Visiting Melbourne on an extended trip and looking for the best day trips from Melbourne? You’re in the right place, this article explores a variety of day trip options from Melbourne, Victoria.
From the bayside city of Geelong to the historic and natural offerings of Werribee, this post highlights the distinct features and attractions of each destination.
Other places to visit include Queenscliff known for its Victorian-era heritage, the mineral springs in Daylesford, the artistic treasures of Castlemaine, and of course, the world-famous Great Ocean Road.
So get ready for a fun-filled trip to Melbourne’s best bucket list day trip destinations.
Table of Contents
1. Geelong
One of the easiest day trips from Melbourne is to Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city. This bayside town is just an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, and it takes the same amount of time to travel by public transport.
Trains leave every 30 minutes from Southern Cross Station and arrive at Geelong Station an hour later. Alternatively, you can hop on board the Port Phillip Ferry at the Docklands for a relaxing trip across the bay to the Geelong Waterfront.
The city has a lot to offer visitors including hip restaurants and bars, hidden laneways, cool street art, and a stunning waterfront to explore.
Start your day at the Geelong foreshore and take a stroll along the esplanade keeping an eye out for the colourful Baywalk Bollards that recreate important characters from the city’s past.
A must-visit especially if it’s a warm day are the sea baths at Eastern Beach and its impressive art deco promenade. Other highlights of Geelong Waterfront include Cunningham Pier, the Giant Sky Wheel, the Carousel, and on the western edge Rippleside Park.
Rippleside Park is a beautiful foreshore park that is often overlooked by visitors – and even locals. This makes it ideal for those looking for a quiet spot away from the crowds.
Here you’ll find lush green lawns, a tiny beach, barbecues and picnic tables, and a fantastic adventure playground for the kids.
Overlooking the whole area is the café No 42 where you can grab yourself a coffee and a tasty treat.
There are plenty of other restaurants and cafes at the waterfront, but Little Malop Street is the place to be when it comes to food and drinks in Geelong.
Here you’ll find everything from Japanese inspired favourites to Greek, Italian, French, and food from southern USA. There’s also burgers, pizzas, tacos, and hot fried chicken.
Wash it all down with a glass of local wine at Geelong Cellar Door or a specialty coffee from Coffee Cartel.
Afterwards, check out the nearby Geelong Art Gallery that features artworks by prominent Australian artists like Frederick Mc Cubbin, before heading back to Melbourne.
Alternatively, you can simply wander the streets and laneways enjoying the street art and sculptures that seem to pop up out of nowhere.
2. Castlemaine
If you’re looking to get off the typical tourist trail, then head north-west to Castlemaine in the state’s central goldfields region. This beautiful yet underrated destination has an abundance of history and art, and growing foodie scene that makes it worth the one and half hour drive from Melbourne.
Visit at the right time and you can experience the Castlemaine State Festival, Australia’s longest running regional arts festival. Held every two years the program includes performance, music, literature, visual arts, and film.
The first place any visitor to Castlemaine should go is The Mill an 1875 woollen mill that’s been transformed into a food and artisan manufacturing hub.
Here you’ll find the Boomtown Winemakers Co-Op cellar door, Shedshaker Brewing’s Taproom where you can try their small batch craft beers, and Das Kaffeehaus a Viennese coffee house.
A popular stop at The Mill is the giant Vintage Bazaar that plays host to numerous stallholders offering everything from vintage clothing to homewares, artworks, and furniture.
You can easily spend a whole morning at The Mill but you’ll need to drag yourself away and head to Johnny Baker, a true country town bakery.
The traditional bakery treats are all handmade here including pies, sausage rolls, croissants, and eclairs. Enjoy a coffee and your favourite pastry on the tables outside or at the beautiful botanic gardens.
After lunch visit the Castlemaine Art Museum to see works by respected Australian artists and antiquities from the goldrush era in the downstairs museum. Then stop by the Castlemaine diggings National Park and explore abandoned mines from the gold rush on your way back to Melbourne.
3. Daylesford
Located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range Daylesford is a 90-minute drive north-west of Melbourne. The region is blessed with an abundance of mineral springs which makes it a haven for relaxation and spa treatments.
The town itself features mid-19th-century cottages that have been converted into cafes, galleries, boutiques, and luxury accommodation. Spend the morning browsing the one-of-a-kind shops and, if you like architecture, take a stroll around the town.
Art lovers should head to the Convent Gallery, set in manicured gardens, it’s said to be ‘Australia’s most beautiful art gallery’. Other highlights include the lush Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Sailors Falls, and the artisanal Chocolate Mill.
End the morning with an unforgettable lunch at the Lake House, one of Victoria’s best regional restaurants. On the menu you’ll find delicious, cutting edge seasonal food created from ingredients that are largely produced onsite.
Another option is to grab some gourmet delicacies from the main street’s specialty food stores and enjoy a picnic beside the crystal-clear Lake Daylesford. After lunch take a leisurely stroll around the lake, keeping an eye out for birdlife.
Be sure to drop by Daylesford Cider, which offers a range of ciders made onsite from heritage apples. Many are traditional English ciders but there are also small batch seasonal releases to try and buy.
A short drive away in Hepburn Springs, you’ll find the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, Finish your day with a soothing dip in the mineral waters and a rejuvenating massage, before your return journey to Melbourne.
