala Conservation Centre * Walk to Pyramid Rock or Cape Woolamai • Laze on Cowes or Ventnor Beach • Watch the Penguin Parade • Stay at Glen Isla House or Oak Tree Lodge
Leg two: Phillip Island to Mornington Peninsula
* Breakfast at Madcowes Cafe • Visit Rye • Have a lesson with Peninsula Stand Up Paddle
• Try spear-fishing or kayaking with Extreme Watersports • Have lunch at Montalto in Red Hill • Go out on a boat with Polperro Dolphin Swims • Stay at Big Blue Backyard • Splash around Peninsula Hot Springs
Leg three: Mornington Peninsula to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula
• Take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff • Visit Point Lonsdale or Barwon Heads • Have a memorable meal at Jack Rabbit Vineyard • Embark on the Bellarine Taste Trail • Try seafood from Advance Mussel Supply • Take a tour with South Bay Eco Adventures
Leg four: Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula to Torquay
* Explore Geelong • Visit the Gaol and Cunningham Pier • Drive to Torquay • Visit Surfworld • Buy beachwear from Quiksilver or Rip Curl • Have a surf lesson with Go Ride A Wave
Leg five: Surf Coast to Melbourne
• Head back to Melbourne from Torquay via the Surf Coast Highway and M1: an hour and 15 minutes’ drive
Itinerary Four: The Gippsland Coastal Discovery Touring Route
© Gippsland Coastal Discovery
Itinerary Four: The Gippsland Coastal Discovery Touring Route
Leg one: Melbourne to Gippsland (Walhalla and Lakes Entrance)
* Breakfast in Melbourne * Stop off at Walhalla and go on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway
* In Paynseville, look out for dolphins * Take the ferry to Raymond Island
* Stroll on Ninety Mile Beach * Go fishing in Lakes Entrance * Have a picnic in Lakes National Park * Scout for whales * Go on a boat trip with Lonsdale Eco Cruise * Eat at Metung Hotel
Leg two: Gippsland (Lakes Entrance to Wilsons Promontory)
* Breakfast in Lakes Entrance • Explore Tarra-Bulga National Park * Stop off in Foster, Fish Creek or Yanakie • Camp at Tidal River or book a Wilderness Retreat * Visit Squeaky Beach • Allocate three or four days for the Great Prom Walk
Leg three: Wilsons Promontory to Phillip Island
* Breakfast in Fish Creek or Meeniyan • Take the Inverloch-Cape Peterson Road * Have a meal at Kilcunda General Store • Visit the Nobbies Centre • Go on a Wild Oceans EcoBoat to Seal Rocks • Pay a trip to the Koala Conservation Centre • Walk from Pyramid Rock to Cape Woolamai • Have a meal in Cowes * Laze on Smiths Beach • See the Penguin Parade • Stay at Glen Isla House or Oak Tree Lodge
Leg four: Phillip Island to Melbourne
• Make the drive back to Melbourne: an hour and 45 minutes away
Itinerary Five: South East Touring Route
Itinerary Five: South East Touring Route
Leg one: Melbourne to Yarra Valley
* Breakfast in Melbourne * Stay at Yering Gorge Valley Cottages * Visit Balgownie Estate * Visit TarraWarra * Visit Punt Road Winery * Stay at Chateau Yering * Visit Healesville Sanctuary
Leg two: Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges to Phillip Island
* Have breakfast on a hot air balloon or at a winery * Take a trip on Puffing Billy in the Dandenong Ranges * Picnic in Emerald Lake Park or eat at the Piggery Café * Helicopter ride over Phillip Island or boat trip to Seal Rocks * Dinner in Cowes * Watch the Penguin Parade • Stay at Oak Tree Lodge or Glen Isla House
Leg three: Phillip Island to Mornington Peninsula
* Breakfast on Phillip Island • Visit Red Hill and Main Ridge wineries * Have a winery lunch at Montalto * See a beach sunset at Dromana, Rosebud or Rye * Visit the Moonlit Sanctuary
* Stay at Big Blue Backyard
Leg four: Mornington Peninsula
* Steam in the Peninsula Hot Springs * Go for a dolphin swim with Polperro Dolphin Swims in Sorrento * Stay at Big Blue Backyard
Leg five: Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne, or further afield
* Take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff for more adventures (the Great Ocean Road or the Grampians, perhaps?) or head back to Melbourne, an hour away
