Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is a magnificent place to explore. This rapidly growing city offers a good climate, infrastructure and lots of places that are worth exploring. Melbourne ranks among one of the top Australian travel destinations, attracting millions of people every year. Not only is the city full of places that attract your attention, but, there are also many places near Melbourne that are equally worth exploring. Less than a few hours’ drive away from the city, there are many places to visit near Melbourne. Here we have gathered a list of 10 such places near Melbourne, Australia that you would like to explore on your trip to Victoria.
10 Best Places To Visit Near Melbourne
For a small state, Victoria has much to offer. There are many places around the capital city that will attract your attention. Take a look at the list of these 10 places to go near Melbourne to enjoy the perfect Victorian charm.
- Yarra Valley Wine And Wildlife
- Wilsons Promontory National Park
- Marysville
- The Mornington Peninsula
- The Grampians
- The Great Ocean Road
- Bright
- Philip Island
- Daylesford
- The Bellarine Peninsula
1. Yarra Valley Wine And Wildlife
Melbourne sits on the mouth of the Yarra River and the Yarra Valley is about a 50 minutes’ drive from Melbourne city. Yarra Valley has a lot to offer to the visitors. The first stop here is Coombe, where you can see the heritage gardens and the historic house of Australia’s first opera star, Dame Nellie Melba. From Coombe, take a quick drive to Domaine Chandon, which is one of the premier producers of sparkling wine in Australia. After tasting the wine here, head to Healesville Sanctuary where you can spot Kangaroos, dingoes, Koalas, Lyrebirds, Wombats, Tasmanian devils and Platypus. You can also stop at the TarraWarra Museum of Arts, which has an extensive collection of Australian arts.
Location: Yarra Valley, Victoria.
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2. Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilsons Promontory National Park is located on the peninsula southwest of Melbourne. It is one of the hidden gems of Australia and is filled with abundant wildlife. You will see many rugged mountains scattered across the landscape. Sweeping beaches, coastlines and open rain forests mark the spectacular scenery of the place. The Wilsons Promontory is a great wilderness retreat, where visitors can camp, stay, cabins or lodges at the Tidal River. The water that surrounds the Promontory is a great place for diving.
Location: Wilsons Promontory, Australia.
Timings: Open 24 hours.
Places To Stay: Prom Coast Apartments, Sandy point hideaway, Limosa Rise, Tidal Dreaming Seaview Cottages , Driftwood Villas
3. Marysville
Marysville is one of the best places to visit near Melbourne. This lovely town was devastated by bushfires in 2009 and almost the entire town was burned to the ground. But still, the town didn’t lose its spirit and recovered remarkably. Only an hour drive from Melbourne, the beauty of Marysville makes a refreshing change from the bustling city life. Once you reach there, you can relax and unwind in the peaceful natural setting. You can go hiking at the Lake Mountains or marvel at the beautiful Stevenson Falls, go fishing for trout in Buxton Trout farm and don’t forget to taste the wines at the Buxton Ridge Winery.
Location: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Places To Stay: The Tower Motel Marysville, Amelina Cottages, Vibe Hotel Marysville, Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park , Lithgow Falls Marysville
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4. The Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula is a perfect camping spot in Australia and it is only about an hours’ drive from Melbourne. The view of the sunset from the Dromana Beach is simply stunning. You can also go for a walk in the coastal headland of Sorrento or take a dip in the Peninsula hot springs. If you are looking for a place to stay, you can easily find many Air BnB hotels in this region. Set in a natural backdrop, Mornington Peninsula is one of the perfect places near Melbourne for weekend getaways.
Location: Victoria, Australia
Places To Stay: RACV Cape Schanck Resort, Oceanic Sorrento, Hotel Sorrento, The Royal Hotel Mornington, Mornington Hotel
5. The Grampians
If you are a lover of hiking activities, then the Grampians is the destination for you. The Grampians is located at a three hour drive away from Melbourne. This national park comprises of a rugged mountain range and famous for the stunning rocky views that it offers. This is another rarely talked about destinations in Victoria, but once you visit the place you’ll totally love the place. There is also a lovely town called Halls Gap, which lies in the heart of Grampians. If you are visiting with kids, you can go to Halls Gap zoo or you can take a stroll along Pinnacle Walks that offers some breathtaking view of Halls Gap.
