Day trips · By train, bus or guided tour · Checked against operators’ own pages
Day Trips from Melbourne: Six Worth the Journey, Guided from About A$100
Find your Melbourne experience
How to choose
Six trips leave Melbourne, from 45 minutes to four hours away by road. The nearer four fit a relaxed day; the last two are long days, best by coach.
Good to know
- Left off: the Grampians, Wilsons Promontory, Daylesford, Werribee and the Bellarine Peninsula. This page ranks six trips sourced end to end; these were not.
| Item | Minutes by road |
|---|---|
| Dandenong Ranges (Belgrave) | 45 |
| Yarra Valley (Healesville) | 60 |
| Mornington Peninsula (hinterland) | 60 |
| Ballarat (Sovereign Hill) | 90 |
| Phillip Island (Penguin Parade) | 110 |
| Great Ocean Road (Twelve Apostles) | 240 |
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Dandenong Ranges · 45 minutes by road | A heritage steam train through the forest, at the end of a suburban rail line. |
| Yarra Valley · 1 hour by road | Wine country and Healesville Sanctuary; the sanctuary is reachable by train and bus. |
| Mornington Peninsula · about 1 hour by road | Beaches, towns and cellar doors; public transport reaches the coast but not the wineries. |
| Ballarat · 90 minutes by road, under 90 by train | Sovereign Hill, an outdoor gold-rush town, on a direct train. |
| Phillip Island · 90 minutes plus 20 by road | The Penguin Parade at sunset, with a late return to the city. |
| Great Ocean Road · about 4 hours by road | The Twelve Apostles and the coast: the longest day, and easiest by coach. |
Dandenong Ranges: Puffing Billy from Belgrave, guided from about A$180
Puffing Billy is a heritage steam railway that starts at Belgrave, the end of the suburban Belgrave line, and runs on to Lakeside and Gembrook.
See or book a Puffing Billy day tour
- Take a Belgrave line train to the end of the line, then follow the blue line on the platform for a 2-minute walk to the railway.
- Check in 60 minutes before departure. Check-in closes 30 minutes before, and the train cannot be held.
- Belgrave to Lakeside takes an hour each way. Belgrave to Gembrook takes 1 hour 50 minutes each way and runs Friday to Sunday only.
Good to know
- Journeys sell out well in advance, and every passenger must pre-book.
- No trains run on a declared Total Fire Ban day; a cancelled booking is moved to another date or refunded.
On your own
Easy by suburban train, but the steam train takes pre-booked passengers only, so book a place first.
With a guide
Coach tours combine the steam train with a forest stop and return transfers; check what each includes.
A guided Puffing Billy half day, transfers and steam train ride included, starts from about A$180.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Yarra Valley: Healesville and wine country, guided from about A$130
The Yarra Valley is wine country an hour from the city, with Healesville Sanctuary for native wildlife. Trains and a bus reach the sanctuary; a tasting day is better with someone else driving.
See or book a Yarra Valley day tour
- Take a Lilydale line train from the city centre to Lilydale station.
- Change to bus 685 for Healesville Sanctuary, and check the bus timetable before you leave.
- The sanctuary is open daily, 9am to 5pm.
Good to know
- By road, Healesville is 65 kilometres and about an hour from the city.
On your own
Fine for the sanctuary by train and bus 685; a wine day needs a designated driver.
With a guide
Day tours pair winery tastings with food or a chocolate stop; read the inclusions for the sanctuary.
A guided Yarra Valley food and wine day, winery tastings included, starts from about A$130.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Mornington Peninsula: coast and cellar doors, guided from about A$130
The peninsula’s beaches, towns and wineries begin about an hour from the city. Public transport serves the coast, not the wine country, so this is the trip where a tour or a car matters most.
See or book a Mornington Peninsula day tour
- Drive or join a tour: the region’s tourism body calls driving yourself the best way to explore.
- Without a car, take a train to Frankston, then a bus to Portsea or to Flinders via Hastings.
- Tap on with a myki on the trains and buses. No public transport runs into the hinterland.
On your own
Coast towns work by train and bus; the wineries need a car or a designated driver.
With a guide
Day tours cover the coast or the cellar doors; read the inclusions to see which you are buying.
A guided Mornington Peninsula day starts from about A$130.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Ballarat: Sovereign Hill by direct train, guided from about A$170
Sovereign Hill is an outdoor museum built as an 1850s gold-rush town in Ballarat. A direct V/Line train from Southern Cross arrives in under 90 minutes, and a local bus reaches the gates.
See or book a Sovereign Hill day tour
- Board the V/Line train to Ballarat at Southern Cross and tap on with a myki, bank card or smartphone.
- Ride to Ballarat station, then take bus route 21 to the gates.
- Sovereign Hill opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, outside Victorian school holidays, and daily during them.
Good to know
- Regional fares are capped at the same price as a metropolitan ticket.
On your own
The easiest country trip: a direct train and a local bus, with no car needed.
With a guide
A coach day adds a guide and an underground mine tour; read what your ticket includes.
A guided Sovereign Hill day, entry and the underground mine tour included, starts from about A$170.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Phillip Island: the Penguin Parade at sunset, guided from about A$140
The Penguin Parade starts at sunset, 90 minutes by road plus 20 from the bridge. It is a booked evening, so plan for a late drive back.
See or book a Phillip Island penguin day tour
- Book a viewing ticket ahead: everyone, including infants, needs one.
- Arrive about an hour before the penguins are due at sunset; the arrival time shifts through the year.
- Without a car, a V/Line bus reaches Cowes, not the Parade, and no bus returns to Melbourne afterwards.
