Melbourne —
coffee, cliffs and little penguins
Melbourne was a revelation — lots of Irish, a brilliant food and café scene, and a completely different character to Sydney. Add our helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles and seeing the little penguins of Phillip Island waddling up the beach at dusk, and it became one of the strongest chapters of our whole Australian trip.
A revelation of a city
Melbourne was a revelation. Lots of Irish people, a brilliant food and café scene, beautiful architecture and a character completely different to Sydney.
We noticed a strong Irish presence in Melbourne, which gave parts of the city a familiar feel. Add the cafés, food scene, laneways, street art and live music and there is plenty to explore beyond the headline sights.
The little penguins at dusk
A highlight was Phillip Island's little penguins — watching the tiny penguins waddle up the beach at dusk was one of those genuinely magical natural experiences that stays with you for years.
Phillip Island is about 90 minutes south-east of Melbourne and the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach is one of Australia's most beloved wildlife experiences. The penguins are wild — the parade happens every evening at sunset, entirely on the penguins' own schedule.
One of the great upgrades of the trip
One of the great moments of our entire Australia trip was seeing the Twelve Apostles by helicopter on the Great Ocean Road. We did the helicopter flight ourselves and absolutely loved it — seeing those enormous limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean from the air was extraordinary. It gave us a completely different perspective on one of Australia's most iconic stretches of coastline and was easily one of the standout experiences of the trip.
One of the world's great drives
The Great Ocean Road stretches roughly 240km along Victoria's south-west coast and is one of the most celebrated coastal drives on the planet. Every bend gives another view — dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, surf beaches, eucalyptus rainforest and koalas in the trees at Kennett River.
The Twelve Apostles are the road's most famous stop, but the whole drive from Torquay through Lorne, Apollo Bay and beyond is the real experience. Renting a car and taking your time is the best way to do it.
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From the road south
Melbourne highlights
The little penguins at dusk — one of Australia's most magical wildlife experiences.
Seeing the limestone stacks from the air is on a completely different level from the cliff tops.
One of the world's great coastal drives — 240km of cliffs, coves and rainforest.
Melbourne's coffee culture is world-famous, and the laneways behind the CBD are packed with hidden bars and street art.
The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia's oldest and one of its best.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground — a spiritual home for cricket and Aussie Rules.
One of Australia's best wine regions, easily done as a day trip from the city.
The old-fashioned tram that loops the CBD for free — brilliant for getting your bearings.
Melbourne practical info
- Getting there: Melbourne Tullamarine Airport connects to almost everywhere. SkyBus runs from the airport to the city.
- Getting around: Melbourne has one of the world's best tram networks. The myki card covers trams, trains and buses.
- Phillip Island: About 90 minutes' drive south-east. Book Penguin Parade tickets in advance — visitor numbers are managed.
- Great Ocean Road: Two days is much better than a rushed one — an overnight in Lorne or Apollo Bay lets you actually enjoy the drive.
- Best time to visit: March-May (autumn) and September-November (spring). Melbourne's weather is famously changeable — four seasons in a day is a real phrase here.
Book Melbourne experiences with GetYourGuide
Phillip Island penguins, Great Ocean Road day trips, Twelve Apostles helicopter flights, Yarra Valley wine tours and more:
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Take a virtual drive around Melbourne
Want to get a feel for Melbourne before you go? Explore the city with Drive From Home, then jump into the virtual drive and see Melbourne from the road.
Common questions
FAQ
What to pack for Australia
Australia packing essentials
A few useful essentials for an Australia adventure — especially for sun, changing weather and long travel days.
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Planning your Australia trip?
This is just one stop on the huge Australian adventure. See how it all connects — the East Coast, the Red Centre, the reef, the cities and everything in between.
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