3 Days in Melbourne and Victoria
Three days covers the Melbourne city core in two days, then makes the Great Ocean Road the whole point of day three. Sort your ETA (about AUD $20) or free eVisitor before flying, and there’s no train from Melbourne Airport, only the SkyBus (about AUD $25.90) or a taxi.
Day 1: Federation Square and the laneways
Federation Square, the Ian Potter Centre (NGV Australia, free), ACMI (free), then Hosier Lane, Degraves Street, and the Block and Royal Arcades. Dinner in the CBD laneways. All inside the Free Tram Zone.
Day 2: MCG, Queen Victoria Market and St Kilda
MCG tour (about AUD $38) in the morning, Queen Victoria Market (running since 1878) around lunch, then St Kilda in the evening, Myki required once you leave the Free Tram Zone, for Luna Park and the little penguins on the breakwater at dusk (free, book the timed slot ahead).
Day 3: Great Ocean Road, honestly
The Great Ocean Road runs about 3 to 4 hours one way to the Twelve Apostles, and doing it as a single day is a genuine 12-hour-plus round trip, not a relaxed drive. On a 3-day trip it’s the only way to fit it in, so book a guided bus day-tour if you’d rather not drive yourself after a long day, and leave by 7am. Stop for the koalas at Kennett River on the way, and give yourself real time at Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles before the drive back. If a second day for this stretch ever becomes possible, it is genuinely a better trip as an overnight in Apollo Bay or Lorne instead of a single long push.
Concrete tip: book the Great Ocean Road tour or your rental car before you land; day-tour seats sell out on short notice in peak season.
If you can add a fourth day, the 4-day itinerary adds the Yarra Valley on top of this same base. The full Melbourne, Australia guide covers the whole day-trip radius, and the Melbourne 3-day itinerary covers the all-city version of these same three days instead.
Before you fly: confirm your ETA or eVisitor, and keep your Myki charged for day 2 and day 3.