As part of our Aussie trip, our group of six will be divided. We, family of four, will stay with friends who live in Melbourne. However, I am looking for a decent budget tour that takes Grandparents around the area for four nights. We will all then depart Melbourne for Alice Springs,

Thoughts?

I suppose they exist, but I can't really think of any tours of Melbourne and surrounds which last several days, except for 3-4 days tours for the Great Ocean Road which is hardly Melbourne anyway.

However, why don't they just book a hotel in town and choose several day tours which interest them. There are city ones, but the city is so easy to get around (and there free transport to the tourist spots) that it seems a waste of money to book a day tour of the city. They could then choose according to their interest between days to Yarra Valley (wineries), Dandenong Ranges (gardens and afternoon teas), Healesville (Aussie animals only zoo), Phillip Island (penguins), Ballarat (recreation of a gold mining town) amongst others.

A day trip to Bendigo is worth doing as well. Easy by train, and Bendigo is a most elegant city.

Stay at the shamrock, if possible. Built around 1905, and about half a kilometre from the station.

The thing is we will be with friends in Melbourne and it's just a bit ... awkward. They prefer a tour that would allow them to see interesting things and includes guides and meals and takes them around Melbourne without staying in Melbourne.

Thanks,

You might find something on the "Visit Victoria" website.
http://www.visitvictoria.com/display...21272569F716F/

Perhaps get your friends/family to identify areas of interest & see where you go from there. Maybe a loop that takes in the some wine country, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island?

Ooops ... sorry Shandy - exactly what you said!

Well I'm quite confused. A tour that "takes them around Melbourne without staying in Melbourne". Where will they be staying if not in Melbourne, or do you simply mean they are not staying in the city itself? Are they staying at your friends place as well? Are you looking for a tour that includes accommodation or just sightseeing? May be I'm being a bit dense but I don't get it.

Sorry for the lack of clarity. I would like them to have a tour in that general region without actually having them in Melbourne. Ideally it would be a modestly priced bus tour that takes them to different stops for three or four nights. They just need to fly in and out of Melbourne with us.

Have a look at the Visit Victoria and see if there is anything there that suits you - just type in tours in the search box. www.visitvictoria.com/

What a wonderful resource shandy. Thanks!

Try the north east - Bright, Beechworth, across to Rutherglen, Yarrawonga and then down the centre through Bendigo and back to Melbourne - might have to hire a car.

Visit Victoria is a great website

Thanks, Karen. However, I think I might have to have them as part of a group for them to be more comfortable.

This is belated, However, I want you to know that we found the best place in the Visit Victoria website. The Natural Treasures tour that my parents took was the absolute highlight of their trip. We would strongly recommend it!