Melbourne rewards the curious. Founded in 1835 on Wurundjeri Country, it grew rich on gold and grit, and today it hums with café aroma, sporting passion, and a devotion to the arts—from grand galleries to graffiti-splashed laneways. Locals debate coffee like philosophy and follow Aussie Rules football with weekend reverence.

Beyond the city, you’ll find cliff-hugging roads, koala-dotted bush, and penguins that march at dusk. The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island are classic day trips, while the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley offer forest steam trains and cellar doors. Expect weather that changes its mind—Melbourne’s famed “four seasons in a day” is part of the charm.

Practical notes: Tap on/off with a Myki card across trams, trains, and buses; the CBD’s Free Tram Zone makes city-hopping easy. Tipping is appreciated but not expected. Book popular restaurants and day tours ahead—especially in summer and during events like the Australian Open and Formula 1.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital: a city of hidden basements and rooftop bars, heritage arcades and cutting-edge design. Spend mornings lingering over single-origin espresso, afternoons in world-class museums, and evenings where riverfront lights glint off the Yarra.

Top hits include the National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and St Kilda’s sunset boardwalk. For street art, prowl Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane, and the laneways between Degraves Street and Centre Place—living galleries that evolve by the week.

• Where to stay (affiliate): Search vacation rentals on VRBO Melbourne or hotels on Hotels.com Melbourne. Specific picks: Crown Towers Melbourne (resort-style pools and river views), The Langham, Melbourne (classic elegance on Southbank), Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD (value in the Free Tram Zone), and Space Hotel (stylish budget with rooftop and shared facilities).
• Getting here (affiliate): Search flights to Melbourne (MEL) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical domestic flights from Sydney/Adelaide take ~1–1.5 hours; many international gateways offer nonstop or one-stop options.
• Getting around: The Free Tram Zone covers most of the CBD; outside it, load a Myki. Rideshare and the SkyBus link the airport to Southern Cross Station in ~30–40 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, Laneways, and the Yarra

Morning: In transit. If you arrive early, drop bags at your hotel and grab a flat white from Patricia Coffee Brewers (standing room, big flavor) or Market Lane Coffee (ethical sourcing, clean profiles).

Afternoon: Start at Federation Square for a first glimpse of the Yarra and Flinders Street Station’s iconic clocks. Weave through Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane for street art, then duck into heritage arcades like Block Arcade and Royal Arcade for chocolatiers and boutiques. If you need a bite, Lune Croissanterie’s CBD kiosk often has a mid-afternoon drop of their famed cruffins.

Evening: Dinner near the laneways: Chin Chin (Thai-leaning crowd-pleaser), MoVida (tapas with Australian produce) or Sunda Dining (inventive Southeast Asian-Australian). Nightcap above the treetops at Siglo (cigars and classic cocktails) or Rooftop Bar at Curtin House for skyline views.

Day 2: Galleries, Gardens, and St Kilda Sunset

Morning: Coffee and croissants at Higher Ground (soaring heritage space; café classics elevated). Walk to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International) to see Australian and global heavyweights, then cross to the Royal Botanic Gardens for lakeside lawns and the evocative Shrine of Remembrance outlook.

Afternoon: Lunch by the river at Arbory Bar & Eatery (long timber deck, burgers, schnitzels, spritzes). Tram 16 or 96 to St Kilda. Stroll the pier, watch kite-surfers at the beach, and browse Acland Street cake shops—Monarch Cakes is a local staple for chocolate kołacz.

Evening: Book Stokehouse for sunset seafood (snapper, kingfish crudo) or Cicciolina for warm-spirited Italian. After dinner, check the little penguins that nest along St Kilda Pier’s breakwater (quiet voices, no flash). Catch live music at The Espy if you’ve got energy to spare.

