Day trips from Melbourne

Enjoy morning views of Melbourne city and Port Phillip Bay as you cross the Westgate Bridge, Australia’s longest bridge, at just under 1.5 miles (2.6 kilometers). You are embarking on one of the world’s greatest drives to tour the Great Ocean Road! The scenic journey along the Great Ocean Road takes in some truly amazing coastal scenery, with new views being revealed around every bend. You will make plenty of scenic stops, including a photo opportunity at the Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch at Eastern View and a stop at Kennet River, home to a large population of cute and cuddly wild Koalas. A sighting is almost guaranteed as they munch away on Eucalyptus leaves. Then it is on to Apollo Bay for a chance to walk around the famous coastal town. Afterwards, follow the Great Ocean Road away from the water and into the mountains. Proceed through the spectacular Otway Ranges and stop to enjoy a stroll in the cool, temperate rainforest at Maits Rest. Continue to Port Campbell National Park, with its iconic array of rock formations. Be awestruck by the majestic monoliths of the 12 Apostles. A dinner stop is made on the journey back to Melbourne at the beautiful township of Colac, before enjoying a stunning view of the illuminated city as you cross Westgate Bridge on the way home.

Winery tours have never been so much fun and so affordable! This full-day tour takes in some of Victoria's best wineries in the stunning region of the Yarra Valley, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Begin by learning the art of the swirl, sniff and slurp from your expert wine guide and then try a range of cellar door tastings. Move on to lunch at the next venue and enjoy a winery restaurant meal with a glass of wine. In the afternoon travel through the gorgeous scenery to a smaller boutique winery for some tastings and finish the day at another top winery. Return to Melbourne having had an unforgettable day out in the Yarra Valley. Detailed Itinerary 09:00–09:40 AM: Pick-up at designated stations and departure for the Yarra Valley (just under an hour’s journey in the touring coach). 11:00 AM– Greenstone is beautifully situated on a single site in the picturesque Yarra Valley, an hour's drive from Melbourne. The Winery and Cellar Door, which are nestled in to the base of the Christmas Hills, have unparalleled views of the Estate vineyard and Great Dividing ranges. It is here that winemaking operations are carried out, making Greenstone one of the most progressive wineries in the valley. 12:00 PM– Balgownie Estate: One of the Yarra Valley’s jewels, Balgownie Estate is a stylish winery featuring great views and an excellent restaurant, where you’ll enjoy lunch with a glass of the Estate’s wine. And, of course, there are more great wines to taste at the Balgownie cellar door. 01:30 PM– Yering Farm: This stop is one of the Yarra Valley’s most charming boutique wineries. Yering Farm boasts stunning views and a delightful sense of heritage. At the cellar door you’ll have the opportunity to experience traditionally-made wines and to see the antique copper wine-making equipment used by the Yarra Valley’s pioneer vignerons. 02:15 PM – Soumah of Yarra Valley: The cool climate allows this winery to specialize in styles and varieties typical to northern Italy and south eastern France. With awards for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you’ll be sure to find something pleasing while overlooking the rolling hills of the vineyard and the majestic Warramate Hills. 03:30 PM: Depart the Yarra Valley for Melbourne. 04:30–05:00 PM: Return to drop off stations.

Begin your full-day gourmet tour of the Yarra Valley with an exclusive farm gate visit to Yarra Farm Fresh, for a palate-cleansing fruit tasting experience. You’ll sample a range of freshly made juices and other locally made products. Next you’ll travel to one of the valley’s iconic wineries, Balgownie Estate, to enjoy a tasting from their extensive range of quality wines. Learn how to swirl and sniff like true connoisseurs, while sampling some of the very finest cool-climate wines. At the Yarra Valley Dairy the amazing products will truly melt in your mouth. The cheeses here are stunning and will have your taste buds working overtime! Stop for lunch at the fabulous Rochford Wines and enjoy choose from four different main meals, with a glass of wine, tea or coffee. Take some time to explore the gift shop, or perhaps climb the spiral staircase to enjoy the panoramic views from Rochford’s famous lookout tower. After lunch, make your way to one of Australia’s great wineries and member of the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Yering Station. Home of Victoria’s oldest vineyards, first planted in 1838, the wines here are of exceptional quality and a tasting here is not to be missed. The final destination is the amazing Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Here you’ll enjoy a complimentary tasting of the spectacular delights handcrafted by the chocolaterie’s French and Belgian chocolatiers.

