7 Days in Melbourne and Victoria
Seven days covers the city in two, then runs the full spread of Victoria’s day-trip radius: coast, wine, wildlife, a heritage steam train, and a coastal peninsula. 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), Hosier Lane, Degraves Street, the Block and Royal Arcades.
Day 2: MCG, Queen Victoria Market and St Kilda
MCG tour (about AUD $38), Queen Victoria Market (since 1878), St Kilda for Luna Park and the little penguins at dusk (free, book ahead).
Day 3: Great Ocean Road, honestly
About 3-4 hours one way to the Twelve Apostles, a long single-day round trip. Book a tour or drive yourself, with a koala stop at Kennett River and real time at Loch Ard Gorge.
Day 4: Yarra Valley day trip
About 1 hour 15 minutes out: wine tastings and Healesville Sanctuary’s wildlife.
Day 5: Phillip Island day trip
About 1.5-2 hours south for the dusk Penguin Parade, car or guided tour only, tickets about AUD $33, book ahead.
Day 6: Dandenong Ranges day trip
About an hour out, reachable by Metro train to Belgrave. Ride the heritage Puffing Billy steam train through the ranges.
Day 7: Mornington Peninsula day trip
About 1 to 1.5 hours south, close the trip with the Peninsula Hot Springs and coastal wineries. The colourful Brighton bathing boxes you may have seen earlier in the trip are in Melbourne’s own bayside, not out here, so don’t expect to find them again on the peninsula.
Concrete tip: book the Peninsula Hot Springs session before you land, since weekend slots sell out days ahead.
For the full guide covering everything in this week, see the Melbourne, Australia guide . If you’d rather have spent the whole week in the city itself, the Melbourne guide and its itineraries cover that version.
Before you fly: confirm your ETA or eVisitor, and keep your Myki topped up for every day trip that starts on public transport.