So What Are The Top 7 Attractions Just Out of Melbourne?

This post is a continuation of the earlier Post ‘7 Things To Do In Marvellous Melbourne‘ and if you happen to be in Melbourne for the current Moomba Festival you may be contemplating a visit to some of the outlying travel destinations of Melbourne. Here are my top 7 travel tips for sites to visit just out of my home city, Melbourne. They are in no particular order and of course there are numerous other sites and maybe you can add a comment below with a mention of your favourite spot!

Fairy Penguins on Phillip Island

1. Phillip Island

Only a 1.5 hour drive from Melbourne is the small island at the entrance of Western Port Bay, known as Phillip Island. A very popular destination for both local, national and international visitors. Its main attractions include the variety of coastal beaches from sheltered bays facing the Bay, to Cape Woolamai that lures the surfers for the waves off Bass Strait. Other attractions include the Penguin Parade, the Nobbies, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, A Maze’n  Things, Phillip Island Nature Park – Koala Conservation Centre and a must stop is the divine Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. The chocolate here is sensational and the business is booming!

2. The Dandenongs

The Dandenong Ranges are located east of Melbourne and are literally on the backdoor step of my home. It takes me no more than 15mins to arrive by car to the top at SkyHigh Mount Dandenong Observatory. Here you are presented with a fabulous view of Melbourne and on a clear evening the drive up for sunset is a must. There are many terrific attractions within the hills. Some of my favourites include Puffing Billy, Cloudehill Nursery, William Rickett’s Sanctuary, Alfred Nicholas Gardens, Olinda Township and breakfast at ‘Ranges Cafe’ is a nice treat. Further reading can be seen here for a recent guest post I did for ‘Velvet Escape‘.

3. Sorrento to Queenscliff Ferry Trip

From Melbourne you can travel either east or west around Port Phillip Bay and arrive to either Sorrento or Queenscliff. Both towns offer a terrific range of classy cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Enjoy a lunch, take in the sites of the towns and finally, jump aboard the ferry to cross to the other town. Depending on whether you decide to travel as a foot passenger or take the car, you can explore that town, enjoy a coffee before continuing your drive back to Melbourne or take a return ferry back to the originating town. There is also a good chance you can enjoy watching dolphins swimming and racing the ferry.

Werribee Zoo

4. Werribee Open Range Zoo

Just a 30mins drive from Melbourne you can experience a taste of Africa at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Take a walking tour and the 45mins tour in a safari bus out across the zoo’s plains and see rhinos, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, lions, monkeys, cheetahs and many other species of African animals.

5. Torquay Surf Beach

Torquay is the surfing hub of Australia. It also hosts the famous and world’s longest-running surfing competition during the Easter period, the Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival. An easy drive from Melbourne with the Princes Freeway now bypassing Geelong and the region has plenty of other attractions on offer.

6. The Yarra Valley

Sunset over the covered vinyard at 'Wild Cattle Creek'

A little further from Melbourne but only a 20mins drive from my home is the famous Yarra Valley wine region. Unfortunately, a number of wineries were affected by the horrendous bushfires of 7 February 2009. As I am a keen wine drinker and love doing the winery-thing, I couldn’t go past celebrating our marriage during March 2008 at the lovely ‘Wild Cattle Creek Winery‘.  In fact it’s our second wedding anniversary today! Together with numerous first class wineries, the area also has much to offer in the small townships of Yarra Glen, Healesville and Warburton.

7. Sovereign Hill

A little further afield and located in Ballarat, the heart of the historic gold mining region, is ‘Soverign Hill’. A terrific reproduction of a 1950’s gold-field town of the area and presented as an open air museum on a large 25 hectare site. Sovereign Hill has more than 60 historic buildings, people are in costume of the era and plenty of activities to entertain everyone. Pan for gold, have your portrait taken in costume, take a horse and carriage ride, a guided tour of the mines and more. The evening sound and light show ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ is extremely popular and depicts the Eureka Stockade.

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Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

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