After being picked up from your accommodation in Melbourne CBD, you will explore the world-famous Great Ocean Road on this full-day tour. Spend the day exploring the coast, but also see koalas and birds in their natural habitat as well as going on a guided forest walk to see some of the tallest trees in the world. All of this on top of the iconic coastal favorites such as the Torquay Surf Beach, Loch Ard Gorge, 12 Apostles, and Gibson Steps, with plenty of photo opportunities provided along the way. With the exception of lunch and dinner, all of the below is included in the price of the tour. Torquay Surf Beach Stop here to get your first taste of the stunning coastal scenery. You will be able to view the world-famous Bells Surfing Beach. Take some great coastal photos and smell the fresh seaside air. Morning tea Included with the tour. Great Ocean Road sign Snap a selfie at this iconic location to send to your friends and family. Koalas and Parrots Witness koalas and colorful parrots in their natural environment. Your experienced guide knows just where to go. Apollo Bay lunch stop Here, you'll stop at the coastal town of Apollo Bay where you can purchase your lunch from one of the many restaurants and cafes on offer. You can also walk around the coastal town or even take a swim on the beach if the weather suits. Guided Forest Walk Your guide will take you on a forest walk where you will see some of the tallest trees in the world. You will also take in the wonderful fresh natural smells the trees have to offer. The Gibson Steps Here (tide and wind permitting), you will be able to see some of the 12 Apostles from sea level on the beach. Seeing these amazing rock formations is a truly incredible experience. 12 Apostles Take your time to view the world-famous 12 Apostles, an awesome sight with fantastic photo opportunities. Find out firsthand why these limestone beauties are known all around the world. Loch Ard Gorge The final stop, and perhaps the best, is Loch Ard Gorge, a magnificent formation of rocks by the sea. Ground-level viewing will provide you with an optimal viewing angle. Dinner Stop Stop at Colac on the way home, where you can purchase dinner from one of the many restaurants and cafes. After dinner, you will return you to your CBD hotel.

The spectacular Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most acclaimed destinations. This meandering road twists and turns to expose uninterrupted beaches, dramatic coastlines, and the lush rainforest of the Otway Ranges. Enjoy this full-day road trip traveling by medium sized mini-bus. In small groups of no more than 24 people, this nature loving day trip is a brilliant way to discover the impressive coastline and rainforest of Victoria. Travel west to the start of the Great Ocean Road and pass the coastal towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. Pass through the scenic towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. There are plenty of opportunities to see the native wildlife, get a glimpse of cute koalas and a variety of birds. Discover the Shipwreck Coast, stroll along the historic beaches and see Loch Ard Gorge. Arrive at the 12 Apostles where you will be dwarfed by the high cliff line and these enormous offshore stacks. Snap a memorable photo before you begin your journey back to Melbourne.

