If you struggle to find time for road trips, why not try a weekend road trip? You won’t need to worry about booking time off work or budgeting for a week-long trip, but you can still explore more of Australia and see what this fantastic country has to offer. To help you make the most of your weekends off work, we have the best weekend road trips you can take from Melbourne.
Take a look, and enjoy your next adventure!
1. Great Ocean Road
First, we have the Great Ocean Road, a famous route featured on some of the most iconic road trips in the world. Best of all, you can explore it in swiftly without dipping into any precious PTO. During your road trip, you can take plenty of surf breaks, see wildlife, waterfalls, and check out the 12 Apostles. All of this is only about an hour drive from Melbourne!
There are plenty of towns and beaches to enjoy along the way, including Torquay, Apollo Bay, and Kennett River. You can spot koalas at Kennett Bay and take advantage of the stunning seafood restaurants in any of the towns we mentioned.
During your trip, make time for the Great Otway National Park, where you will see a huge contrast compared to coastal towns you have visited. The rainforest section of the National Park is worth a visit, with plenty of walking trails and views to soak up
2. Grampians National Park
Grampians National Park is around a three hour drive from Melbourne and is the perfect weekend break. The region is famous for its stunning views, rugged beauty, hiking trails, and waterfalls. It’s the ideal place to spend the weekend if you love nature and the outdoors and provides welcome relief from the busy city atmosphere of Melbourne.
Take some time during your trip to walk to The Pinnacle lookout and enjoy some of the most stunning views of Halls Gap and the peaks of the Grampians. You can choose from several walking options to reach the Pinnacle, all varying in difficulty but with stellar views no matter which one you choose.
We also recommend MacKenzie Falls, where you can see one of Victoria’s largest waterfalls. It flows all year round, offering a stunning cascade of water that falls into a deep pool. Reaching the falls is easy, and there is a viewing platform where you can stand back and enjoy the magnificent views.
Grampians National Park / Photo by Joshua Tsu on Unsplash
3. Wilson’s Promontory
Wilson’s Promontory is another destination that takes only three hours to reach by car from Melbourne. You can make an entire weekend out of visiting The Prom, as locals call it. The national park is huge and is Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness. This means you can expect plenty of stunning scenery, along with wildlife like wombats, kangaroos, emus, and echidnas!
There are also plenty of walking trails you can take advantage of, with an array difficulty levels to choose from. During these walks, you have the opportunity to see the landscape and wildlife up close, making it the perfect destination for active families. You can also head to Squeaky Beach, where you will enjoy swimming in clear waters and relaxing on the bright sand.
If you can afford an extended weekend trip, make a stop at Phillips Island. The whole island can be a trip on its own, but no worries if you have limited time as you’ll cover plenty in a day as well. The island has several seaside villages and coastlines to stop by and lots of wildlife to observe. A highlight is the nightly fairy penguin parade, where you will see 300 to 750 penguins emerge from the sea to the beach and burrow in for the night.
4. Falls Creek
Falls Creek is another fantastic road trip you can fit into a weekend. It is less than 400 km from Melbourne and offers an adventure-packed weekend. The mountain peaks are dusted with snow and serve as one of Australia’s top ski resorts. It is the perfect place for skiers and snowboarders in the winter, but there is just as much to do and enjoy in the summer, too. Be sure to pack your hiking boots if you are visiting in the summer.
During the winter, check out the Alpine National Park ski resort filled with thousands of other skiers and snowboarders. There are plenty of slopes for skiers, ranging from beginner to expert level, allowing everyone to have fun.
It will take roughly four hours and 30 minutes to drive to Falls Creek from Melbourne, giving you ample time to settle in and make the most out of your weekend.
Plan Your Weekend Roadtrip Today
As you can see, you don’t need to dedicate lengthy amounts of time to have a memorable road trip from Melbourne. We recommend taking a campervan for any of these trips, giving you the comfort and space you need to enjoy yourself. Be sure to get prices on camper rental in Melbourne here to kick start your journey without breaking the bank!