Need to escape Melbourne city life? Here are ten amazing getaways within easy reach of Melbourne including heritage, nature, relaxation, and spectacular scenery.
Map: Ten Getaways near Melbourne
King Valley VIC 3678, Australia
Bright VIC 3741, Australia
Macedon Ranges, VIC, Australia
Victoria, Australia
Bellarine Peninsula, Wallington VIC 3222, Australia
Shire of Mornington Peninsula, VIC, Australia
Dandenong Ranges, Mount Dandenong VIC 3767, Australia
Lorne VIC 3232, Australia
Mansfield VIC 3722, Australia
Echuca VIC 3564, Australia
Lorne and the Great Ocean Road
The famous and amazingly scenic Great Ocean Road is a self-guided road tour not to be missed offering amazing coastal scenery on one of the worlds great drives. Along the way, there are many spectacular places to camp or stay, a favorite of many is Lorne, offering waterfalls, beach, whale watching, heritage, art and culture.
The Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley
The Dandenong Ranges are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately 35 km (22 mi) east of Melbourne. The region offers spectacular scenery, gardens, villages, crafts and artisanal produce. The popular Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage steam railway, runs through the southern parts of The Dandenongs. A short drive away is the Healsville Sanctuary and Yarra Valley which is famed for its wineries.
The Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is located south-east of Melbourne and surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south. The area is popular for its beaches, coastal scenery, calm waters, and attractions such as wineries, craft stores, cafes etc.
The Bellarine Peninsula
The Bellarine Peninsula is a coastal area that reaches inland including a large part of Geelong offering a variety of beaches, seaside resorts, and wineries.
The Grampians National Park
The Grampians, is a 167,219-hectare national park located 260 kilometres west of Melbourne that is listed on the Australian National Heritage List for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest Aboriginal rock art sites in south-eastern Australia. It’s also known for its striking series of sandstone mountain ranges.
Dalyesford and the Macedon Ranges
The Macedon Ranges, located north of Melbourne in Central Victoria, is known for its expansive native forests, vibrant arts scene, wineries, artisinal foods, farmers markets, and natural attractions such as Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon.
Bright
Bright is the base for exploring Mount Buffalo National Park, Alpine National Park, Mount Hotham, the starting point for the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (hiking and cycling path) along with being home to wineries, heritage, and the Bright Museum which documents the towns rail and gold rush history.
King Valley
The King Valley, or King River Valley is a scenic region famed for its food and wine. It is centred on the King River between Wangaratta and the Alpine National Park in the North East Victoria.
Mansfield
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian Alps and is the support town for the large Australia ski resort Mount Buller. The town offers heritage and alpine scenery with lots of trails and hikes for nature lovers.
Echuca
Echuca is located by the beautiful Murray River in Northern Victoria on the border to NSW. The small town offers a journey back into the early days of Victoria’s history featuring majestic paddlesteamers that ply the river as they once did many years ago in its hey day as a trading port.