Go Beyond Melbourne

Take the Searoad Ferries from Queenscliff to Sorrento, watching for dolphins and seals during the 40 minute crossing. In summer, pick your own fruit at Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm or at one of the many cherry orchards; or visit Main Ridge Dairy and their flock of goats to see how they make their wonderful cheeses. Make time for lunch at Green Olive at Red Hill, take a walk around the kitchen garden, olive grove and vineyard (be sure to say hi to the Maremma guarding the massive chicken flock!), and jump to your heart’s content on their trampoline. Then travel on to Red Hill to climb and fly high above the forest floor at the Enchanted Adventure Garden, with its network of 50 aerial obstacles, zip-lines linking platforms up to 10 metres high, and one of Australia’s largest tube riding networks. Of course, don’t forget to spend some time at the beautiful bay beaches of the Mornington Peninsula – they’re calm, clean, and home to our iconic, colourful beach boxes. Stay overnight at Aquabelle Apartments in Rye.

This morning, continue around Western Port Bay to Phillip Island, stopping at Churchill Island as you arrive to see the working farm activities taking place on this first farmed site in Victoria. Head to the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory to take a tour to learn how their chocolate is created – and do some creating yourself! From here, spark your imagination at A Maze’n’Things, full of mental tests and games for all ages. Directly across the road you’ll find the Koala Conservation Centre, with boardwalks into the treetops to ensure great interaction with these cuddly locals. Cruise with Wildlife Coast Cruises or the Wild Ocean Ecoboat to Seal Rocks to see the 30,000 strong colony of Australian fur seals, and take the kids to catch a fish at the Rhyll Trout and Bush Tucker Farm before the Penguin Parade at sunset. Be sure to get the Penguins Plus upgrade to enjoy the ranger commentary and the chance to see the penguins from the underground viewing area, at eye height. Then spend the night at Phillip Island Apartments in Cowes.

The Phillip Island adventures aren’t over yet – enjoy some of the best ham and cheese toasties in Australia at Mad Cowes Café overlooking Cowes Beach, before heading to the Nobbies Centre and taking in the Antarctic Journey, coming face to face with orcas and seals (or at least 3D virtual reality versions of them). Then it’s goodbye to the Island, and a journey via the Dandenong Ranges to the Yarra Valley. Take a ride on Puffing Billy, feed the native birds at Grants Reserve, or visit any of the beautiful national parks in these ranges. If you’re travelling in September/ October, be sure to frolic in the fields of tulips at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. Pick peaches, nectarines, feijoas and guavas at Rayners Orchard before heading to your overnight accommodation in the Yarra Valley itself at Balgownie Estate.

In winter, head just 40 minutes out of the Valley to Lake Mountain, and indulge in snow play at this resort. Or, at any time of year, spend plenty of time at Healesville Sanctuary, taking in some of the most educational and inspiring shows on offer, such as Spirits of the Sky, dedicated to Australia’s bird life, and Tales from Platypus Creek. Get up close to our wildlife with Magic Moment encounter, and check out the amazing work done by the staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Hospital. Stop in at Meletos for some of the Valley’s best pizza for lunch, play a game of petanque at Dominque Portet Winery, and then head back into Melbourne, just 45 minutes away

It’s a 5 minute ramble through the dunes to start your day with a walk on St Andrews Beach, so fill your lungs with fresh sea air before heading to the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula for a day of wine, food and indulgence. Schedule lunch at the stunning Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove, and make sure you wander through their sculpture park. Then taste more of the Mornington Peninsula’s wine offerings at nearby Red Hill Winery and T’Gallant. Visit the famous beach boxes at Dromana, Mornington or Mt Martha, and perhaps pick up something for home at the Red Hill Market or vintage stores in the villages of Red Hill and Flinders. Settle in this afternoon with a massage at Peninsula Hot Springs and a soak in a private bath of geothermally heated mineral water. Sunset today can be seen from the top pool of this relaxing complex, with a 360-degree view of the Peninsula. Choose another dining option tonight – perhaps Paringa Estate, or The Long Table – and be sure to allow time for an outdoor bath or shower at Big Blue Backyard, surrounded by candles…

