Tours around Melbourne
Six day trips from Melbourne, arranged privately for your family
Perhaps you have visitors from Vietnam, or the whole family wants a change of scenery on the weekend. There are plenty of places worth a day trip around Melbourne. These are the six mentioned most often.
Great Ocean Road
From Melbourne to the surf town of Torquay takes about 90 minutes. A typical day covers the eastern section, through Torquay and the artists' town of Lorne, then on to the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. The Otways rainforest with its giant trees is an optional extra. Note that the 12 Apostles are much further away, usually more than four hours one way without stops, so you need to leave very early or stay overnight.
Yarra Valley
About an hour to the north-east. You can stop at Coombe, the former home of opera singer Nellie Melba, taste sparkling wine at Domaine Chandon, see native animals at Healesville Sanctuary and visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art.
Dandenong Ranges
About an hour to the east. There is the National Rhododendron Garden, walking tracks in Sherbrooke Forest and the Puffing Billy steam train, which is more than a hundred years old. It is the easiest choice for families with young children.
Phillip Island
About two hours to the south. The highlights are the pelican feeding at San Remo, the coastal walk at Cape Woolamai, a seal-watching cruise, the koala reserve and the penguin parade in the evening.
Mornington Peninsula
About an hour to the south. There is the McClelland Sculpture Park, vineyards producing pinot noir and chardonnay, Peninsula Hot Springs, and then the two seaside towns of Portsea and Sorrento. At the end of the day you can take the ferry across to Queenscliff.
Daylesford
About 90 minutes to the north-west. The town has plenty of shops and galleries, lunch by the lake at Lake House and a mineral spring soak at Hepburn Bathhouse.
How a private tour differs from a shared group tour
On a private tour, it is only your family or group of friends in the vehicle. You choose the start time, choose the stops and stay longer at the places you like. TNT Global plans the itinerary around the number of people, their ages and the hours you have, then gives you a total price before you decide.
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