Experience the thrill of ascending over a changing landscape at sunrise, suspended in a basket, floating under a spectacular hot air balloon. The cold air hits your cheeks, clouds floating past, the hot flames above warm you up under the morning sky… as you take flight… up, up and float away. Join a spectacular hot air balloon experience with a bird's eye view of the picturesque Yarra Valley (located an hour’s drive from Melbourne) – Victoria’s renowned wine region. Operating 364 days of the year (weather permitting) this once-in-a-lifetime tour experience provides an entirely different perspective of the Yarra Valley, beyond the typical tourist itinerary. Take off on a beautiful hot air balloon flight over the Yarra Valley at sunrise. The Yarra Valley is home to 90 vineyards and 35 wineries, many of which hold a reputation for creating world-class wines. See it from an entirely new perspective as you breeze over the picture postcard landscape. Meet your pilot approximately one hour before sunrise (you will be advised of the exact time and location when you phone the duty pilot the night before your flight). Your pilot will give you a short briefing before being transported to the launch site where you may help with the launch or stand back and take photos of the balloon as it is inflated. Then, climb aboard and away you go gently floating over the Yarra Valley as if you were a cloud. It is truly one of the most magnificently tranquil, picturesque and dream-like experiences you can do. Afterwards, make a final landing, pack the balloon away and have a champagne breakfast (additional cost of $35pp).

Start your day with a convenient pickup from selected hotels in Melbourne. From here, board your comfortable tour vehicle and begin your journey as you depart from Melbourne. On your tour you will get the opportunity to spot some famous Australian animals, stop at a lighthouse and take in the wild scenery as you breathe in the fresh air. There will also be plenty of stops along the way. Enjoy the breathtaking views over the Southern Ocean and stop for a little rainforest walk to appreciate the cool climate and heavy rain that this region enjoys. Later in the day, head towards the limestone rock formations otherwise known as the 12 Apostles. Nearby you will discover another ancient natural attraction; Loch Ard Gorge where you will hear the story of the shipwreck and its survivors. Dip your feet in the water at the Gorge’s quaint beach and you will never want to leave.

Get bird's eye views of Melbourne and its surroundings at sunrise as you float over the city in a hot air balloon. Melbourne is the only major city around the world that you can traverse by hot air balloon. Help to inflate the hot air balloon at the start of your once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then, drift over the parks and gardens that make Melbourne the world’s most livable city. Look down onto iconic sports venues, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne Park, and Albert Park, home to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Treat a loved one to a romantic gift and get a unique peek at the city from above. Upgrade to a sparkling wine breakfast at the end of your flight for the ultimate experience.

Be picked up or meet at the pickup location in the morning and drive to the launch field. You will be taken up-wind to where the equipment will be prepared and inflated. Passengers are welcome to participate in the various interesting and fun tasks needed.  After about 30 minutes, the balloon will be inflated and ready for flight. Once all passengers are on board and after a short safety briefing, up you go to enjoy the stunning views Melbourne has to offer. Discover the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Yarra River, Melbourne's fantastic parks and botanical gardens from the best vantage point there is - a hot air balloon. Be amazed by how gentle ballooning is and take part in the adventure of floating in the wind. Enjoy the warm rays of the early morning sun along with fascinating views. Share this unforgettable and unique experience with family and friends. Don't worry if it's a cloudy day. Sometimes the best light comes on cloudy days when the sun manages to penetrate and cast lovely light in different areas. With three airports, the bay to the South and a huge metropolitan area, Melbourne is a very technical location to fly and the pilot will use the winds at different heights to guide the flight to a safe landing spot. Balloons float in the wind so you will end up in a different location from where the flight started. The ground crew will follow during the flight and meet at the landing spot. The pilot will maneuver the winds to guide the aircraft to the landing site where, after touching down, the gear will be packed away and you will be driven back to the meeting point.

Set sail on a whale spotting cruise and keep an eye out for whales undertaking their annual migration. As you cruise, you’ll see coastal formations and remote beaches including, Rabbit Island, Sealers Cove, and Refuge Cove. Along the way, you’ll search for humpback and southern right whales on their annual migration route along the Wilsons Promontory coastline. In addition to whale spotting, you’ll search for diverse marine wildlife including, shy albatrosses, Australian fur seals, and dolphins. To make sure you don’t miss anything, the captain will provide commentary along the way. Enjoy morning tea and a homemade lunch as you cruise along the coastline.