12 Exciting Places Near Melbourne for a Weekend Getaway
Melbourne is a fantastic city to explore filled with many world-class restaurants, stadiums, galleries and theatres, but it’s also a fantastic base to explore other parts of Victoria and Southeastern Australia.
When the city lifestyle feels too much, there are so many incredible places to visit near Melbourne on a weekend getaway that can restore and rejuvinate you.
As much as it pains me to say it is a New South Welshman, Victoria was the biggest surprise from our 18-month road trip around Australia.
The state packs a punch, even though it’s a small state there’s still plenty to do, from seeing world-famous scenery to mysterious wildlife and historical landmarks. It’s no surprise our one-month trip quickly turned into three!
If you’re looking for places to visit outside Melbourne that are perfect for a couple of days exploration, such as on a weekend getaway from Melbourne, then these are our favourite spots below.
Table Of Contents
- Where to go for a weekend getaway from Melbourne
- Getting around Melbourne and Victoria
- Before You Go
- Other Melbourne Tips
- Pin To Save It On Pinterest
Where to go for a weekend getaway from Melbourne
1. Wilsons Promontory National Park
- Distance from Melbourne: 195.4 km (121 miles) via M1 and A440
- Drive time: 2.5 – 3 hours
- Where to stay: Tidal River Campground
Surprisingly, we knew almost nothing about Wilsons Promontory National Park before our road trip around Australia, but for Melbournians it’s a well-known vacation hot spot.
It’s so well known that there’s even a lottery on accommodation there in the peak season. Don’t let that put you off, this is because this coastal wilderness area has limited accommodation and they want to keep it pristine, so limit the amount of visitors.
We spent three nights in a little cabin at Tidal River Campground when we visited. And at just a 3-hour drive from Melbourne, it’s a great getaway destination!
Wilsons Prom is popular for a reason. It’s famous for Squeaky Beach, so named because the sand is so pure is squeaks when you walk across it. It also has these imposing granite boulders at either end, which we loved climbing on – for us, it’s up there as one of the best beaches in Australia.
As well as Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Prom has many remote coastal bushland trails, secluded campsites, mountain peaks and scenic vistas, local wombats, kangaroos and emus running around, and of course, stunning beaches.
Norman Beach is another beach worth visiting, which is known for being a snorkelling hot spot and allows you to peer below the surface into Victoria’s largest marine national park.
Read more: Why have we not heard of Wilsons Prom National Park?
2. Bright
- Distance from Melbourne: 321.6 km (199 miles) via National Highway M31
- Drive time: 3.5 hours
- Where to stay: BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks
The charming town of Bright is our favourite town in Victoria and one of our top three towns in Australia, period. We tell everyone we meet who is visiting Victoria, you MUST visit Bright!
It’s one of those places that gets under your skin and we’ll return there over and over again.
With the Owens River running through town and the alpine scenery, it reminds us of Colorado and the cafe scene is top notch too – we’re partial to the Blackbird Cafe, Food Wine Friends, and the Rail Trail Cafe.
We also LOVE the Bright Brewery by the river, which produces excellent craft beer, the best cider I have ever tasted, and delicious pizzas. And your kids will love the big playground just across from the beer garden, win-win!
Besides the food and drink, if you love exploring the great outdoors by foot or bicycle, Bright is your town too.
Oh, and whilst you’re in Bright, take a detour to Beechworth and have lunch at Bridge Road Brewers, one of our faves in Oz!
Read more: Things to do in Bright
3. Marysville
- Distance from Melbourne: 97.4 km (60 miles) via Maroondah Hwy
- Drive time: 1.5 hours
- Where to stay: Amelina Cottage
There’s something about Marysville! This town was devastated by bushfires on what became known as Black Saturday back in 2009.
Almost the entire town burned to the ground with many locals losing their lives, but the way the town has recovered is remarkable. The spirit of the people is truly something to be admired!
It’s only an hour and a half drive northeast of Melbourne and the drive into Marysville is beautiful in itself. It makes for a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Once there enjoy the serenity and the natural setting.
Go hiking at Lake Mountain, take in Steavenson Falls, marvel at Bruno’s Sculpture Garden, go trout fishing at Buxton Trout Farm, taste wines at Buxton Ridge Winery and so much more.
For foodies, you’ll love all the homemade cooking you can get here. You can have breakfast at Fraggas Cafe, dinner at the Black Spur Inn, and let your kids burn off some energy playing at Gallipoli Park.
We stayed at the charming Amelina Cottage, which was an easy stroll into town.
Read more: Fun things to do in Marysville
4. The Great Ocean Road
- Distance from Melbourne: 103 km (64 miles) via M1
- Drive time: 1.5 hours
- Where to stay: Mantra Hotel
You can’t visit Melbourne without jumping behind the wheel of your car, or hiring a car and driving one of the best road trips in the world.
If you haven’t been before, it’s the perfect destination near Melbourne for a weekend getaway, period.
Beginning 90 minutes outside of Melbourne in Torquay, the Great Ocean Road stretches over 250 kilometres to Warrnambool and attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Explore seaside towns, walk through rainforests to waterfalls, spot koalas, swim at scenic beaches, and stand in awe as you take in the famous Twelve Apostles.
Whatever you do, don’t do this drive in one day, slow down and appreciate all it has to offer. There are many towns along the Great Ocean Road to stop at, we recommend staying the night in Lorne, which makes for a great central base. We stayed at the Mantra Hotel right on the beach.
Read more: Highlights of the Great Ocean Road
5. The Mornington Peninsula
- Distance from Melbourne: 74.5 km (46 miles) via M1
- Drive time: 1 hour
- Where to stay: Portsea Hotel
We camped for a week on the Mornington Peninsula and whilst it’s only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, we felt like we were a million miles away from the city.
I vividly remember the sunset on Dromana Beach being as impressive as anywhere in Victoria, and our pub lunch at the Portsea Hotel had as good a view as anywhere for a beer garden.
Other things we recommend include the coastal headland walk around Sorrento (Millionaire’s row), enjoy takeaway fish & chips on the waterfront of Sorrento, and take the kids to the community playground on the Rye Foreshore.
Another place we loved was the Peninsula Hot Springs, which quickly replaced the High Tea at the Langham Hotel in Melbourne as being the best mummy/daughter date ever.
6. Phillip Island
- Distance from Melbourne: 141 km (87.6 miles) via M1
- Drive time: 2 hours
- Where to stay: Amaroo Park
We thought Phillip Island was all about penguins and motorcycle racing, but after spending a relaxing eight days on the island we can assure you it offers so much more.
Phillip Island is one of the most beautiful near Melbourne and is known for one thing; the penguin parade.
Though it sounds like some sort of carnival, it’s really just a name given to the time of day when the Little Penguins come up to the shore at sunset in their numbers – waddling in a sort of parade fashion.
When you take in the penguin parade experience, get there early and explore The Nobbies, which has spectacular views over the Bass Strait – it will be windy though!
The parade is a ticketed event, but it’s still amazing to see them in their natural environment.
The main town of Cowes Beach is a good place to base yourself and has a decent cafe and restaurant scene. The beach here is family-friendly as is scenic Smiths Beach.
Other things I recommend to do on Phillips Island are a visit to The Koala Conservation Centre, the Chocolate Factory, Amaz’N Things, and the Grand Prix circuit.
7. The Bellarine Peninsula
- Distance from Melbourne: 90.5 km (56 miles) via M1
- Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Where to stay: Craig Makepeaceمصدر
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