None of us could have imagined the unprecedented events that have unfolded in recent months. For most of us, travel is now paused but that doesn’t mean dreaming and planning should be put on hold. Here is some inspiration for when we can travel again.
Melbourne is one of the most exciting cities in the world, known for its edgy art scene, fantastic food and fashion-conscious locals. But venture just beyond the city limits and you’ll discover a side of Victoria you never knew existed.
Within easy distance of Melbourne, there are beautiful natural wonders, award-winning restaurants, cozy cafes, and innovative galleries. So jump in a car, tram or bus for the day and get exploring.
Melbourne has an extensive public transport network. For travel on trams, trains and buses, you’ll need a reusable myki pass, and a myki Explorer card will get you a day of unlimited travel on public transport. The V/Line runs train and coach services to regional areas including Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Frankston.
Two hours northwest of Melbourne, Bendigo is a historic gold rush town, and between 1850 and 1900 more gold was found here than anywhere else in the world. Check out the Bendigo Art Gallery which has a reputation for design and fashion-focused shows. Hop off the V/Line train from Melbourne when it passes through Woodend, Kyneton and Castlemaine, thriving villages great for vintage shopping, craft breweries and artisan producers.
The Mornington Peninsula
An hour southeast of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is known for its beautiful coastlines, abundant marine life, vibrant coastal villages, wooded hamlets and outstanding food and wine. As well as local wineries there are a number of luxe restaurants, as well as low-key options such as in the charming towns of Flinders and Balnarring which are great for pub meals and cafes. The Village Café in Flinders is known for delicious, home-made cakes, and the Red Hill Brewery is a great spot for a local craft beer and a burger.
Mornington Peninsula National Park
The rugged and historic Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve, in Mornington Peninsula National Park, has spectacular wild beaches and rugged basalt cliffs. The Bushrangers Bay Walking Track provides stunning views over the pristine coastline and, further along the coast, you can soak in healing thermal waters at the Peninsula Hot Springs or don a mask and snorkel to spot sea dragons under Rye Pier.
Beach huts on the Mornington Peninsula. Photo credit: Getty Images/Ippei Naoi
Torquay
It’s a perfect day for a surfing safari when you stand on Torquay’s beaches surrounded by the high cliffs forming a natural amphitheater, the golden sand, and rolling swells. Torquay is just over an hour from Melbourne, so there’s plenty of time to surf as well as visit the world’s largest surfing/beach culture museum, the Australian National Surfing Museum.
Yarra Valley
An easy 90 minutes east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a thriving wine region, and home to many cellar (and distillery) doors including Four Pillars, a boutique gin distillery that uses Australian native botanicals, and TarraWarra Estate, known for its wine and spectacular views.
Philip Island
There are few things cuter than seeing tiny penguins in their natural environment. A popular day trip destination, Phillip Island is a two-hour drive southeast of Melbourne, and home to the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach. With spectators a safe distance away, every night at dusk, hundreds of the small penguins emerge nervously from the ocean to make their way up the beach to their burrows for the night. Adorable.
Nobbies landscape on Phillip Island, Victoria. Photo credit: Getty Images/Boy_Anupong
Dandenong Ranges National Park
The winding roads of the Dandenong Ranges National Park are punctuated with quaint villages and artists’ studios, forests of mountain ash and verdant fern gullies, but many travel the hour from Melbourne to walk or run up the 1,000 steps, a 1.8mi (3km) track ascending through a damp fern valley up through tree ferns and manna gums.
Plenty Gorge
For a quick dip on a hot day, Melbournians head to Plenty Gorge, 12.4 mi (20km) from the city. The water is clear and refreshing, and there are abundant kangaroos and parrots in the area.
Lindy Alexander is a freelance travel, food and lifestyle writer who regularly contributes to some of Australia’s best known and well loved publications. Lindy won the Grace Marion Wilson prize in 2010 for her non-fiction work Hiding from the world, which detailed her travels in Rwanda. She blogs about how to earn a great living from freelance writing here: https://thefreelancersyear.com/
