Romantic indulgence touring route, Go Beyond Melbourne, Road trips and itineraries, Victoria, Australia

Plan a romantic getaway on Melbourne's doorstep

Slow the pace for some inspired holiday relaxation in regional Victoria's pristine natural landscapes, just a short hop from Melbourne. Take a few days to reconnect, or find some well-earned 'me' time. Treat yourself to luxury, or enjoy a little breathing space among peaceful rolling hills, glittering bay beaches and pretty parks and gardens.

From Melbourne, head south to the Bellarine Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island, all set around stunning Port Phillip Bay, then north to the iconic Yarra Valley wine region. You'll find plenty of opportunity to sample seasonal local produce and award-winning wines at scenic vineyards. Immerse yourself in an outdoor thermal mineral spring and watch the sun dip down over the hinterland. Stroll through seaside villages and along coastal trails, or book in for a memorable wildlife encounter.

Nature lover or foodie, wanderer or pleasure seeker, solo or in a pair – there's plenty here to spark a little romance. All you need to do is pack your bags and hit the road.

Eldridge Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Image: Derek Ross

Red Hill and Main Ridge

Destinations

You'll be amazed at the compact size of the peninsula's micro region, with its accessible vineyards, restaurants, artisan producers and orchards.

Yarra Valley

Destinations

Tuck yourself away in front of an open fire in the Yarra Valley to indulge in life's great pleasures of food, wine, scenery and inspiring arts.

Healesville

Destinations

Get your foodie fix in Healesville, a regional food and wine hub, before visiting cellar doors or experiencing wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary.

Olinda

Destinations

Perch yourself high above Melbourne and surrounds and observe the striking seasons in the beautiful public and private gardens of Olinda.

Cowes

Destinations

Feel a distinct seaside holiday vibe the moment you enter Cowes, which celebrates life by the water and positively bustles during holiday periods.

Sassafras

Destinations

Follow a well-worn road to a relaxing weekend in charming Sassafras, a popular destination for city dwellers since the nineteenth century.

Point Lonsdale

Destinations

While away sunny days in ocean surf or along the calm bay foreshore at Point Lonsdale, a hamlet at the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Dandenong Ranges

Destinations

Escape the busy city life into the Dandenong Ranges' hidden delights. Explore lush fern glades, towering forests and eclectic villages.

Queenscliff

Destinations

Be charmed by the historic seaside village of Queenscliff with its elegant Victorian-era buildings, art galleries, shops and great places to dine.

Geelong

Destinations

Explore Victoria's second largest city, Geelong, the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road with a diverse range of activities.

Yering Station, Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Yarra Glen

Destinations

Taste Yarra Glen's long history of gourmet indulgence as you pick up locally grown produce from farmers markets and sample wines at cellar doors.

Sorrento

Destinations

Join in the good life amid Sorrento's historic buildings, whether you're dining al fresco, browsing galleries and boutiques or swimming with dolphins.

Day one

Melbourne to the Bellarine Peninsula

Start your romantic regional journey just 1.5 hours from Melbourne on the lush Bellarine Peninsula.

Stop in at boutique Shadowfax Winery before setting out along the Bellarine Taste Trail. Hop between award-winning cellar doors to sip local wine varietals including chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot gris, then graze on an exquisite lunch at Jack Rabbit Vineyard – embellished by expansive views over Corio Bay.

After lunch, stretch your legs along one of the stunning sandy surf beaches nearby, or meander through villages and seaside hamlets along the peninsula. Picturesque Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff all offer boutique shopping and delightful cafes and provedores.

Round out your visit with a night of coastal luxury at Lon Retreat & Spa, heritage romance at Portarlington Grand Hotel, or a secluded stay with private outdoor spa and nature views at The Nest.

Lon Retreat & Spa

Retreats & lodges

Escape the busyness of life on over 200 acres of rural and conservation land, hidden away on a hill by the ocean. Lon is an adult exclusive five-star luxury...

Jack Rabbit Vineyard

Wineries

Hop to it for sophisticated cool-climate wines, an award-winning restaurant, cellar door, tasting room, bistro-style cafe and stunning coastal views.

Point Lonsdale

Destinations

While away sunny days in ocean surf or along the calm bay foreshore at Point Lonsdale, a hamlet at the tip of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Bellarine Taste Trail

Eat & drink

Treat your tastebuds to the best of the Bellarine Peninsula. Savour the local flavours at wineries, farmgates, provedores, restaurants, cafes and more.

