Just an hour or two from Melbourne, you can walk through ancient rainforests, visit wild ocean beaches, discover relics of the gold rush era, or see kangaroos, wallabies, and other wildlife roaming freely.

These day trip ideas are all less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne and will give you a taster of the best of Victoria’s landscapes and wildlife.

You’ll have the best experience in nature by avoiding popular locations in peak times. Ideally, plan your day trip mid-week, or early in the morning (before 10 am) or later in the day (after 3 pm) on weekends.

For more inspiration or exciting things to see and do in Victoria’s parks and reserves, subscribe to our Outdoor Inspiration e-newsletter.

Mornington Peninsula

Best day trip for: coastal and epic sunset views, surf beaches, and family-friendly rockpools

Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 90 minutes

The Mornington Peninsula is one of the best places close to Melbourne for a day trip. A favourite destination for Melburnians’ coastal holidays and winter escapes, the region is home to national parks, surf beaches, spas, restaurants, and wineries – all just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

Mornington Peninsula National Park, on Bunurong Country, is renowned for its historic features, scenic headlands, and sandy beaches along the Bass Strait coast. It’s a popular destination for swimming, surfing, diving, and fishing.

Day trip ideas on the Mornington Peninsula

Ranger tip: The ocean beaches of Mornington Peninsula National Park are exposed to the rough conditions of Bass Strait. These beaches can have dangerous undertows, rips, and unexpected large swells. Swim at patrolled beaches and between the flags. Keep to marked trails as the cliffs are unstable.

Sorrento Pier, Mornington Peninsula. Image: Visit Victoria.

Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges

Best day trip for: scenic views, serene nature walks, and leisurely picnics

Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 1 hour

Just an hour northwest of Melbourne, Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, on Dja Dja Wurrung and Wurundjeri Country are the perfect nature escape. Beautiful in all seasons, but autumn here is a real highlight. The change of season creates spectacular colours in the surrounding towns and villages of Macedon and Woodend.

Day trip ideas in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges

• View the Mount Macedon War Memorial Cross and enjoy a meal at the Top of the Range tea rooms, 1,001 meters above sea level.
• Reach the highest point in the Macedon Ranges by following the Macedon Ranges Walking Trail to Camel’s Hump.
• Visit Hepburn Regional Park and take a walk to find natural mineral springs and relics of the gold mining era.
• Stop in at Trentham Falls, one of the longest single-drop waterfalls in Victoria.
• Walk the Sanatorium Lake Eco Trail, then have a picnic at Sanatorium Picnic Ground.

Ranger recommendation: “In Hepburn Regional Park, visit the giant Manna Gum at Tipperary Springs and have a picnic in the shade. You may be able to hear koalas around Sailors Falls or spot a wombat around dawn or dusk on the walking tracks between Twin Bridges or Bryce’s Flat.” – Ranger Thomas

Daylesford in autumn. Image: Visit Victoria

Yarra Ranges

Best day trip for: beginner-friendly hikes, scenic drives, and lush tall forests

Drive time from Melbourne CBD: 90 minutes

Yarra Ranges National Park on Wurundjeri Country is a haven for walkers and nature enthusiasts, and only an hour and a half from Melbourne. It’s known for its majestic Mountain Ash forests (the world’s tallest flowering tree), which have understories of tree ferns and gullies of cool temperate rainforest.

The Yarra Ranges span an extensive, mountainous area of cool temperate forest around the three towns of Marysville, Healesville, and Warburton.

Day trip ideas in the Yarra Ranges

Read more: 5 best beginner hikes in Yarra Ranges National Park

Rainforest Gallery, Yarra Ranges National Park. Image: Visit Victoria.