Five-day Go Beyond Melbourne getaway

Go beyond magical Melbourne and discover four extraordinary regions – Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula, and Geelong and the Bellarine. Four very different regions; four very different experiences. Travelling between each place is effortless, and what you discover along the way will stay with you forever.

Whether you enjoy food and wine, romantic getaways, wildlife and adventure experiences or family fun, all four regions have plenty of secrets waiting to be revealed. You’ll discover a whole new world when you go beyond the city.

Start your adventure over lunch with a view of beautiful Corio Bay at Jack Rabbit Vineyard, just 90 minutes from Melbourne on the Bellarine Peninsula.

While you’re in this part of the world, stretch your legs on a walk along one of the stunning surf beaches, or explore some of the local villages as you meander around the Bellarine. Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff are havens for boutique shopping, cafes and provedores.

Catch a late ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula (keep an eye out for dolphins as you cross), and make your way to accommodation and dining duo Hotel Sorrento or the luxurious InterContinental Sorrento, where you can relax over dinner and retire to your room after.

Start your day with a walk on St Andrews Beach. Fill your lungs with fresh sea air before heading to the Mornington Peninsula hinterland for a day of wine, food and indulgence.

Schedule lunch at stunning and convivial winery Montalto, and take a post-prandial stroll through the sculpture park. Then taste more of the Mornington Peninsula’s cool-climate wines at nearby Polperro.

Wineries ticked off, on to the beaches and boutiques. Visit the famous bathing boxes on the beaches at Dromana, Mornington or Mount Martha. Pick up something for home at the Red Hill Community Market or in vintage stores in the villages of Red Hill and Flinders.

Dedicate the afternoon to pampering, with a massage and then a soak in the geothermal mineral waters at Peninsula Hot Springs. Choose another winery dining option tonight – perhaps Paringa Estate – and then back to Sorrento for a perfect night's sleep.

Make it a slow start today, then continue around Westernport Bay to Phillip Island, where wildlife, beaches and walks are plentiful.

Start the wildlife adventure at the Koala Conservation Reserve and get up close to the quirky marsupials as you take the boardwalk up to treetop level. If you like a little adrenaline in your day, head to Newhaven and jump in a kayak with the folk from Pioneer Kayaking.

Lunch at Beach HQ is recommended for an appetite heightened by all that fresh air. Savour stunning bay vistas and fresh local fare. Check in early to your accommodation at Verandah Retreat or Phillip Island Nature Resort and relax before heading off to the legendary Penguin Parade at sunset. Splurge on the Ultimate Adventure Tour to watch the parade on a private beach, or watch from the Penguins Plus area where you’ll be right up close to these adorable birds as they make their way home to their nests.

Travel north to the Dandenong Ranges and spend time delighting in the lovely villages of Sassafras and Olinda. There are plenty of opportunities for fresh air and inspiration in the Dandenongs, home to beautiful national parks and gardens, as well as the annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival (September to October). Take a stroll through the giant mountain ash forests, or pick berries as you wind your way to the Yarra Valley.

Arrive in the Yarra Valley in time for a late lunch at TarraWarra Estate and a wander through the impressive TarraWarra Museum of Art. After a long day out, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and indulge at your accommodation, Chateau Yering Hotel, and Eleanor's Restaurant.

What better way to start the last day of your journey than with a hot-air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley at sunrise, watching the vineyards and farms come to life.

Enjoy a champagne breakfast – naturally and make your way to Healesville Sanctuary for your chance to hang out with a platypus or experience a magic moment with some of the other friendly locals – hand-feed an echidna or give a wombat a tickle behind the ear.

Follow up your unforgettable wildlife experience with lunch at the Healesville Hotel, Mediterranean-inspired Levantine Hill or overlooking vines at Meletos. Alternatively, make it a craft gin flight and cheese platter at Four Pillars Distillery. Regardless, take your time before you return to Melbourne, just an hour's drive away.