The Nest

Bed & breakfasts

The Nest sits on the last hill just three kilometres from Point Lonsdale, 90 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and 35 minutes from Avalon Airport. Offering...

Queenscliff

Destinations

Be charmed by the historic seaside village of Queenscliff with its elegant Victorian-era buildings, art galleries, shops and great places to dine.

Geelong wine region

Eat & drink

Explore the Geelong wine region's diverse sub-regions from surf coast to volcanic plains making its food, wine and landscape resist any label.

Shadowfax Winery

Wineries

Established in 1999 and situated just 30 kilometres from Melbourne in the heart of Werribee Park, Shadowfax is one of Victoria's leading boutique wineries...

Portarlington Grand Hotel

Hotels

There’s so much to take in on the Bellarine, that sometimes a day trip alone will not do it justice. Why not make it a proper escape and stay in one of...

Barwon Heads

Destinations

Relax at this popular summer holiday destination at the mouth of the Barwon River with quiet river beaches, friendly cafes and excellent golf courses.
Day two

Bellarine to Mornington Peninsula

When the sun's up, set off on a ferry across the bay from Queenscliff to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, watching for playful dolphins on the way. On land again, fill your lungs with fresh sea air on sandy Sorrento back beach before making your way into the hinterland for a day of wine, food and indulgence.

Heritage Heronswood House & Gardens is a tranquil spot for morning tea before climbing aboard the Arthurs Seat Eagle. Ride the gondola over the state forest to the peninsula's highest point for panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay.

Schedule lunch and a wine tasting at stunning Montalto, and tour the winery's renowned sculpture park before or after dining. Vino lovers will want to fit in further tastings at nearby Crittenden Estate and Merricks General Wine Store.

Visit the famous bathing boxes at Dromana, Mornington or Mt Martha before a late-afternoon massage at Peninsula Hot Springs, where you can soak in gorgeous thermal mineral pools dotted across the hillside. Sunset is a must from the top pool for an all-encompassing view of the peninsula.

When night falls, rest up at the Hot Springs glamping accommodation. Or book for architectural style, an infinity pool and vineyard vistas at Jackalope – with standout on-site restaurants Doot Doot Doot and Rare Hare.

Heronswood House and Garden

Parks & gardens

Heronswood is a breathtaking historic property situated on two hectares of formal gardens in Dromana. It is the home of the Digger's Club - Australia's...

Crittenden Wines

Wineries

Crittenden Estate is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s oldest and most iconic wineries. Family owned and operated since 1982 Crittenden Estate is known...

Montalto

Wineries

Montalto is a place where you can celebrate life and enjoy a moment out of the ordinary.Owned by the Mitchell family since 1999, Montalto is where seasonal,...

Searoad Ferries Queenscliff

Ferry

Experience the beauty of Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay on a bay crossing with Searoad Ferries. The 40-minute sail between Sorrento and Queenscliff is pretty...

Jackalope Mornington Peninsula

Hotels

Prepare to be wowed by the sleek design and vineyard vistas of this luxury hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, featuring winery restaurant Rare Hare.

Rare Hare at LL Vineyard

Restaurants

Enjoy indoor and outdoor vineyard-view dining a short stroll from luxurious Jackalope. Awarded a hat by Good Food Guide and a star by the Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide

Arthurs Seat Eagle

Leisure activities

Soar the heights of the Mornington Peninsula with scenic views across Port Phillip Bay towards Melbourne, around the coast and beyond.Gliding quietly through...

Peninsula Hot Springs

Spa & wellbeing

Pamper yourself at Victoria's first natural thermal mineral springs and day spa, located just over an hour from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula.

Doot Doot Doot

Restaurants

Doot miss the opportunity to try the ever-evolving five-course tasting menu at Jackalope's fine dining restaurant, hatted by Good Food Guide 2020.

Sorrento

Destinations

Join in the good life amid Sorrento's historic buildings, whether you're dining al fresco, browsing galleries and boutiques or swimming with dolphins.

Bathing boxes

Heritage buildings

The peninsula's rainbow-coloured bathing boxes have provided a colourful backdrop to countless swims and lazy beach days all around the bay.

