5 Day Melbourne Yarra Valley Golf Itinerary

Golf at Yarra Yarra Golf Club

Grab an early breakfast before making your way across the city to the Yarra Yarra Golf Club. The primary architect of this renowned Sandbelt course was Alex Russell who, in 1926, had formed a partnership with the famed Dr Alister MacKenzie during his brief visit to Australia. Today, Yarra Yarra remains substantially the same as the original layout and, like all great golf courses, has stood the test of time.

Many of the world's greatest golfers have competed in tournaments at Yarra Yarra, including Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Karrie Webb, Annika Sörenstam, Jan Stephenson and Rachel Teske. What's more, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby both launched their professional careers from their membership as amateurs at Yarra Yarra.

Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Designers: Alex Russell, Dr. Alister MacKenzie
Length: 6155m / Par 72

Cellar doors and fine dining

Follow up your round of 18 with lunch in the private dining room of the Yarra Yarra Golf Club before hitting the road to the famous Yarra Valley wine region. Traverse the rolling green hills, popping into cellar doors to sample local varietals as you go. Maybe a rose at Dominique Portet, sparkling at Domain Chandon, or perhaps a pinot noir at TarraWarra Estate? Stay for dinner in the hatted TarraWarra restaurant and then cruise across to the Yering Gorge Cottages at The Eastern Golf Club to check in for the night.

Golf at the Eastern Golf Club

Wake up in your luxury cottage overlooking The Eastern Golf Club property, complete with kangaroos on the lawn outside. Enjoy a buffet breakfast in the restaurant before grabbing the clubs for tee off.

The Eastern Golf Club is a Greg Norman-designed course, located just 45 minutes from Melbourne in the Yarra Valley wine region. The Eastern offers golfers a beautiful country estate within a peaceful environment on the doorstep of some of Victoria's best wineries, eateries and tourism experiences.

Positioned in the stunning Yering Gorge, where bushland intersects with the Yarra River against the backdrop of the Christmas Hills and Dividing Ranges, the 27-hole championship course has welcomed golfing enthusiasts and visitors from far and wide.

Eastern Golf Club
South Course
Designer: Greg Norman
Length: 6559m / Par 72

North Course
Designer: Greg Norman
Length: 6502m / Par 72

City labyrinth

Say farewell to the country climes and make a beeline for Melbourne's CBD, famous for its street-art-adorned laneways and hidden bars. Give 'Main Street' a miss and head down alleyways to find walls covered with stencil work, murals and sculptures. Grab a cocktail at Arlechin in Mornane Place, or a craft brew at Section 8 in Tattersalls Lane. Then venture on to discover velvety jazz clubs, flashy wine bars and upscale eateries.

Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club

Kingston Heath Golf Club is one of Australia's best golf courses. Ranked #19 in the world by US Golf Digest, Kingston Heath enjoys an enviable reputation for its superb conditioning all year round. Kingston Heath has hosted many major national and international tournaments including the 2009 and 2012 Australian Masters and the 2016 World Cup of Golf.

Kingston Heath Golf Club
Designers: Dan Soutar (1925), Alister Mackenzie (1926)
Length:  6436m / Par 72

Creative spirits

Greens and fairways conquered, it's time to explore the fabulous museums and galleries across the city. Start at the National Gallery of Victoria, which boasts two magnificent galleries, just a short walk from each other. Both offer free entry to their permanent collections.

NGV International houses a whole world of international art, including European, Asian, Oceanic and American works. Wander the iconic building and browse the renowned collection made up of more than 70,000 works of art. Explore the Australian collection at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia located in Federation Square across the river.

Enjoy a wander through the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria or Melbourne's Southbank precinct before retreating to your luxury CBD hotel to recharge for day five.

Golf at Metropolitan Golf Club

Tucked away quietly in Melbourne's southeast, just 25 minutes from the CBD, The Metropolitan Golf Club enjoys a reputation as one of the best-conditioned and most beautiful courses in the country. Pure couch grass fairways with large, fast bent-grass greens, hand-mown to the edges of the greenside bunkers, add greatly to the challenge of the course.

The Metropolitan has challenged the best players in the world throughout its rich history. In total, the Club has hosted seven Australian Opens, five Australian PGAs, ten other professional tournaments and in 2001 hosted the Australian Amateur Championship for the fifth time.

Metropolitan Golf Club
Designers: J.B. MacKenzie (original), Dr Alister MacKenzie, Peter Thomson (previous modifications), Ogilvy Clayton Golf Design (current)
Length: 6430m / Par 72

On the table, on the stage

Close out your golfing adventure with a dinner to remember at one of Melbourne's hatted restaurants followed by a show at Arts Centre Melbourne or one of the numerous historic theatres across town. With a renowned fine dining scene and cuisines from across the globe, you're spoilt for choice. So frock up and revel in classic Italian fine dining at Grossi Florentino, or perhaps peking duck at Flower Drum before succumbing to the charms of Victoria's creative soul.