Day 3: Great Ocean Road Day Tour (12 Apostles, Rainforest, Seaside Towns)

Full-day tour (no morning/afternoon/evening breakdown). This is the classic coastal pilgrimage: surf beaches, lighthouse towns, koalas in eucalypts, and the limestone drama of the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Expect an early start (~7 am) and ~12–13 hours total with scenic stops and short walks.

Recommended (affiliate): Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne

Insider tips: Bring a windproof layer even in summer, a reusable water bottle, and motion-sickness tablets if you’re sensitive to winding roads. Back in town, keep dinner simple—try ramen at Hakata Gensuke or wine and plates at Embla.

Day 4: Sunrise Ballooning, Laneway Culture, and Nighttime Sips

Morning: See the city float by at dawn in a hot air balloon—watch the grid of the Hoddle plan, the MCG, and the Yarra glow gold as Melbourne wakes. Recommended (affiliate): Hot Air Balloon Flights over Melbourne City (optional breakfast)

Post-flight brunch at The Kettle Black (ricotta hotcakes are beloved) or Hardware Société (Basque-influenced bakes and chorizo baked eggs).

Afternoon: Explore the CBD’s laneways in depth: Degraves Street and Centre Place for cafés; Presgrave Place for framed micro-galleries; Duckboard Place for bold murals. Head to the State Library Victoria—step into the La Trobe Reading Room to admire the grand octagonal dome—then wander to the Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens if you’re a natural history or design buff.

Evening: Dinner at Supernormal (lobster rolls, prawn and chicken dumplings) or Tipo 00 (silky, hand-rolled pasta—book ahead). Cocktails at Black Pearl in Fitzroy (award-winning, friendly) or speakeasy-style Eau de Vie (the whisky selection is sprawling).

Day 5: Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife

Full-day tour (no morning/afternoon/evening breakdown). Spend the day with Australia’s most photogenic locals. Many tours stop at a wildlife sanctuary to meet kangaroos and koalas before continuing to Phillip Island’s boardwalks at the Nobbies and the headline show: hundreds of little penguins waddling ashore at dusk.

Recommended (affiliate): Phillip Island Day Trip from Melbourne with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform

What to bring: Warm layers (it’s breezy after sunset), a small red-filter torch if you have one (no flash photography), and patience—nature calls the shots. Return is typically late evening.

Day 6: Fitzroy Finds, Last Bites, and Farewell

Morning: Tram to Fitzroy for brunch at Proud Mary (filter flight and potato hash) or Industry Beans Fitzroy (coffee science and modern brunch). Browse Gertrude Street’s independent boutiques and galleries; pop over to Smith Street for vinyl and vintage.

Afternoon: Swing by Queen Victoria Market for edible souvenirs (local honey, native spices, small-batch chocolates). Quick lunch at Kere Kere Green (healthy bowls) or Cumulus Inc (shared plates at the bar). Collect your bags and make your way to the airport or station.

Evening: If you’ve got a late departure, end with a serene glide along the river: Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River (affiliate) pairs city lights with a multi-course meal and Victorian wines.

Optional swaps and local gems

• Dandenong Ranges & Puffing Billy: A heritage steam train through fern gullies and mountain ash. Pair with scones in Sassafras or a short rainforest walk at Sherbrooke.
• Brighton Bathing Boxes: Colorful beach huts on a wide sweep of sand; great for a quick photo stop on a sunny morning.
• Old Melbourne Gaol: True-crime tales from the city’s early days—excellent for history buffs.

Booking checklist (quick links)

• Flights to Melbourne: Trip.com | Kiwi.com
• Hotels & Rentals: Hotels.com Melbourne | VRBO Melbourne
• Featured tours (affiliate): Great Ocean Road, Penguin Parade, Balloon Flight, and Yarra Dinner Cruise linked above.

Six days in Melbourne balances city swagger with coastal spectacle. From laneway lattes to limestone sea stacks and the soft patter of penguin feet at dusk, you’ll leave with sand in your shoes and stories worth sharing. Save this guide—it’s the one locals wish they’d had on their first visit.