Stay at Peninsula Hot Springs

Glamping

Peninsula Hot Springs is redefining glamping. With full ensuites and floors heated by geothermal water and split systems to create your own climate, you...
Day three

Mornington Peninsula to Phillip Island

Head off for a day of nature adventures. Continue around Western Port Bay to Phillip Island, where native wildlife, pristine beaches and nature walks await.

First up: take to the skies with Phillip Island Helicopters for a bird's-eye view of the island you'll remember forever. Lunch at Phillip Island Winery is recommended for refuelling, with flavoursome dining, live music on the grass and a taste of local wines.

It's time for your Aussie dreams to come true in the treetops at the Koala Conservation Reserve. Follow an elevated boardwalk to meet everyone's favourite iconic cuddly creatures in their natural habitat.

Get another dose of adrenaline on a unique jetboat tour across the waters with Ocean Adventures Phillip Island, exploring the granite cliffs and caves of Cape Woolamai. Or keep the pace more sedate aboard a catamaran tour with Wildlife Coast Cruises out to Seal Rocks, where thousands of delightful Australian fur seals frolic offshore.

Head to your accommodation at Oak Tree Lodge and put your feet up before setting out to the legendary Penguin Parade at sunset. Book for the Ultimate Tour for small-group viewing from a private beach, or view these adorable little penguins from the Penguins Plus area, where you'll be right up close as they waddle their way home to their nests.

Wildlife Coast Cruises

Tour operator

Spot seals, whales and more on environmentally accredited wildlife, twilight and lunch cruises, from Phillip Island to Wilsons Promontory.

Ocean Adventures Phillip Island

Tour operator

Ocean Adventures Phillip Island specialises in fun, safe and personal adventure-based tourism for the whole family, couples and travellers, showcasing...

Oak Tree Lodge

Bed & breakfasts

The Oak Tree Lodge accommodation offers an unforgettable experience of self-contained, luxury indulgence, situated in the quiet little village of Rhyll,...

Phillip Island Winery

Wineries

Set on the south coast of Phillip Island this 14-acre property with three acres of vines offers a range of spaces are available for weddings, functions...

Koala Conservation Reserve

Sanctuaries, zoos & farms

Wander through the tree-top boardwalks and see koalas up close in their natural habitat at Phillip Island's Koala Reserve.

Phillip Island Helicopters

Tour operator

There is just no other way of experiencing the majestic Phillip Island coastal scenery than from the air with Phillip Island Helicopters. Phillip Island...

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Sanctuaries, zoos & farms

See Phillip Island's little penguins emerge from the sea, peek at life inside a burrow, and spot other Australian animals at this wildlife wonderland.

Cape Woolamai

Beaches & coastlines

Catch a wave against the backdrop of ancient pink granite at Cape Woolamai, one of Victoria's most popular surfing beaches and bird-spotting mecca.
Day four

Phillip Island to Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

Head roughly an hour and 50 minutes north to the lush gardens and national parks of the Dandenong Ranges. Hop aboard the historic Puffing Billy Railway for a morning ride through fern gullies and rainforest or make an afternoon of it by booking the three-hour gourmet on-board lunch.

Take a stroll through giant mountain ash forest in Dandenong Ranges National Park or spend time exploring the quaint hill villages of Sassafras and Olinda, where you can pick up antiques and artworks, and sample the popular local Devonshire tea.

In summer, discover the bounty of this fertile region as you fill your basket with cherries plucked straight from the tree at CherryHill Orchards, and stock up on stone fruits at Rayners Orchard. In September and October, make sure you experience the magic and colour of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival.

Press on towards the rolling green fields of the famed Yarra Valley in time for a late winery lunch at TarraWarra Estate or Coombe Yarra Valley – the latter home to an acclaimed restaurant, winery and country house that was once the residence of legendary Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

As night approaches, settle into your accommodation at Chateau Yering, where you'll also share a sumptuous dinner at award-winning Eleonore's Restaurant. After that, the night is yours to while away amid the old-world architecture and manicured gardens of one of the Yarra Valley's iconic retreats.

Rayner's Orchard

Local produce

Rayner's Orchard currently grows over 450 varieties of fruit and is around an hour's drive from the Melbourne city centre, located in Melbourne's food...

Yarra Valley

Destinations

Tuck yourself away in front of an open fire in the Yarra Valley to indulge in life's great pleasures of food, wine, scenery and inspiring arts.

