6 Day Victoria Highlights Itinerary

Crowned "The World's Most Liveable City" for seven years in a row, friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure.

This compact, diverse metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content.

Here are some of our favourite things to do in Melbourne:

•    Lose yourself in cobbled laneways lined with tempting coffee shops, chic boutiques and cosy bars.
•    Admire the always-evolving street art covering every inch of Hosier Lane
•    Take a tram to St Kilda beach's historic esplanade and drop into Acland St's irresistible cake shops.
•    Make a sporting pilgrimage to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
•    Grab a bite to eat at Queen Victoria Market - it's the largest market in the Southern Hemisphere
•    Choose from a dizzying array of restaurants & eateries — you're in Australia's foodie capital.

Fun Facts about Melbourne

•    Melbourne has more restaurants & cafes per head than any other city worldwide!
•    Melbourne's famous tramway system is the largest outside of Europe.
•    Five of Oz's tallest buildings are found in Melbourne - the tallest is the Eureka Tower at 297.3-metres (975 ft).

Accommodation: Melbourne - 1 Night

Head for the vineyard-carpeted hills of the Yarra Valley, paying a visit to Healesville Sanctuary to meet Australia's native animals.

Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is Victoria's oldest wine region, famed for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and delicious local produce from freshwater salmon to handmade cheeses. With rolling hills, misty waterfalls and towering forests, it's a beautiful place to explore.

Healesville Sanctuary: Wine and Wildlife Tour

Your day out in the Yarra Valley begins with a guided, personalised tour of Australia’s unique wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary. In this amazing bushland setting, you can encounter koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus (who are rumoured to be ticklish!).

Leaving the sanctuary, take a scenic drive through the Yarra Valley to the De Bortoli Winery for a gourmet two-course lunch. Later, the grown-ups can sample the region's cool climate wines at the cellar door!

End your day in chocolate heaven: indulge in free tastings at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery while you watch talented chocolatiers perfecting their tempting creations.

Approximate Distance: 77 km | 48 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 26 mins

Accommodation: Yarra Valley - 1 Night

Venture south to the pretty Gippsland coastline and cross the bridge to Phillip Island for some seaside fun.

Phillip Island

Visitors flock to this small island for its swimming and surf beaches, unique wildlife and the famous penguins waddling along the beach every evening. The island also hosts major racing events including the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and Superbike World Championship.

Phillip Island Nature Parks: 3 Park Pass

You will experience the best of Phillip Island with a 3 Park Pass allowing you to explore three of the Island's best-loved Nature Parks over the next 2 days. Tomorrow you will explore the Koala Conservation Centre, and Churchill Island Heritage Farm but tonight you are in for a special treat: the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.

Penguins on Parade

Each night at sunset the world’s smallest penguins emerge from the waters around Phillip Island, waddling along the floodlit Summerland Beach to their sandy burrows. Sheltered inside the world's first underground viewing facility you will see these tiny penguins up close at eye-level: a truly memorable natural wildlife experience.

Approximate Distance: 138 km | 86 miles   Total Driving Time: 2 hours 

Accommodation: Phillip Island - 2 Nights

Enjoy exploring Phillip Island at your leisure, with admission to the Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm included in your 3 Parks Pass.

Visit Phillip Island's Koalas in their Treetop Home

Explore the tree-top boardwalks at the Koala Reserve and see koalas up close in their natural habitat. Uncover the amazing lives of koalas in the new interactive visitor centre and wander the extensive trails through the natural Australian bushland with native birdsong all around you.

Churchill Island    

Cross the bridge to Churchill Island and step back in time to Victoria's pioneer past. Since the 1850s, the island has been farmed using traditional methods: you will see sturdy Clydesdale horses pulling wooden carts, hairy highland cattle grazing in the fields, and a well-restored farmhouse where you can experience old-fashioned pioneer living.

From Phillip Island, visit the coastal region of Mornington Peninsula – another of Victoria’s beautiful wine regions.

Snorkel with Sea Dragons & Hotsprings

Visit the rare Weedy Seadragons in their natural habitat! Learn all about the marine life of Port Phillip Bay in a relaxed coastal setting with professional interpretive snorkel guides, then soak in mineral waters at the Hot Springs. Suitable for all swimming levels.

Other Alternatives 

• Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak & Hot Springs
• Bike Ride & Hot Springs
• Catamaran Cruise & Hot Springs
   

Approximate Distance: 107 km | 67 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 24 mins

Accommodation: Mornington Peninsula - 1 Night

Return to Melbourne and say farewell to Victoria today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 6 Day Victorian Wander Self Drive Tour and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.

Approximate Distance: 142 km | 88 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 50 mins