Location: Victoria, Australia
Places To Stay: The Grampians Motel, Dunkeld Studio Accommodation, The Lodges, Halls Gap Caravan Park, Sea Lake Motel
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6. The Great Ocean Road
If are visiting Melbourne, then you cannot simply miss out on this amazing road trip along the Great Ocean Road. The road starts about a 90 minute drive away from Melbourne and stretches for about 250 kilometres up to Warrnambool. The road stretch attracts thousands of tourists every year. Explore the seaside towns across Ocean Drive and walk through rainforests and waterfalls, swim at the picturesque beaches and spot Koalas on your road trip across Ocean Road.
Location: 250 kms from Torquay to Warrnambool.
Places To Stay: Cumberland Lorne Resort, Lorne Hotel, Great Ocean Road Resort, Chatby Lane Lorne, Lorne Bay View Motel
7. Bright
Bright ranks among the top 3 towns in Australia. It is a charming town and you will definitely love the vibe of the place. The Owens River flowing through the town surrounded by the Alpine trees creates the ambience of a Colorado like vibe. There is also a brewery by the river that manufactures some excellent craft beer and some really delicious pizzas. Besides the drinks and food, you can also explore the outdoors on foot or on a bicycle. While exploring this lovely town, make sure to make a detour and enjoy a delicious lunch at the Bridge Road Brewers.
Location: Victoria, Australia.
Places To Stay: Bright Freeburgh Caravan Park, Merrimeet Cottages, Westwood Lodge Apartments, On The Banks, Fox and Hound at Bright
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8. Philip Island
Philip Island, near Melbourne, has so much to offer. Spot the penguin colonies and enjoy motorcycle racing while on the island. The main town of Philip Island is the Cowes Beach, which is home to the scenic Smiths Beach. Philip Islands is famous for its Penguin Parade where you can see dozens of wild penguins waddling away through the wild. You can also visit the Koala Conservation Centre, the Chocolate factory or the Grand Prix Circuit. Don’t forget to visit the Nobbies outcrop that offers some stunning views site for Seal Rocks.
Location: Victoria, Australia.
Places To Stay: Island Escape, Quays Motel San Remo, Pelicans Motel San Remo, Ramada Resort, Phillip Island Apartments
9. Daylesford
Daylesford with a central highland setting and scenic landscapes is only a 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne. It is perfect for a day trip from Melbourne. Once there, spend your mornings skimming through the lovely shops and galleries. For book enthusiasts visit the Paradise Bookshop, you can also go to the Convent Gallery or Bromley and Co., which is artist David Bromley’s stunning art studio. Finish off your day with a relaxing deep in the mineral-rich waters of Hepburn Springs, before driving back to Melbourne.
Location: Victoria, Australia
Places To Stay: Arinya Retreat Daylesford, East St. Daylesford, Delfryn, Kuca Slate, Artemis Retreat
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10. The Bellarine Peninsula
Bellarine Peninsula is among the least talked about destinations near Melbourne, but once you visit the place you will be in love with the spectacular sight of the place. This is also about an hour drive from Melbourne and is located near the starting point of Great Ocean Road. The peninsula has a caravan park, which can serve as your base for exploring the Peninsula. Queenscliff is a nice historic town in Bellarine with lovely café scene. Other worth exploring towns in Bellarine Peninsula is Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale.
Location: Victoria, Australia.
Places To Stay: Ti-Tree Village, Terrace Lofts Apartments, Jordan House, Riverglen Holiday Park, BIG4 Beacon Resort
Further Read: 14 Cafes In Melbourne Where You Can Satiate Your Caffeine Cravings
There are lots of day trips and weekend getaways in the vicinity of Melbourne city. With this guide, you can explore the popular as well as lesser known locations near the lovely city of Melbourne. So, plan a trip to Australia, head to Melbourne and visit these places nearby for a breathtaking experience!
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Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!
