Australia Guide
Around Melbourne
There are many possible day-trips out of Melbourne, mainly around the shores of the huge Port Phillip Bay, encircled by the arms of the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas. The Mornington Peninsula on the east side has farmland and wineries on gently rolling hills and is home to some of the city's most popular beaches and surfing spots, packed on summer weekends. Western Port Bay, beyond the peninsula, encloses two fascinating islands – little-known French Island, much of whose wildlife is protected by a national park, and Phillip Island, whose nightly "Penguin Parade", when masses of Little penguins waddle ashore each night, is among Australia's biggest tourist attractions. The Bellarine Peninsula and the western side of Port Phillip Bay are less exciting, but they do give access to the west coast and the Great Ocean Road. A regular ferry service operates from Phillip Island and French Island to the Mornington Peninsula and from here on to the Bellarine Peninsula, making it possible to visit these places in one big loop before continuing along the Great Ocean Road, with no need to backtrack to Melbourne. Even without your own car it is a doable travel option but not one that gets much publicity in Melbourne.
Inland to the east the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges offer beautiful countryside, wine-tasting and bushwalking.
Highlights
1 Penguin Parade, Phillip Island See thousands of Little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle up the sand to their burrows.
2 Yarra Valley Victoria's answer to South Australia's Barossa Valley boasts pretty scenery and some great wineries.
3 Healesville Sanctuary Visit the beautifully located bushland zoo and wildlife sanctuary for injured and orphaned animals.
4 Puffing Billy Ride the Puffing Billy steam train through the shady forests of the Dandenong Ranges.