| Melbourne is lucky in that it has an amazing variety of | | | | in 1900. Just by climbing through the rock formations |
| landscapes within a 1-2 hour drive - giving you a lot | | | | you get involved in that mystery. It has been subject |
| of choice when planning Melbourne tours or day trips. | | | | to a novel and Peter Weir film. From there it is not |
| You can explore the gold rush days, go on a luxury | | | | far to Daylesford. Daylesford is a gold mining town |
| winery tour, surf a world famous beach or bushwalk | | | | with character - associated with Swiss-Italians and |
| in a stunning National Park. | | | | the mineral springs. It has been a spa resort area |
| Here is a selection of Melbourne tours to get you | | | | from the late 1880's and is still a place for romantic |
| started: | | | | getaways and pampering yourself. |
| | | | 4. Driving from Melbourne towards the NW, you find |
| 1. A popular day trip is to the Dandenong Ranges, | | | | the gold rush town of Ballarat. Ballarat was the centre |
| about 1 hour east of Melbourne. The drive through | | | | of the gold rush craze, oozing money and riches. |
| the Dandenongs is stunning because of its tall | | | | Grand Victorian and Edwardian Heritage buildings and |
| mountain ash forests, fern gullies and temperate rain | | | | tree-lined avenues can take you back to its 19th |
| forests - feels like in a fairy tale. Mountain ash can | | | | century glory days. Ballarat's most famous attraction |
| reach a height of 110m and driving or walking through | | | | is Sovereign Hill, a 35-acre open-air museum |
| a whole forest of these is awe-inspiring. The other | | | | recreating the gold mining heydays, including old |
| attractions of the Dandenongs are the small villages - | | | | buildings, actors in authentic costumes engaged in |
| I recommend Sassafras - with quirky art and craft | | | | 1850s activities. - Well worth a day trip, and great for |
| shops, and intimate cafes and restaurants. | | | | kids as well. |
| 2. For a bit of class, go on a Yarra Valley Wine tour. | | | | 5. A list of Melbourne tours is not complete without a |
| The Yarra Valley is only an hour's drive NE of | | | | visit to the beach. There are surf beaches on either |
| Melbourne. The scenery and colors around Melbourne | | | | side of Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. A great day trip is |
| are unique - much more intense than in most parts of | | | | towards the SW, to Torquay. This is where the |
| Australia. You get lush greens, illuminated by golden | | | | surfing championships are held at Bells Beach. |
| light - particularly when the sun breaks through on | | | | However, you don't have to be a surfer to enjoy |
| cloudy days. Apart from stunning scenery, there are | | | | the beaches. It is a popular day trip for Melburnians |
| many good quality wineries in the Yarra Valley. A | | | | wanting to hit the waves. It is also the gateway to a |
| great place to go for wine tasting, lunch, art galleries | | | | greater Melbourne tour of the Great Ocean Road |
| or a balloon flight over the valley! I also recommend | | | | This is only the beginning of a long list of Melbourne |
| Healesville Sanctury, a native animal park in a natural | | | | tours. |
| setting. | | | | I still have to tell you about the Great Ocean Road, |
| 3. North of Melbourne is the famous Hanging Rock - a | | | | the Grampians, the Mornington Peninsula, the Penguins |
| stunning rock configuration, forming the top of a | | | | on Phillip Island the Victorian High Country, Wilsons |
| mountain. Hanging Rock is famous for the mysterious | | | | Prom... |
| vanishing of a group of school girls and their teacher | | | | |