Make it a slow start today, then continue around Western Port Bay to Phillip Island, with its abundance of wildlife, beaches and walks. Stop in at the Koala Conservation Centre and get up close to these beautiful creatures as you take the boardwalk up to treetop level; if you like a little adrenaline in your day, cruise with the Wild Ocean EcoBoat to Seal Rocks and be delighted by the thousands of Australian Fur Seals that frolic off these shores and wave at you from the water. Lunch at Cape Kitchen is recommended, with stunning vistas of the Southern Ocean and fresh local fare. And for a view of the Island you’ll remember forever, take to the skies with Phillip Island Helicopters. Check in early to your accommodation at Glen Isla House or Oak Tree Lodge and relax, before heading off to the legendary Penguin Parade at sunset. Take the Ultimate Tour to be on a private beach with just 10 guests, or view them from the new Penguins Plus area where you’ll be right up close to these adorable birds as they make their way home to their nests.

Head north to the Dandenong Ranges and spend time wandering through the villages of Sassafras and Olinda. Take a stroll through the giant Mountain Ash forest, or pick berries as you wind your way to the Yarra Valley. The Dandenongs are home to some beautiful national parks and gardens, as well as the Tesselaar Tulip festival held every September – plenty of opportunities to get some fresh air and inspiration. Arrive in the Yarra Valley in time for a late lunch at TarraWarra Estate, followed by a look around their stunning art gallery. This evening, you’ll have plenty of time to relax and indulge at your accommodation, Chateau Yering. Stay onsite tonight for dinner in Eleonore’s Restaurant.

What better way to start the last day of your romantic journey than with a hot-air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley at sunrise, watching the vineyards and farms come to life? Enjoy a champagne breakfast, freshen up, then head to Healesville Sanctuary for your chance to Wade with the Platypus, or experience a Magic Moment with some of the other friendly locals – hand feed an echidna, or give a wombat a tickle behind the ear. Lunch at Herd in Healesville, outdoors at Levantine Hills, or overlooking vines at Meletos or Oakridge, before heading back to Melbourne, just 1 hour from the Yarra Valley

Up early for a dawnflight withGlobalBallooning, watch the Valley spring to life as the sun comes up, and finish with a champagne breakfast. After freshening up,head south to Phillip Island.Visit Nobbies Centre and experience the Antarctic Journey, then get up close to some of our cuddliest locals at the Koala Conservation Centre. In the afternoon, head out with Wildlife Coast Cruises to see the 30,000 Australian Fur Seals that inhabit Seal Rocks, before the crème de la crème of wildlife experiences at the famous sunset Penguin Parade. Book early for the Ultimate Penguin Tour, a small group adventure to a remote beach, with night-vision goggles to enable you to see the tiny birds as they leave the ocean and waddle past you en route to their nests. Stay overnight at Clifftop B&B and wake up to a view of the Southern Ocean.

Take an early morning walk on one of Phillip Island’s beautiful beaches and be the first footsteps in the sand. If you prefer a more challenging morning activity, walk out to Pyramid Rocks or Cape Woolamai, or take a surf lesson at Out There Outdoors. And if hitting the heights is more your style, see the Island from the air with Phillip Island Helicopters. Then it’s off around Western Port Bay to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. Head to Horseback Winery Tours for an introduction to some of the region’s iconic wines with a completely different viewpoint – from the back of one of their gorgeous horses. Soak any aching legs at the Peninsula Hot Springs before heading for your overnight accommodation, Glamping with Happy Glamper at Iluka Retreat.

An early start will have you at Sorrento by 8am for a trip out to Port Phillip Bay with Polperro Dolphin Swims. Search out the wild pods of bottlenose dolphins and visit the resident seals at Chinaman’s Hut. Sticking with the aquatic and coastal theme for the afternoon, hire snorkelling gear from Bayplay to view the Weedy Sea Dragons near the piers on the bay side of the Peninsula or hire a Stand Up Paddle Board and see why this peaceful activity is so popular. If you’d rather not get wet, hire a bike from Bayplay and cruise around the national parks of the Peninsula; walk some of the Mornington Peninsula Walk (we say some because there is over 100kms of trails); or try strawberry or cherry picking in the summer months. Take a ferry across the bay with Searoad Ferries, running every hour until 6pm (7pm in summer)for the 40-minute crossing to Queenscliff, and stay overnight at BIG4 Beacon Resort.

