Melbourne + Beyond: 4 Day Victoria Trip
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Four days fixes the one honest compromise in our 3-day itinerary : instead of squeezing the Great Ocean Road into a single ~12-hour day, it becomes a proper 2-day, 1-night trip along the coast. This is genuinely the better way to see it. Want the Yarra Valley or Phillip Island added instead, our 5-day itinerary builds on this same spine.
Day-by-day at a glance
| Day | Focus | Est. spend (excl. hotel) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CBD laneways, Federation Square (NGV/ACMI), the MCG | ~AUD $100-140 |
| 2 | Queen Victoria Market, St Kilda | ~AUD $80-120 |
| 3 | Great Ocean Road out: Kennett River, Apollo Bay | ~AUD $150-220 |
| 4 | Great Ocean Road back: Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge | ~AUD $150-220 |
Book these before you go
- ETA or eVisitor : sort entry before you fly, Australia has no visa-free entry.
- Great Ocean Road overnight: book accommodation in Apollo Bay or Lorne ahead, especially in summer.
- St Kilda penguins: the dusk viewing slot is free but needs a timed reservation that books out.
Day 1: CBD, laneways, and the MCG
Federation Square, the laneways (Hosier Lane, Degraves St, the Block and Royal Arcades), ⚠ NGV’s two separate free buildings, and the MCG (ground tours around AUD $38). Dinner in Chinatown, the oldest continuously running Chinatown in the Western world.
Day 2: Markets and St Kilda
Queen Victoria Market (1878), then St Kilda’s Luna Park and Acland St. The little penguins come ashore on the breakwater at dusk, free but book the timed slot ahead.
Day 3: Great Ocean Road, the drive out
Morning: Depart Melbourne, Torquay and Lorne along the way.
Midday: Kennett River, the reliable spot for wild koalas in the treetops.
Afternoon: Apollo Bay, a good overnight base roughly halfway along the route.
Evening: Settle in for the night rather than pushing on, the whole point of taking two days is not rushing this stretch.
Day 4: Great Ocean Road, the Twelve Apostles
Morning: On to the Twelve Apostles, the marquee stop of the entire drive, best light is early.
Midday: Loch Ard Gorge, right nearby, worth the short walk down.
Afternoon: The drive back to Melbourne, several hours depending on stops.
Evening: Arrive back in Melbourne for a final dinner.
Is four days the right length for Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road?
Yes, this is the honest minimum to do the Great Ocean Road without a rushed single day. If you want to add the Yarra Valley or Phillip Island on top, our 5-day itinerary does exactly that. Get your ETA or eVisitor sorted before you fly and load a Myki once you land, trams and buses outside the Free Tram Zone need one.