Melbourne isn’t known just for its world-class coffee or the hipster graffiti walls. If you’ve been to Melbourne, you’ll know that no one goes Melbourne without road trips (or day trips for those who prefer to not drive). Nah, you won’t have to drive all the way to Sydney for the road trip to be epic, here are FIVE simple road trip ideas for your next Melbourne trip!
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#1. Great Ocean Road
There’s no way anyone can visit Melbourne WITHOUT setting aside some time for Great Ocean Road. Though the roads are a little windy, it’s still a relatively simple drive because everyone’s travelling at pretty slow speed (to enjoy the great view). So don’t worry about looking like a noob driver!
You probably can’t go very far in a day but it’s enough for you to have a nice lunch at Anglesea (there are plenty of restaurants and you can take a stroll along the beach after your meal) and loads of time at the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
Tip: Aim to set off by 7am so you can start your drive back before it turns dark.
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#2. Yarra Valley
I know Yarra Valley is known for its wineries but do you know that it’s a really beautiful place too? It’s the kind of place that can immediately put your heart at ease and I certainly wouldn’t mind coming back home to this view everyday.
We visited the Rayners Orchard and their trailer ride / fruit tasting tour was the highlight of the day! We were highly encouraged to pluck our own fruits (the farmer would bring you around the orchard to try 8 different types of fruits) and if you like, you can pack a bag home! The tour costs AUD 28 but it’s worth every single cent.
Of course, we didn’t skip the wineries. For a crazy instagram-worthy vineyard view, you must have Zonzo Estate in your list. Their authentic handmade italian pasta is a huge plus.
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#3. Phillip Island
In short, you must spend a day at Phillip Island if koalas, kangaroos and penguins are on your must-see list. It’s a little difficult to spot the koalas but it’s easy to spot the crowd surrounding the koala 😉 In case you are wondering where we spotted the koala above, it’s Maru Koala and Animal Park! Admission costs AUD 20 for adults and they have a kangaroo park for you to feed the kangaroos too.
So hyped to manage to see these penguins! You can get your tickets for the Penguin Parade online but you have to arrive early in order to get the “best” view. We were a little late so we made do with the sidewalk (just wait along the railing on the right hand side). If you are on the first row like us, you’ll be much closer to the penguins!
Tip: Bring along a poncho because the weather can be quite unpredictable.
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#4. Brighton Beach
I’m sure you’ve seen these colorful bathing boxes on people’s Instagram or Facebook at least 5 times. Wish you can have a photo with these bathing boxes too? You’ll be happy to know that they are right here in Melbourne and is less than an hour drive away from Melbourne city!
Tip: Many tourists would be hanging around the first few bathing boxes (they have limited time at each attraction) so walk further down to avoid the crowd. You can have the whole bathing box to yourself without “queuing” to take a photo.
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#5. Dandenong Ranges / Puffing Billy Railway
You know you want to get on this train too right! Puffing BIlly is a century old steam train (yes, you’ll hear the CHOOCHOO when it departs from the station) and is still in a really good shape. The most interesting thing about the ride is, you are highly encouraged to sit on the railing with your feet dangling! A return ticket costs AUD 57 and you should really reserve them online because we saw a lot of tour agencies there and they fill up the cabins really quickly!
The Puffing BIlly Railway station is within the Dandenong Ranges, a mountainous area that offers yet another side of Australia. Filled with super tall eucalyptus trees, there are actually a lot of quaint cafes here for your tea/lunch! Miss Marple Tearoom will be on your way to Puffing Billy railway station and you’ll love their scones.
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Apart from the busy traffic into Melbourne city during peak hours, it’s relatively easy to travel around in a car! Of course, there are some traffic rules you’ll have to read up on – especially hook turns, where you have to keep left to turn right.
Have lots of fun and before you start your road trip, how about some of the best coffee in Melbourne to begin your day? 😉