Good to know
- Viewing comes in tiers: general viewing, Penguins Plus, Underground and guided tours, each with its own arrival time.
- Allow extra travel time from mid-December to late January, on long weekends and in school holidays.
On your own
Only with a car: the bus stops at Cowes and none returns after the Parade.
With a guide
The practical choice: a tour bundles the viewing ticket and drives you back after dark.
A guided Phillip Island day, Penguin Parade viewing included, starts from about A$140.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Great Ocean Road: the Twelve Apostles, guided from about A$100
By road the Twelve Apostles are 275 kilometres and about four hours away. The regional tourism body advises against a same-day round trip by car, so a coach tour takes the wheel out of a very long day.
See or book a Great Ocean Road day tour
- Choose a coach or small-group day that includes the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
- Expect to reserve the Twelve Apostles in advance. The site is moving to reserved entry with its new visitor centre. Ask a coach operator whether the day includes the booking.
- To see the stacks at first light, stay overnight in Port Campbell, the closest town.
Good to know
- The Great Ocean Road itself starts at Torquay, about 1 hour 17 minutes from the city by car.
- Without a car, V/Line trains run to Geelong and Warrnambool, with buses on to the coast towns.
On your own
Only by car, and the tourism body does not recommend it as a single day; stay a night if you can.
With a guide
A coach or small-group tour does the driving and returns you to the city the same day.
A guided Great Ocean Road day with the Twelve Apostles starts from about A$100.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
If you only do one
The Great Ocean Road, if the coast is why you came: nothing else here matches the Twelve Apostles, and a coach does the driving. For an easier day, take the Dandenong Ranges.
Good to know
- Wine without a car: the Yarra Valley, on a guided day.
- Penguins: Phillip Island, and accept a late return to the city.
- No tour and no car: Sovereign Hill, by direct train and local bus.
| Item | A$ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Puffing Billy half day, from | A$179 | ≈ US$123 |
| Yarra Valley food and wine day, from | A$125 | ≈ US$86 |
| Mornington Peninsula day, from | A$130 | ≈ US$89 |
| Sovereign Hill day with entry, from | A$169 | ≈ US$116 |
| Phillip Island Penguin Parade day, from | A$135 | ≈ US$93 |
| Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles day, from | A$99 | ≈ US$68 |
Guided days across these six trips start from about A$100.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation
Attractions & day trips from Melbourne
What it costs, and where to book
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, guided day trip price, excluding meals, tips and accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Where a guided day tour earns its money, and where it does not
A guide earns its money where getting there is the hard part: the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island after dark and the Mornington Peninsula’s cellar doors. It matters less for Puffing Billy, Healesville Sanctuary and Sovereign Hill, which trains and a short bus or walk reach.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
Do I need to reserve the Twelve Apostles?
Plan on it: the operator says every visitor to the new visitor centre must reserve in advance. Ask your tour how it handles the reservation.
Can I reach the Mornington Peninsula wineries without a car?
No. Buses run from Frankston to Portsea and Flinders, but the region has no public transport into the hinterland, so a wine day needs a tour or a driver.
Does Puffing Billy run every day?
It runs daily except Christmas Day, though the Gembrook journeys run only Friday to Sunday. No trains run on a declared Total Fire Ban day.
Is Sovereign Hill open on a Monday?
Not outside Victorian school holidays, when it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. During the school holidays it opens every day.
Which day trip is easiest without a car?
Puffing Billy and Sovereign Hill: a suburban or V/Line train, then a short walk or bus. Healesville Sanctuary is next, with one bus change at Lilydale.
Plan deeper in Melbourne
Sources (23)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Puffing Billy Railway — Ticket Prices & Timetables — puffingbillyrailway.org.au/visit-us/fares-timetables/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Puffing Billy Railway — Getting Here — puffingbillyrailway.org.au/visit-us/getting-here/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Puffing Billy Railway — Terms & Conditions — puffingbillyrailway.org.au/terms-conditions/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges — How to get here — www.visityarravalley.com.au/discover/overview/how-to-get-here (checked 2026-09-19)
- Healesville Sanctuary — Getting here — www.zoo.org.au/healesville/getting-here/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Healesville Sanctuary — Opening hours and visit information — www.zoo.org.au/healesville/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Mornington Peninsula — How to get here — www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org/Travel-Info/How-To-Get-Here (checked 2026-09-19)
- Sovereign Hill — Getting Here — www.sovereignhill.com.au/visit/getting-here/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Sovereign Hill — Visitor Information — www.sovereignhill.com.au/visit/visitor-information/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- V/Line — Ticketing & fares — www.vline.com.au/ticketing (checked 2026-09-19)
- Phillip Island Nature Parks — Penguin Parade — www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Great Ocean Road — The 12 Apostles — visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/visit12apostles/the-12-apostles/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Great Ocean Road — Frequently asked questions — visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/plan-your-trip/frequently-asked-questions/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Great Ocean Road — Getting here — visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/plan-your-trip/getting-here/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority — www.twelveapostles.org.au/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Puffing Billy day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Puffing%20Billy%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Yarra Valley wine day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Yarra%20Valley%20wine%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Healesville Sanctuary' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Healesville%20Sanctuary¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Mornington Peninsula day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Mornington%20Peninsula%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Ballarat Sovereign Hill day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Ballarat%20Sovereign%20Hill%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Phillip Island penguin day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Phillip%20Island%20penguin%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384), term 'Great Ocean Road day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Great%20Ocean%20Road%20day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours attractions, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384) — mubboo.flights/api/tours/attractions?destinationId=384&language=en (checked 2026-09-19)