My Melbourne Itinerary

[mlangelo]

Great info! Is it safe to drive at night back to Melbourne city? My family want see the penguins haha. First time to Australia, heard the road is super dark and unsafe to drive after sunset. Thanks!

There are motels near Phillips Island and what we did was to check into one of the motels, then explored the island and waited for the penguins to come in. On that night it rained and it was super cold. We had our ponchos and a nice hot thermos flask of hot drink which tasted fantastic even in the rain (maybe now there are more shelters?). After the visit, we returned to our motel within 15 min and had a nice hot shower. The next morning we set off early, took the ferry and hopped onto the Great Ocean Road.

 

[miow]

Replies in blue. Some links included.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[miow]

Thanks for your advice.

i a little confused, based on our read from various website; some state October temperature will be starting on the rise and some state is colder than SIN where gear up is necessary.

Any advise, what should be our attire based on the destination & period?

Thanks.

 

[genie47]

i a little confused, based on our read from various website; some state October temperature will be starting on the rise and some state is colder than SIN where gear up is necessary.

Any advise, what should be our attire based on the destination & period?

Thanks.

Yes it has started to rise but at the same time PI is very cold. In fact, my experience with coastal cities is that they tend to be colder than the hinterland. So it was cold in Melbourne. Cold in PI. Still cold in the Angahook-Lorne State Park where I went but once I came to the Port Campbell Marine Park where the 12 Apostles are, it got hot. Then into the Grampians it got warm as well. But back in Melbourne the cool weather came back again.

I had the same experience in San Francisco and it is also a coastal city.

Layer up or down when needed.

 

[Webbyboy]

I intend to drive down from Sydney, will spending 4 nights in melbourne visiting GOR, philips island and some other places enough?

 

[whitebb]

Planning to visit Philip island. Aware there is penguin and koala. Any kangaroo there to visit?

 

[genie47]

Planning to visit Philip island. Aware there is penguin and koala. Any kangaroo there to visit?

No kangaroo. Can see wallaby at the Koala Conservation Centre. Kangaroo in the wild best go to Halls Gap! So many around until you cannot count. They come in the evening at the Halls Gap Picnic Grounds/Park.

The other place is the Lorne-Angahook State Park. More specifically at the Anglesea Golf Club.

 

[chandrapura]

I suggest you keep Port Campbell and skip Apollo Bay.

If you are putting up in Lorne, then maybe on the first day you visit Erskine then the next day you drive off to Hopetoun to keep busy. On to Lavers Hill for a nice lunch then off to Port Campbell in the morning.

Then visit the 12 Apostles. Don't forget Gibsons Steps. Around Loch Ard Gorge is also a beach. Saw a lot Aussie bikini babes sunbathing there amoth all these limestone stacks.

 

[whitemilkycow]

I only have a day in Melbourne for R&R on my work trip. Any must go places in Melbourne? TIA

 

[maxokw]

First time in Melbourne, how would you recommend the itineraries to be for 5D4N in Melbourne?

Reaching early morning on first day and leaving afternoon on the 5th day.

thanks!

 

[TommyGreen]

Hi maxokw,

Some of the must see for MEL for us would be Great Ocean Road, Philip Island (for fairy penguins) and mornington peninsula..

 

[maxokw]

Hi maxokw,

Some of the must see for MEL for us would be Great Ocean Road, Philip Island (for fairy penguins) and mornington peninsula..

Hi TommyGreen,

Thanks. will search for more info on them.

 

[DrTonyTonyChopper]

First time in Melbourne, how would you recommend the itineraries to be for 5D4N in Melbourne?

Reaching early morning on first day and leaving afternoon on the 5th day.

thanks!

Hi, if you can drive, or have someone who can, rent a car drive to phillip island - great ocean road and back. If you need more info, PM me =)

 

[xdemolicx]

Is it possible to actually travel around w/o driving?

 

[holidayforever]

Is it possible to actually travel around w/o driving?

if u r a city person, then travelling around by public transport is possible

 

[genie47]

Is it possible to actually travel around w/o driving?

Go by rail. The Vline in Victoria.

V/Line - Regional public transport for Victoria

Melbourne to GOR then to Grampians by Vline. See the pdf files on the right for the timetables in the link below:

Great Ocean Road and the Grampians

McHarry's VLine service:

McHarry's V/Line Services

Victorianlad in TA frequently brings this up.

Great Ocean Road with VLine - Melbourne Forum - TripAdvisor

 

[swatchie]

Anyone has any car rental companies to recommend? Going MEL in June. Thanks!

 

[Shiny Things]

Anyone has any car rental companies to recommend? Going MEL in June. Thanks!

I've rented from Hertz a bunch of times and never had a problem with them. They're a bit more expensive, but they're good.

 

[cormet]

Anyone has any car rental companies to recommend? Going MEL in June. Thanks!

No problems with Hertz and Thirfty. Thrifty is my preferred choice now because it's cheaper

 

[swatchie]

Thanks guys for the replies!