If you’re a scuba diver, head out from Queenscliff with Dive Victoria and visit the site of the ex HMAS Canberra, scuttled in 2009 in 30m deep water. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to surf – why not take a lesson with the experts at Go Ride A Wave at one of Victoria’s iconic surf beaches, Ocean Grove or Torquay? Or take to the water with Sea All Dolphin Swims to learn about the wildlife of the bay, and the history of the treacherous stretch of water known as The Rip. Enjoy lunch at Jack Rabbit Vineyard before heading back to the city James Bond-style with a Microflite helicopter transfer from the landing pad right in front of your restaurant.

This morning, experience the thrill of driving through the Black Spur just beyond Healesville, a winding road through a cathedral of towering Mountain Ash trees and giant tree ferns, as you head to Buxton and the Buxton Trout Farm. Fish for a fresh trout or salmon, have it cooked on a BBQ for lunch, and take home a selection of dips and smoked fish to enjoy later. Had enough wine yesterday? Then spend the afternoon enjoying a different beverage range, with the Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail. Visit Napoleone Brewery and Ciderhouse, Coldstream Brewery and Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company to get a taste of the new wave sweeping the Valley. And be sure to visit Four Pillars Gin to see how Australia is influencing this classic spirit, using local native botanicals to create a distinctive flavour. Ramp up the fine dining experience with dinner at Eleonores at Chateau Yering before another great night’s sleep.

The Dandenong Ranges await, with their abundance of fruit and berry growing, pick-your-own farms – try for strawberries, raspberries and cherries in the height of summer, or visit Rayners Orchards for stonefruit, citrus and quinces as the season cools. Lunch must be at Burnham Beeches, a hidden treasure tucked away in Sherbrooke Forest run by Vue de Monde’s Shannon Bennett. It’s home to the emu farm that provides the eggs for – you guessed it – emu egg omelettes, as well as the herb and vegetable gardens that supply Shannon’s Melbourne restaurants. From here, head south to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, and settle into a late afternoon wine tasting at Port Phillip Estate, watching the shadows lengthen over the vines. If you’re here late in the week, be sure to visit one of the Peninsula’s awarded restaurants for dinner – 10 Minutes by Tractor or Paringa Estate perhaps. Stay overnight in the gourmet village of Flinders at the Flinders Hotel.

Explore the Wine Food Farmgate trail on the Peninsula, with visits to Main Ridge Dairy (say hi to the goats!), Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, Green Olive at Red Hill or Mornington Peninsula Chocolates. If you’d rather have someone else do the driving, take a tour with MP Experience and meet the locals behind the sensational produce. Schedule a late lunch at Max’s at Red Hill Estate and watch over far-off Phillip Island across the water, or at Montalto, combining a walk through their sculpture park and olive groves with a stunning meal overlooking the vines. After perhaps a little more wine tasting, wind your way to the pointy end of the Peninsula and take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff with Searoad Ferries. Head straight for Geelong and your accommodation at the Vue Apartments, and top off a day of spectacular eating with dinner at Igni, Geelong’s (and possibly Victoria’s) hottest new restaurant.

The Bellarine Taste Trail will direct you around this beautiful region, with berry, olive and tomato growers, farmgates and farmers’ markets. Be sure to include a visit to Advance Mussel Supply in Portarlington, where you can purchase fresh-off-the-boat mussels, Angasi oysters and abalone. Lunch at Jack Rabbit Vineyard overlooking Corio Bay is a must, with an afternoon spent exploring some of the other fine vineyards of the Bellarine, including Oakdene, Leura Estate and McGlashan Wallington Estate. If you’ve exhausted your wine palate try Flying Brick Cider House, or Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong, before heading back to Melbourne late afternoon.