Arrive in Melbourne and take the afternoon to settle into your accommodation. The next day, your adventure begins as you take the time to explore the city sights at your leisure, with several attractions we can book for you if you wish. Spend the next day exploring the quintessential touring route, the Great Ocean Road with AAT Kings (alternate operator used April through November) - or opt for a foodie day on the Mornington Peninsula. Your final full day includes a peaceful cruise on the Yarra River before a guided experience to Phillip Island, home to a colony of Australia's endangered little penguins. With so much more to see and do in the Melbourne region, your sales consultant would be more than happy to extend this itinerary for you!
BeachesWildlife & natureThis Tour Also Features
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Included transfer(s)- Private transfer Melbourne Airport to your accommodation- Private transfer from accommodation to Melbourne Airport
- Meals included: 4 breakfasts
On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside customs exit and delivered to your Melbourne accommodation.
Melbourne is the coastal capital of the state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with shopping, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art. As the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has a hidden gem around every corner - Rich history, bustling laneways, rooftop bars, and world-class restaurants are just the beginning!
Melbourne is the cool, artsy capital of the state of Victoria. Renowned for its laneway art, cafes, bars, restaurants and museums, there is no shortage of things to do, see, eat and drink. Grab a coffee in Degraves Street, see the murals on Hosier Lane or Blender Lane, pop over to St Kilda and stroll along the promenade or visit one of the many museums. For a spot of retail therapy, catch the 86 or 96 tram from the CBD to the bohemian Brunswick Street shopping district for an eclectic mix of second hand vintage and high-end boutique stores. On the opposite side of the city, the Docklands open-air entertainment precinct boasts a myriad of public artwork, family fun activities such as glow in the dark mini golf, and a variety of dining options lining the marina. Get there easily on the free City Circle tram, or wander over the Bourke Street footbridge. To make the most of your time in Melbourne, we recommend taking a city tour to get true local insight into this vibrant city.
At Melbourne Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing attraction, the city of Melbourne comes alive in front of your eyes when you take it all in from nearly 300 metres high. It’s Melbourne on another level. The Skydeck experience features Bar 88, in association with Bollinger, operated by the Eureka 89 team. With 360° panoramic views all day and night, you can relax and enjoy all of Melbourne’s legendary views with a delicious snack and cool drink.
In the heart of Melbourne City Centre get up close to a wide range of native Australian and international wildlife, home to over 320 amazing species! Spend the day with all your favorite animals, with the chance for an up-close experience as well as listening to the knowledgeable keepers talks about all the amazing animals on the grounds! Stroll through the rainforests watching the monkeys, see eye to eye with the Lions and watch the seals and penguins in the underwater world! With plenty to see and do your day will be filled with excitement!
The Melbourne hidden bar culture is a unique part of Australia’s cultural capital. The difficult thing is just that – they’re hidden! This city makes you work to find its best bits, which is why you’ll find some of the best bars behind other venues, underneath laneways, or tucked into repurposed spaces.
Join an experienced guide and uncover four of these fascinating venues in one afternoon, and learn what makes each one special over a drink, or four (at your own expense). Speak with talented bartenders during this small-group experience, making sure to chat with them about what kinds of drinks you like to personalise your Melbourne Hidden Bars Tour even more.
Take a breath and enjoy a relaxed and unhindered view of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge in this spectacular tour of the Great Ocean Road. Begin your journey inland, stopping first at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Go back in time with your second stop at the historical Memorial Arch, signifying the beginning of the infamous Great Ocean Road. In Lorne, take in the picturesque seaside town, before stopping for lunch at Apollo Bay.
Be greeted by the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks rising out from the Southern Ocean. Our tour will then take you to the shores of Loch Ard Gorge, home to one of Victoria's most tragic shipwrecks. Stop in Port Campbell and explore the remnants of London Bridge before returning to Melbourne where you will be welcomed by spectacular city lights.
Calling all foodies and wine enthusiasts on this exciting Mornington Peninsula Food and Wine Tasting Trial. Enjoy the rolling vineyards and ocean views on route to Point Leo Estate where you will have your first wine tasting of the day. Stroll through the winery's sculpture gardens before experiencing the cool climate Rare Hare wines at Jackalope, a spectacular property surrounded by ocean. Continue to enjoy a glass of wine with lunch at Montalto Wines and later, a beer at St Andrews Beach Brewery, a once world class horse training facility which has been converted into a beach brewery, taproom and farm. Stop at Murray's Lookout, the highest point of the Mornington Peninsula before stopping at the infamous Penisula Bathing Boxes. These vibrant boxes nestled on the sand make a fantastic photo opportunity and is the perfect location to end your time on the peninsula.
Within moments of Melbourne’s cultural Arts precinct, you are cruising through Melbourne’s picturesque gardens, parkland’s and some of the city's famous sporting arenas.
Your tour will commence with a visit to Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where you are guaranteed plenty of close encounters with an array of Australian native animals like kangaroos, wombats and echidnas. Next, you will head to Phillip Island where time/season permitting, you will take to Woolamai Surf Beach to catch a glimpse of the awesome waves and die-hard surfers. Following this, you then travel over to the dramatic west coast of the island. At the Nobbies, you will stroll along the boardwalk to experience the waves crashing along this dramatic coastline and perhaps spot a few seals and some penguin nests. Finally, your Phillip Island tour is not complete without its black tie gala event: the Penguin Parade. You will firstly head to the Visitor Centre to shop and have a coffee. Included is the penguin plus viewing which allows you to view the penguins on a separate platform to one side of the beach, it’s a more intimate viewing enabling you a better view of little penguins waddling ashore, decked out in their tuxedos as they hurry off to find their burrows.
You will be picked up from your Melbourne accommodation and taken to the Melbourne Airport.
Farewell Australia today. If there is more of Australia or New Zealand you would like to explore, talk to your sales consult about planning your next stop!