4. Queenscliff
Nestled on the Bellarine Peninsula, 90 minutes south west of Melbourne, Queenscliff offers a perfect blend of historical charm and seaside beauty, making it an ideal destination for a day trip.
Begin your day with a leisurely drive or a scenic ferry ride from Sorrento to Queenscliff. As you arrive, the town’s Victorian-era heritage is immediately evident in its grand old buildings and meticulously maintained streets.
A must-visit is the Queenscliff Fort, a crucial defence installation in Australia’s military history. Guided tours here offer insights into the fort’s past and the chance to dress up in military uniforms.
An unusual feature of Fort Queenscliff is the rare black lighthouse that stands in its grounds. Called the Queenscliff High Light it is one of only three black lighthouses in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.
For art enthusiasts, Queenscliff Gallery, Salt Contemporary Art, and Seaview Gallery all feature Australian artists through their ever-changing exhibitions.
Queenscliff harbour is a hub for local cuisine and boutique shops offering unique locally crafted items. The highlight here though, is the 42-metre high Queenscliff Harbour Tower, which provides 360 degree views of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay and the surrounding area.
You can grab some lunch here, then, in the afternoon gear up for some adventure. Dive operators in Queenscliff offer snorkelling and diving tours, or you can join a wildlife spotting cruise to see dolphins and seals. In winter you may even see whales.
Afterwards, head to the Queenscliff Brewhouse for a tasting paddle of locally brewed craft beer and a bite to eat before returning to Melbourne.
5. Werribee
Just 30 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, Werribee makes for a fun day out without having to travel very far. It has a great range of natural and historical attractions all located within the same precinct.
You can sample wine amongst the vineyards, picnic in the shadow of a grand mansion, wander through a rose garden, and spot wildlife on an African safari.
One of Victoria’s most opulent historical buildings is located here, the 60 room Werribee Park Mansion. It’s free to explore the mansion’s formal gardens and heritage orchard, and you can take a self-guided tour of the mansion itself.
It was built by the Chirnside family in 1877 and many of the family’s items including clothing, crockery, and furniture remain on display. In the grounds you’ll find a formal garden, an intricately designed grotto, and an ornamental lake, as well as a fruit orchard originally planted in the late 1800s.
Right next door is the State Rose Garden Of Victoria with over 5,000 roses spread over 12 acres of manicured gardens. Take a relaxing stroll and smell the roses or throw down a rug and have a picnic.
For lovers of wine the nearby Shadowfax Winery is a must with its architecturally designed cellar door, award winning wines, and mediterranean inspired restaurant.
For something more adventurous, the Werribee Open Planes Zoo has safari tours in open-air vehicles. These tours take you through savannah grasslands amongst herds of bison, giraffes, rhinos, and zebras.
The zoo also has an impressive pride of lions, one of the world’s largest gorilla exhibits, playful monkeys, and a family of hippos, as well as many other animal species.
6. Great Ocean Road
Most visitors to Melbourne have the Great Ocean Road on their list of things to do in Australia. Although I recommend allowing 2 or 3 days to drive the 243 kilometre road, it is possible to do it in just one day.
Don’t worry if you don’t have your own vehicle, you can rent a car. Furthermore, there are plenty of tour companies you can sign up with who will take you to all the major sights in day, so you won’t miss out.
Either way, whether you take a tour or drive yourself, you’ll be seeing one of the most incredible places in Victoria, if not Australia.
If you only have one day you can still take in the highlights of the Great Ocean Road but to get the most out of your day it’s important to get an early start.
Leaving from Melbourne I recommend taking the inland route via Colac and driving straight to Port Campbell. This will take around 3 hours.
Just a few minutes drive from Port Campbell you’ll find the famous 12 Apostles rock formations rising up out of the ocean. If you leave Melbourne early enough you’ll most likely arrive before the crowds as most of the tour buses drive from the other end of the road.
Other nearby sights to see include Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps, the Razorback, and the London Arch. To the west you’ll find the Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands an area that’s often overlooked by visitors.
Port Campbell itself is a lovely little town with a safe swimming beach that’s patrolled by lifeguards in summer. Have a dip if the weather’s good or take a stroll along the cliff top path for more awesome views.
In Port Campbell, there are several cafes available if you’re looking for a bite to eat. A popular one is Grassroots Deli, which also offers gifts and souvenirs. For a more substantial dining option, 12 Rocks Restaurant and Bar is my top pick for delicious meals and scenic beach views.
You can then either drive back to Melbourne the way you came or continue along the Great Ocean Road which takes much longer but has better views.
Final Word
As you can see, the range of day trip options around Melbourne, Victoria offers travellers a variety of experiences.
With destinations like Geelong, Castlemaine, Daylesford, Queenscliff, Werribee, and the Great Ocean Road, each offering different aspects of Victoria’s culture, history, and natural landscapes.
Whether you’re seeking a quiet retreat in nature, a cultural immersion, or an adventurous exploration, these destinations near Melbourne cater to every preference, leaving visitors with lasting memories.
Bio
Audrey is the principal blogger behind Victoria Uncovered. A site that helps people get the most out of their visit to Victoria Australia. Book Lover | Breakfast Nut | Aussie Gal | She’s usually craving coffee.