Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

If You Have 1 Day

If you're short on time, the free City Circle Tram and the Yarra River Shuttle Service (A$9) are both hop-on and hop-off ways to see many of the city's sights without exhausting yourself. The Parliament House tram stop gives access to the Princess Theatre, the grand Windsor Hotel, Parliament House, the Paris End of Collins Street, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Get off at Flinders Street, take a peek in Young and Jackson's pub at the infamous Chloe painting, and then walk over the Princes Bridge. There you can stroll along the bank of the Yarra looking back at Federation Square and the city skyline, and then wander along Southbank while checking out the restaurants and shops at Southgate and the Crown Casino. A trip to the Melbourne Observation Deck will put the city into perspective and you can decide whether or not you want to head northeast to Fitzroy for a meander along groovy Brunswick Street, or north towards Carlton to immerse yourself in Little Italy.

If You Have 3 Days

You might squeeze in a bit more exploring on Day 1 with a stroll through Treasury Gardens and over to Fitzroy Gardens for a look at Captain Cook's Cottage, or see the sharks at the Melbourne Aquarium opposite Southbank. On your second day, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens and see the Shrine of Remembrance. Then take a tram on St. Kilda Road to the hip Acland Street area, in the suburb of St. Kilda, for dinner. On Day 3, take a tour of Chapel Street's shops, restaurants, and bars; it's Melbourne's hippest district.

If You Have 5 Days

Take in one or more sights outside the city. Head east to the Yarra Valley on an organized winery tour, or head to the Dandenong Ranges for a ride on the Puffing Billy steam railway from Belgrave through the fern gullies and forests of the Dandenong ranges. On the way back, stop at a teahouse in Belgrave or Olinda and browse the curio stores. Or, take an evening excursion to Phillip Island for the endearing sunset Penguin Parade. A trip to the Mornington Peninsula wineries and Arthurs Seat, just 90 minutes south of Melbourne, is another great day trip. There you can rest and recuperate with a soak in the Peninsula Hot Springs.