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Is Melbourne worth visiting?
Yes, and unusually it is worth it for the city as well as the day trips. Melbourne has the laneways, the coffee and the sport. Then the Great Ocean Road is a day away at $139 and the Phillip Island penguin parade at $149 — two of the best days out in the country.
Checked on 6 October 2026.
Melbourne is the one Australian city people tend to stay in longer than they planned. It is not showy — there is no harbour and no bridge — and the appeal is in the laneways, the food, the galleries and the sport. Then there is what sits outside it.
Why it is worth going
- The Great Ocean Road.The Twelve Apostles, rainforest and wild koalas, as a day trip or two. One of the great coastal drives anywhere.
- Phillip Island.Little penguins come ashore at dusk, every night of the year. It is a genuine wildlife event, not a show.
- The Grampianssandstone ranges, waterfalls and short walks, a couple of hours inland and nothing like the coast.
- The city itself.Laneways, rooftop bars, the galleries, and the best coffee in the country by common consent.
- Sport.The MCG holds 100,000 and the Australian Open, the Grand Prix and the Spring Carnival all land here.
The honest version
- The weather is changeableand the four-seasons-in-a-day thing is true. Rain is modest but spread through the year — bring a layer whenever you come.
- The Great Ocean Road is a long daythe Apostles sit near the far end, 240km out. The reverse-direction trip reaches them in better light.
- Two days on the coast is much better than oneif you can spare the night.
- Winter is genuinely cold by Australian standardsaround 14°C, which catches people out.
What a few days costs
| Trip | Length | What you do | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Great Ocean Road + Rainforest Tour | 1 day | **The Great Ocean Road** and the Twelve Apostles | $139 |
| 1 Day Phillip Island and Penguins | 1 day | **Phillip Island** and the penguin parade | $149 |
| 1 Day Great Ocean Road Reverse Tour (with lunch) | 1 day | The coast road in reverse, with lunch | $149 |
| 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour | 2 days, 1 night | Two days on the coast with a night out of the city | $369 |
| 3 Day Great Ocean Road & Grampians | 3 days, 2 nights | Three days — the coast and the Grampians | $695 |
People also ask
- What day trips can you do from Melbourne?
- Can you do the Great Ocean Road in a day from Melbourne?
- When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
- Where should I go in Australia?
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us your dates and where you are starting from, and we will point you at the right trip.
Where this comes from. Each operator's own itinerary and inclusions sheet, as held on that trip's page here. Prices are the current from price and update on their own.