3 Best Day Trips from Melbourne You Shouldn’t Miss

Hailed as one of the most livable cities in the world, Melbourne is one of the most popular cities to visit in Australia. The capital and the most populous city of Victoria, Australia. Melbourne is known for its artsy vibe, cafe culture, and beautiful urban parks, but just a few hours outside the city, you’ll find some of Australia’s most stunning natural landscapes and unique wildlife experiences.

Thus, if you’re planning a trip to Melbourne, make sure you go beyond the city and explore what the rest of Victoria has to offer. In this blog post, here are some of the best day trips from Melbourne that are absolutely worth visiting. From jaw-dropping coastlines to mountain ranges and adorable penguins, these day trips are perfect whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with friends.

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Essential Travel Guides & Tips

Here are a few quick tips if it’s your first time visiting Melbourne:

Get a Myki card for public transport. Trams are free within the CBD, but you’ll need a Myki if you’re going outside the city.
Use a local SIM or eSIM to stay connected.
Visit Queen Victoria Market for affordable meals, souvenirs, and snacks.
Join group tours if you’re traveling solo—it’s a great way to explore and make new friends.
Check out KLOOK for easy activity bookings, and don’t forget to use my discount code “ARAPATRIAKLOOK” to save up to 5%.

Australian Tourist Visa Tip for Filipino Travelers

If you’re a Filipino traveler planning to visit Australia, make sure to apply for your Australian tourist visa (Visitor Visa Subclass 600) ahead of time. It’s a fairly straightforward process, and I’ve written a detailed step-by-step guide to help you through it.

You can read it here: How to Apply for an Australian Tourist Visa for Filipinos

Best Day Trips from Melbourne for First-time Visitors

The Great Ocean Road Tour – Australia’s Most Scenic Coastal Drive

This is definitely the most iconic place to visit and a must-see tourist attraction outside Melbourne City. Also, this is honestly one of the most scenic coastal drives I’ve ever done. If you’re the type who loves road trips, ocean views, and dramatic cliffs, this one’s for you.

The drive itself is an experience. You’ll pass by charming seaside towns, lush rainforests, and beautiful beaches, with scenic lookouts along the way. Every stop feels like a postcard come to life. One of the most unforgettable moments for me was seeing the Twelve Apostles during sunset. These limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean are simply majestic, especially when the golden hour light hits them—it’s such a dreamy spot to watch the sunset.

Aside from the Twelve Apostles, some tours also stop by Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch, and Apollo Bay, giving you plenty of chances to explore, take photos, and breathe in the salty air. It’s a full-day trip (around 12 hours), but so worth the time and energy.

If you’re a solo traveler like me, I highly recommend booking a guided tour. I booked my Great Ocean Road tour via KLOOK with Go West Tours, and it was one of the best decisions I made—no planning needed, and everything was handled for me.

The Grampians National Park – Nature, Hikes, and Wild Kangaroos

grampians national park day tour victoria au

If you’re craving fresh mountain air, panoramic views, and a bit of adventure, Grampians National Park should be on your Melbourne itinerary. This place is a haven for nature lovers and hikers.

Located about 3 hours away from Melbourne, the Grampians National Park is famous for its rugged sandstone mountain ranges, waterfalls, and Aboriginal rock art sites. The landscape is so different from the coastal vibes of the Great Ocean Road—it’s wild, peaceful, and refreshingly remote.

During my visit, one of the highlights was hiking to the Grand Canyon Walk. The views were absolutely stunning, and the trail itself was beautiful, with lush vegetation, rocky paths, and scenic lookouts. I also spotted a few wild kangaroos along the way, which made the whole experience even more memorable.

You can also visit lookouts like Boroka Lookout, The Balconies, and Reed Lookout for sweeping views over the mountains. Most guided day tours include a mix of hiking and sightseeing, making it an easy and fulfilling day trip from Melbourne.

Make sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring water, and dress in layers—it can get windy up in the mountains. Again, I booked this tour via KLOOK and went with Go West Tours, which made everything super convenient.

The Phillip Island – The Cutest Penguin Parade Ever

Last but definitely not least—Phillip Island. This destination is perfect if you want to mix wildlife, coastal views, and an unforgettable experience with the world’s smallest penguins.

The main attraction here is the Penguin Parade, where every evening at sunset, hundreds of tiny Little Penguins waddle their way back to shore after a day of fishing. Watching them pop out of the ocean and march across the beach is honestly one of the cutest and most unique things I’ve ever seen while traveling.

But Phillip Island offers more than just penguins. There’s also the Koala Conservation Centre, beautiful beaches like Cowes Beach, and walking trails with dramatic cliffside views. I went earlier in the day to explore the island before heading to the penguin viewing area in the evening.

Make sure to dress warmly—it gets really chilly at night, especially when you’re waiting by the beach. Also, photography is not allowed during the Penguin Parade to protect the penguins’ sensitive eyes, so just soak in the experience.

Where to Stay in Melbourne, Australia?

If you’re wondering where to stay in Melbourne on a budget, especially as a solo traveler, I highly recommend Mad Monkey Melbourne. It was my home base during my three-week stay, and it checked all the boxes: affordable, clean, social, and centrally located.

Mad Monkey Melbourne is just a 10-minute walk from Southern Cross Station, which is perfect because most day tours offer pick-up points around this area. It’s also close to tram stops, airport shuttle buses, cafes, and some of Melbourne’s top attractions like Queen Victoria Market and Flagstaff Gardens.

What I loved most about staying here was the community vibe. They host daily social activities like movie nights, walking tours, and pasta dinners, which made it easy to meet other travelers, even as an introvert. Plus, they have a really clean and well-equipped kitchen, which is a huge plus for budget travelers who like to cook their meals.

Is Melbourne, Australia Worth Visiting?

Melbourne is an amazing city, but what makes it even better is how close it is to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Australia. Whether you want ocean cliffs, mountain hikes, or penguin encounters, these 3-day trips—the Great Ocean Road, Grampians National Park, and Phillip Island—showcase the best of what Victoria has to offer.

If you’re planning your Melbourne adventure soon, don’t forget to book your tours in advance, pack for changing weather, and choose the right place to stay. And of course, enjoy every moment—Australia is full of unforgettable experiences waiting to happen.