Five days around Melbourne
This is a guide to a visitor wanting to experience the “must see” places in the day trip area from Melbourne. This plan is a round trip Melbourne to Melbourne in the specified five days. This article came about by a request for a trip of this length. The specifics are :-
- A late evening arrival in Melbourne.
- An early morning departure from Melbourne
- A desire to see Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs, Philip Island, Philip Island,the Mornington Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road.
City of Melbourne
This needs planning for each individual’s personal taste. Any City of over a million people has many points of interest. The city centre has a complimentary tram circuit especially for visitors and a wide choice of commercial tours.
Melbourne to Cowes
This is a long day as it includes the Yarra Valley. The driving time is four hours so booked accommodation in Cowes makes life manageable. This map covers this leg and the trip from Cowes to the Sorrento Queenscliff Ferry, please give it time to load.
Yarra Valley Dandenong Ranges
Make Healsville and the Sanctuary your endpoint after driving over Mt Dandenong. Beside the hello to wallabies at the sanctuary select your own interest activities from wineries, restaurants, gardens and craft.
Philip Island
The attraction is the penguins, an evening visit wearing mandatory warm clothes is not only recommended but essential.
Cowes to Torquay
This includes the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff after a trip through the Mornington Peninsula.
Cowes to Sorrento including Mornington Peninsula
This is the second wine growing region of this journey. There are some superb wineries on the peninsula. Melbourne’s camping Christmas holiday region runs from Frankston to Sorrento. A visit to Point Neapean if time permits is also interesting.
Queenscliff to Torquay including the Bellarine
The Ferry crossing cuts out great swathes of suburban Melbourne and is an experience in its own right. If you are lucky you will see Dolphins at play.
If you missed the Port Philip Heads on the eastern side of the bay, then Point Lonsdale is a wonderful way to see shipping coming ad going through the rip. From there to select your own points of interest and eventually go through Ocean Grove to Barwon Heads and from there to Torquay.
This is the map for the rest of the journey
The Great Ocean Road
There are two parts to this iconic drive – Torquay to Apollo Bay – a spectacular coastal drive; and then after Apollo Bay the Apostles. Better come soon as the twelve have shrunk to fewer yet still a prime attraction. Some tips on planning are here
Torquay to Apollo Bay
Bells Beach, winkipop, and other surf activities start this spectacular drive, through a number of small towns. Not to be missed are the Kangaroos acting as caddies at the Anglesea Golf club. Lorne especially Teddy’s lookout. Look at the attractions via this map.
Apollo Bay to the Apostles
It time permits a visit to the Cape Otway lighthouse, Johanna where competition surfing is held if Bells doesn’t cut the mustard. A walk to the Apostles lookout is one way to see them; a helicopter ride is another.
Home James and don’t spare the horses
The inland route back to Melbourne, unless you want to retrace the Great Ocean Road from West to East, is the quickest way back. Camperdown, and Colac are two towns for refreshments on that part of the drive,
Some Useful Links
Accommodation
Melbourne
Consider the Windsor and Sebel Downtown, The Somerset at Gordon House in the middle of Chinatown, and within walking distance of the Skybus the Vibe Hotel is a good place to stay.
You will find a list of Central Melbourne accommodation by following this link selectig your date and pressing the GO button
Cowes
The main town on the island has lots of accommodation but will be heavily booked in summer January. Select your place to stay at this link.
Torquay
You can find your place to stay by selecting a property from this page or go direct to availability here. Maroo Park Cottages are wheelchair friendly.
Apollo Bay
Choose your features in accommodation here, or go direct to availability.
Attractions
The Sanctuary Healsville
Playtpus – a great place to see them, and also meet less difficult customers.
The Penguin Parade
Make sure you don’t freeze it can be very cold, even in summer. Find out more about it here.
Sorrento Queenscliff Ferry
Keep a lookout for Dolphins on the crossing. Timetables and Fares are here.
Airport Logistics
Car hire companies charge like wounded bulls for airport pickup and delivery. They all do it and they unfortunately do it legally under very very fine print! So consider a city pick up and delivery, at least that doesn’t support their abusive charge.
Transfer to / from Hotel
Sky Bus
This is a frequent and 24/7 service that includes “The Skybus Hotel Shuttle” that operates during the following hours :
Monday to Friday: 0600 – 2130; Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 0730 – 1730
More details at this site This is substantially less costly than a taxi.
