It's among my most cherished destinations in Victoria. The Great Ocean Road has plenty to discover. From the CBD, you can take brief day trips down to Torquay, though I'd suggest not travelling much further unless you're keen to see just one specific attraction. You could readily dedicate a week to discovering the various townships and attractions scattered along the Great Ocean Road. Across the 243 km stretch, you'll find the 12 Apostles, Cape Otway and the Great Otway National Park, London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge, Apollo Bay, Bells Beach in Torquay and considerably more!
Similar to the Great Ocean Road, the Dandenong Ranges have plenty worth exploring. Fern Gully genuinely exists! I'm serious, FERN GULLY EXISTS!! Simply venture out a short distance from the city and you'll find yourself there! I've only explored a portion so far, but it feels like something from Jurassic Park itself! The abundance of hiking trails is marvellous! If strenuous stair climbing appeals to you, 1,000 Steps offers the perfect challenge! You'll not only exhaust your glutes tackling countless steps but also learn fascinating facts about the 1942 soldiers.
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| Sherbrooke Forest |
Queen Victoria Market
I'm genuinely fond of Queen Vic Market. Sure, there are the typical trinkets, and negotiating prices isn't really an option, but the variety is incredible. You'll find fresh produce, meats, cheeses, clothing, and souvenirs all in one place. It's endless really. Come summer, they launch an evening market too! Tonnes of food and beverages to sample. The downside to the evening market is that servings come in fixed portions. They ought to offer smaller quantities so you've got room to taste more of the delicious offerings!
Zoo's
Perhaps I'm the only one, but I absolutely adore cute creatures. Actually, let me rephrase that—I adore all creatures really. Australia happens to be where I find my absolute favourites. After 26 years on this earth, I finally managed to spot a platypus (Someday I'll definitely wade amongst the platypi at Healesville Sanctuary)! Three separate zoo's, three incredibly distinct destinations. Melbourne Zoo is brilliant and reminds me quite a bit of the San Diego Zoo. Healesville focuses entirely on Australian creatures. It's fantastic! Meanwhile Werribee Open Range Zoo operates like a proper Safari experience. Excellent work Melbourne! Your zoo offerings are first-class!
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| Fun times with the Dingo Pups |
Royal Botanical Gardens
I'll admit I'm highlighting RBG particularly, though truthfully, Melbourne's gardens are all marvellous! Truly, if Leslie Knope visited Melbourne, she'd be absolutely thrilled. I'm being sincere when I say you'll find a park or garden almost every other block. The Royal Botanical Gardens is undoubtedly my top pick. There's an incredible amount to see and discover. What I particularly enjoy is the California Garden situated within the RBG. It's a piece of my former home nestled into my present one! To be fair though, the garden at my street's end is rather striking! Quite impressive considering it's merely a short stroll—only a couple hundred metres away!
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| Local Reserve. Leslie would be jealous! |
Melbourne's City Centre
Melbourne ranks amongst the world's finest places to call home, and for good reason. The CBD constantly buzzes with activity and vibrant energy. Granted, the hook turns can be frustratingly difficult to navigate, but the upside is complimentary, absolutely complimentary, public transport throughout the CBD! The precinct boasts countless remarkable attractions to explore. Beyond the well-known destinations such as Flinders Street Station, the Library, Fed Square, and the Melbourne Museum, you'll discover charming laneways brimming with outstanding cafés or brilliant street art. Every visit to the city reveals fresh discoveries. It's constantly surprising!
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| Stunning Sundown at the Yarra River |
Phillip Island
Phillip Island offers more than just the renowned penguin parade. This island is absolutely brilliant. The surfing here is truly exceptional! I find the waves at Phillip Island more appealing than those at the back beaches on Mornington Peninsula since there are fewer rocks and during quieter periods, a smaller crowd. Phillip Island reminds me greatly of Catalina Island. Which is marvellous because Catalina Island ranks among my most cherished destinations in the world.
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| Surfing at Phillip Island |
Harbour Beaches
Harbour beaches frequently face unfavourable opinions. Swimming in the water isn't advisable, yet this doesn't diminish the splendour of these coastal spots. Brighton Beach features the well-known bathing boxes, Port Melbourne and St Kilda offer striking vistas, paddle boarding, and windsurfing opportunities, whilst Elwood Beach delivers marvellous views across the skyline and maintains a welcoming vibe.
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| Princes Pier, Port Melbourne |
Vineyards
Wine is my passion. In my family, if you're not keen on wine, you're essentially cast out. To be honest, before I relocated to Australia, I had no idea about Australian wine. Sure, in America you can find Yellowtail and Cupcake Wine (though I reckon Cupcake is actually a New Zealand wine that Americans try to pass off as Australian) but truthfully, my father would turn in his grave if I ever touched either of those. They were mainly just for cooking. I was somewhat hesitant about Aussie wine but following plenty of tastings and a wine appreciation course, I've come to really appreciate Australian wines. There are some wonderful wineries near Melbourne. Yarra Valley is absolutely brilliant and if you're visiting Healesville, why not drop in for some wine tasting? Mornington Peninsula also boasts some excellent vineyards with stunning ocean views.
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| Vineyard in Mornington |
Melbourne has so much to offer, and I've barely scratched the surface. I'm always eager for suggestions about what to visit, where to eat, and what experiences to explore. I'd love to hear from you—what do you love most about Melbourne? Do you have favourite spots for dining or grabbing a drink? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Until we meet again...
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