Puffing Billy Railway

History & heritage

All aboard for a ride on Australia's oldest steam railway, through thick forests and lush fern gullies, or travel first class for olden-times romance.

Sassafras

Destinations

Follow a well-worn road to a relaxing weekend in charming Sassafras, a popular destination for city dwellers since the nineteenth century.

Coombe Yarra Valley

Wineries

Compare cellar-door tasting notes, graze over a gourmet lunch and then delight at the on-site providore at the former home of Dame Nellie Melba.

Eleonore's Restaurant at Chateau Yering Hotel

Restaurants

Treat yourself to a night of elegant, multi-award-winning contemporary fine dining in the historic 19th-century Chateau Yering.

CherryHill Orchards

Local produce

CherryHill Orchards is Victoria’s largest and most well-rated cherry-picking orchard. For many , a favourite summer tradition is to pack a picnic, soak...

Yarra Glen

Destinations

Taste Yarra Glen's long history of gourmet indulgence as you pick up locally grown produce from farmers markets and sample wines at cellar doors.

TarraWarra Estate

Wineries

Reward your senses with an inspired combination of fine wines, delicious food, fine art and breathtaking views. Hatted by the Good Food Guide 2019.

Dandenong Ranges National Park

National parks & reserves

Take a relaxing walk through forests of towering mountain ash in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne's CBD.

Dandenong Ranges

Destinations

Escape the busy city life into the Dandenong Ranges' hidden delights. Explore lush fern glades, towering forests and eclectic villages.

Offer

Chateau Yering Hotel

Hotels

Chateau Yering Hotel – the grand matriarch of the region located in the heart of the Yarra Valley.Chateau Yering Hotel offers you the most tranquil, perhaps...

Olinda

Destinations

Perch yourself high above Melbourne and surrounds and observe the striking seasons in the beautiful public and private gardens of Olinda.
Day five

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges to Melbourne

Start the last day of your romantic journey with a hot-air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley at sunrise. Soar above vineyards and farms as they come to life with the sun's fledgling rays and say cheers with a champagne breakfast when you land.

There's more romantic inspiration to come on a relaxing wander through manicured landscapes at Alowyn Gardens. Discover the French-inspired parterre garden, the forest garden and the wisteria archway. If visiting between late December and April, be sure to see the famous Amazon lilies at the Blue Lotus Water Garden.

Popular nature spot Healesville Sanctuary offers the perfect chance to say hello to more of Victoria's beloved wildlife. Magic moments await as you get close to a platypus, see magnificent parrots put on an extroverted display, and listen out for the famous mimicry of the lyrebird – known to have perfected the clicking sound of a camera shutter.

Enjoy a sensational seasonal lunch at De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate, soak up the atmosphere at Chandon, or sit overlooking the vines at Meletos or Oakridge.

Lastly, pop into Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery for a sweet treat or gift pack for someone special before making the quick one-hour drive back to Melbourne.

Offer

Healesville Sanctuary

Sanctuaries, zoos & farms

Watch for waking koalas and peek at a joey in a kangaroo's pouch, meet keepers or observe vets in the animal hospital, all in an Aussie bush setting.

Oakridge Wines

Wineries

Savour this award-winning winery, cellar door and restaurant in the heart of the Yarra Valley, voted Time Out Restaurant of the Year 2019.

Ballooning and scenic flights

Outdoor & adventure

Rise above the Yarra Valley at sunrise on a silent, scenic hot air balloon flight – a tranquil way to experience the wonders of the landscape.

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate

Wineries

With over 80 years in the game, there's not much the De Bortoli family don't know about wine. Pop in for a taste of their famous cool climate wines.

Chandon

Wineries

Established in 1986, Chandon Australia is a premium sparkling winery based in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. Dedicated to creating exceptional méthode traditionnelle...

Blue Lotus Water Garden

Parks & gardens

The Blue Lotus Water Garden is one of Australia's premier seasonal gardens. Open from 26 December - 14 April. Visitors can experience a magnificent display...

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery

Local produce

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is a sweet destination where you can indulge your love of chocolate in beautiful countryside only one hour...

Coldstream Trail

Eat & drink

Find out what's in season and what's on the vine along the Coldstream Trail – located on Melbourne's doorstep and just five minutes from Lilydale.

Meletos

Restaurants

Dine in a refurbished farm house at the Yarra Valley's Meletos. Specialising in local flavours, this cafe showcases the best of country hospitality.