Melbourne is full of places to visit and explore. So, it’s hard to say how many days you need to explore one of the best cities in Australia.
You can spend anywhere from three days to a month in Melbourne exploring the city. But if you are on limited time, between three to five days is perfect. Whether you’re here for the fine food, world-class sporting events or top-notch art scene, you’ll find plenty to fill your days in Melbourne.
Once you’ve uncovered the city’s hidden gems, Victoria’s regional destinations offer plenty more to discover. Day trips out of the city will take you to top spots including the iconic 12 Apostles and Phillip Island. You can explore Melbourne on your own or join one of the one or two day tours to discover regions just on the city’s doorstep. Three days will allow you to explore the city and do a day tour. In five days, you can explore the city more and do a few day tours or a two to three day tour.
No matter how long you stay in Melbourne, you’ll still wish you had more time and will be planning a return trip in no time.
Below are some ideas on what you can do for a day in each place.
Melbourne
There’s so much to see in Melbourne city alone, from walking through the laneways and arcades to going to the Royal Botanic Gardens. No trip to Melbourne is complete without seeing some of the famous sporting precincts. There are many buildings to see and the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museum for some arts and history.
Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road is one of Melbourne’s most popular attractions. The road is 243 kilometres long, travelling along the coastline of Victoria. There are incredible stops to see on the Great Ocean Road, like the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. You can stop by Apollo Bay and watch the surfers at the beach. And don’t forget to take a walk through the Otway Rainforest. There are endless possibilities you can do and see when driving along the Great Ocean Road.
Phillip Island
Phillip Island is best known for the Penguin Parade. This is where the little penguins waddle up the beach at sunset. While you wait for the penguin’s arrival, there is a lot to do around Phillip Island for the day. Most visitors go to The Nobbies, The Blowhole, and the Seal Rocks to watch the seals. A lot of tours stop by Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park on the way to Phillip Island which has Australian wildlife.
Yarra Valley
A day trip to the Yarra Valley is best spent going around to different wineries to try the wines. You can also stop by the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice-creamery or visit a brewery.
Ballarat
Ballarat is one of the major cities in Victoria. Ballarat is known for its culture, history, and Sovereign Hill. Sovereign Hill takes you back in time to the 1800s when gold was once discovered. Explore the small town and get involved in how people once lived.
Don’t forget to grab a coffee every day while you’re in Melbourne! The city is named the coffee capital of the world for a reason after all.
