Day 1: CBD laneways and Southbank
- Morning: Coffee on Degraves Street, then the Block Arcade, Royal Arcade and Hosier Lane street art.
- Midday: State Library Victoria’s domed reading room, then lunch in Chinatown on Little Bourke Street.
- Afternoon: Federation Square and ACMI, then cross the river to NGV International (free).
- Evening: Sunset from Melbourne Skydeck or a rooftop bar, dinner on Southbank or in a laneway restaurant.
Day 2: Market, gardens and St Kilda
- Morning: Queen Victoria Market (closed Monday and Wednesday) for breakfast and hot jam doughnuts.
- Midday: Tram to the Shrine of Remembrance, then walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens.
- Afternoon: Tram 96 to St Kilda. Walk Acland Street’s cake shops and the Esplanade.
- Evening: Sunset on St Kilda pier, dinner in St Kilda.
Day 3: Great Ocean Road
Join a full-day tour or rent a car. Drive along the coast via Torquay, Lorne and Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, and return inland on the faster highway. Expect a 12-hour day. Plan it with our Great Ocean Road day trip guide.
Day 4: Fitzroy, Carlton and Phillip Island
- Morning: Carlton Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum.
- Midday: Lunch on Lygon Street (Melbourne’s Little Italy) or in Fitzroy.
- Afternoon and evening: Afternoon tour to Phillip Island for the koalas, the Nobbies and the Penguin Parade at sunset, back around 11pm. See Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
If you skip Phillip Island, spend the afternoon browsing Brunswick Street and Smith Street, then catch an AFL game at the MCG in season.
Day 5: Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula
- Yarra Valley: wineries, cheese and chocolate, Healesville Sanctuary for koalas and platypus. Hot-air balloon flights at sunrise.
- Mornington Peninsula: the Peninsula Hot Springs, beaches and wineries, about 1.5 hours by car.
Itinerary at a glance
| Trip length | Plan |
|---|---|
| 2 days | Day 1 + Day 2 (city only) |
| 3 days | Days 1–3 (city + Great Ocean Road) |
| 4 days | Days 1–4 (add Phillip Island) |
| 5 days | Days 1–5 (add Yarra Valley) |
Tips for planning
- Base yourself in the CBD or Southbank to use the Free Tram Zone. See where to stay in Melbourne.
- Book day tours a few days ahead in summer and school holidays.
- Keep one flexible day: if rain is forecast, swap in galleries and museums.
More Melbourne guides
- Melbourne travel guide
- 20 best things to do in Melbourne
- Where to stay in Melbourne
- Best time to visit Melbourne
- Melbourne Airport to the city
- Great Ocean Road day trip
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Australia ETA and eVisitor
FAQ: Melbourne itinerary
Is 3 days enough for Melbourne?
Yes for the city highlights plus one day trip. Five days lets you add Phillip Island and the Yarra Valley at a relaxed pace.
Can you do the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island in one day?
Some tours combine them, but it makes a very long day (about 15 hours). Two separate days are more enjoyable.
Do I need a car in Melbourne?
Not in the city. A car helps for the Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula, but tours cover both.
Plan your trip to Melbourne
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