10 towns to visit by train

Start your regional adventures on the right track – hop on Victoria's regional trains (V/line) and travel direct to your destination for less than $10 per person. Relax into your seat and gaze out the window at shifting landscapes and open skies for an authentic slow travel experience.

On arrival, hit the pavement or jump on a local bus to find galleries, distilleries, parks, cafes, adventure activities and heritage buildings within a stone's throw of the station.

Visit the V/Line website for regional train and coach timetables and fares.

Try the myki Explorer card, which includes a day's unlimited travel by train, bus and tram in metropolitan Melbourne. Travel to regional Victoria is now the same price as a metro fare, so get more bang for your buck on your next trip. 

Hop on the Ballarat line from Southern Cross and travel for 90 minutes through Victoria's scenic Goldfields to the regional city's historic train station. On arrival, head out on foot and explore sites like the Art Gallery of Ballarat or jump on a bus from the train station to see attractions like Sovereign Hill and the Ballarat Wildlife Park.

See why Bendigo is considered a vibrant arts hub and experience its world-class food and wine scene, and rich gold rush history on a day or multi-day trip to the historic township. Take a two hour train trip from Melbourne's city centre and don your miner's hat at the Central Deborah Gold Mine, ride the historic tram or explore the city's Chinese heritage at the Golden Dragon Museum.

Jump on the Bendigo V/line and get off two stops earlier at Castlemaine for a taste of fine regional cuisine, handcrafted goods and a lively music scene. Pop into the vintage markets at The Mill for clothing, furniture, art, small-batch coffee, beer, cheese and more, or catch a gig at the Theatre Royal and the Bridge Hotel.

Explore the lush surrounds of the Sherbrooke Forest on a day trip to Belgrave. A trip on the train from the city takes just shy of 90 minutes and will give you the opportunity to browse eclectic wares in the town's many shops, take a steam train ride from Belgrave to Emerald on Puffing Billy or take a short walk through the forest.

Travel for approximately one hour and 15 minutes from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and you'll find yourself in the heart of Geelong. Here, you can walk along the waterfront, ride the historic carousel or the vintage ferris wheel, and pop into one of the many cafes and restaurants stretched between Cunningham Pier and Eastern Beach.

Also on the Bendigo line is Kyneton, an up-and-coming foodie hub in the picturesque Macedon Ranges. Just one hour from Melbourne you can dine on delicious French fare at Midnight Starling or browse renowned artworks at The Old Auction House Gallery.

Stroll wide, tree-lined streets and through spacious parklands in Gippsland's largest city, Traralgon. The trip from Melbourne to the town's commercial hub is just shy of two hours and 30 minutes. You'll be greeted by a thriving pub and club scene and an ever-expanding choice of dining options. For a fine-dining affair, head to Neilson's Kitchen, or for worldly tapas, Little Prince Eating House and Bar.

Six stops before Traralgon is Warragul (a one hour and 45 minute trip from Melbourne). This thriving regional town is set among rolling green hills and dairy fields and is home to ornate shop facades, a monthly Farmers' Market and a number of modern eateries. While you're there, be sure to catch a performance at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

The township of Seymour is known for its military and rail service history and is situated on the leafy banks of the winding Goulburn River. Jump on the Seymour line from Southern Cross and travel to the end of the line (a 90 minute journey) and settle in for a yarn and a pint at the local pub or delve into the town's past at the Australian Light Horse Memorial Park.

The iconic Great Ocean Road awaits on a ride south-west from Melbourne to Warrnambool. To get there, jump on a train to Geelong and then a connecting train or bus further up the coast. With a total travel time of more than three hours and so much to see and do at your destination, a mid-week getaway on multi-day adventure is the way to go.