Melbourne + Beyond: 6 Day Victoria Trip
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Six days is our 5-day itinerary , the city, a proper 2-day Great Ocean Road trip, and the Yarra Valley, with a sixth day added for Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. ⚠ The penguins come ashore at dusk, which means a late return, so this is a car or guided-tour day, not a train trip. Want a lighter add instead, our 7-day itinerary tacks on the Dandenongs after this.
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 |
| 5 | Yarra Valley: wine and Healesville Sanctuary | ~AUD $150-250 |
| 6 | Phillip Island: Penguin Parade | ~AUD $120-180 |
Book these before you go
- ETA or eVisitor : sort entry before you fly, Australia has no visa-free entry.
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade tickets : around AUD $33, book ahead, this sells out.
- Great Ocean Road overnight: book accommodation in Apollo Bay or Lorne ahead, especially in summer.
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.
Day 5: Yarra Valley
Morning: About 1h15 from the city, a true day trip.
Midday: Wine cellar doors, and a cellar-door lunch at one of them.
Afternoon: Healesville Sanctuary for koalas, kangaroos, and wombats in a bush setting.
Evening: Back in Melbourne, no overnight needed for this one.
Day 6: Phillip Island
Morning: About 1.5-2 hours from Melbourne, by car or guided tour, the V/Line bus doesn’t reach the Penguin Parade itself.
Afternoon: Explore the island through the day, Churchill Island’s heritage farm or the coastal scenery near Cape Woolamai.
Evening: ⚠ The Penguin Parade happens at dusk, so this is a late return by design, plan for it rather than fighting it.
Is Phillip Island worth the late return?
Yes, but plan the logistics around dusk rather than trying to squeeze it into an earlier slot, the penguins don’t come ashore on a tourist’s schedule. If a late return doesn’t suit, the Yarra Valley on day 5 is the lighter alternative. 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.