Melbourne may be Australia’s capital for all things cultural, but this coffee-sipping, bar-hopping, cutting-edge metropolis is also the perfect base from which to explore nature. Sip on local wines at nearby cellar doors and browse bustling boutiques or reach towering forest landscapes within an hour or hit the beach in under half. Melbourne and its surroundings are filled with natural beauty and wildlife – you just need to know where to look.
Day one
Since Melbourne is a city that prides itself on its coffee, your first morning should kick off with a cup of the good stuff. Make Core Roasters in the inner-city suburb of Brunswick your first stop, followed by Project281 for a bite to eat. A trendy café tucked down Albert Street serving an excellent breakfast menu, it features standouts like apple crumble French toast or pulled pork eggs benny.
It’s not all about flat whites in Melbourne however. This multifaceted city is also the gateway to some of Victoria’s most beautiful natural wonders. After fuelling up, head east to the Dandenong Ranges, an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People.
An hour’s drive from the city centre, this forested mountain range offers spectacular city vistas over Melbourne and is home to an array of local wildlife, such as lyrebirds, wallabies, wombats and the powerful owl. Walk the trails through the soaring mountain ash trees, lush fern glades and antiquated hilltop villages along the region’s best-loved bushwalk, the famous 1000 steps, or soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian bush at Olinda Falls.
Back in the capital, you’ll find endless places to eat and drink dotted along Melbourne’s laneways, rooftops and basements. Head to Mabu Mabu at Federation Square where First Nations chef Nornie Bero champions Australian native produce using ingredients like kangaroo tails, saltbush fried crocodile and green ants. Finish your evening at the Music Room, inspired by the listening bars of Japan and Europe, where local and international artists spin the bar’s vast curated vinyl collection, and mixologists shake up classy cocktails.
Day two
Start your day early by strolling the colourful streets of Brunswick; it’s brimming with second-hand vintage stores, op-shops, buzzy boutiques and an ever-burgeoning scene of creatives. Pick up a flat white and a sausage roll from The Green Refectory Cafe before wandering down to Fitzroy, which will take you around an hour but is a great way to get to know this creative corner of the city. Once a working-class neighbourhood, these days Fitzroy is the epicentre for grassroots artisans and designers. Spend some time browsing the many independent stores and well-known Aussie fashion stores. There’s also the Design A Space, where emerging local designers showcase their clothes on rented racks.
Less than an hour’s drive from the city centre is the Mornington Peninsula, where you can soak up jaw-dropping views across Port Phillip Bay – absorbing the beaches, coastal towns, markets, golf courses and, of course, the vineyards. The area’s topography, climate, land and soil make for perfect grape-growing conditions, meaning the Mornington Peninsula has a flourishing wine culture. It’s home to over 50 boutique cellar doors and over 200 vineyards, which are well worth visiting. Try the family-run Crittenden Estate, one of the region’s oldest and most iconic wineries, where you can sample a range of exceptional cool climate wines.
Back in town, the city’s impressive Chinese restaurant scene is evolving at a rapid rate thanks to an influx of international students. Enjoy Xiao long bao at Shanghai Street Dumplings, get stuck into traditional Chengdu-style hot pot at Dragon Hot Pot or chow down on sticky Taiwanese fried chicken at Hotstar.
For a fitting finish to the evening stop at Pearl on Bourke Street, where in-house connoisseurs pair the longest Chablis wine list in the world with Australian oysters and other fancy snacks like caviar served in lobster. For something a little less bougie, opt for Hope Street Radio, a beloved community radio station and bar in The Collingwood Yards. This neighbourhood hangout is based on community, excellent wine and a changing menu of simple snacks like focaccia, carpaccio, cheese and pasta.
Day three
Melbourne’s beach scene is often overlooked, but it’s certainly not one to be sniffed at. St Kilda Beach is a short car or tram ride from the centre and is a hotspot for locals and tourists alike. The palm-lined boardwalk is ideal for cycling or strolling, while Acland Street, renowned for its stylish cafés and dynamic restaurants, is located just around the corner. Spend some time browsing, then head to Sam’s Cafe on nearby Barkly Street for a quality coffee – where the beans are organic and ethically sourced, with 5 per cent of purchases donated to charities contributing to orangutan conservation. Sam’s toasties are also a neighbourhood favourite; opt for the triple cream brie with Italian prosciutto and four-hour caramelised onion.
After lunch, take the short tram ride back to the city to journey into the ancestral lands of the Eastern Kulin Nation on an Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can learn all about the history and thriving culture of Aboriginal Australia on a guided walk while identifying native plants within the gardens. To delve deeper into learning about the Indigenous people of the region, check out the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum. Built as a safe space for Aboriginal people to tell their story of survival and injustice, this is a place to celebrate one of the world’s oldest cultures through storytelling, exhibitions, artwork and performances.
After a final day of exploring, arrive hungry at Queen Victoria Market – nicknamed by locals as ‘the Queen Vic’ – the city’s largest and oldest open-air market as named on Australia’s National Heritage List. Here, you can sample the delicious produce and assortment of street food – there’s everything from local cheese and steamed mussels to freshly-baked cakes and Dutch pancakes.
Book with confidence with Travelbag, who can tailor your visit to Victoria to take in the highlights you are most interested to explore, from cultural and urban to the great outdoors. As a proud member of the ABTA family, all bookings are ATOL protected.
