Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital: a city of hidden laneways, pioneering chefs, serious sports devotion, and a coffee scene that borders on religion. Built on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation, this riverside metropolis grew rich during the 1850s gold rush, then reinvented itself through art, food, fashion, and sport.

Expect days spent between galleries and gardens, then nights hopping from a laneway wine bar to a basement jazz club. Day trips are Melbourne’s secret weapon—within a few hours you can stand at the edge of the wild Southern Ocean, sample cool-climate wines among vine-laced hills, or watch tiny penguins shuffle ashore at dusk.

Practical notes: the city’s Free Tram Zone makes CBD exploring a breeze, while a reloadable myki card covers trams, trains, and buses elsewhere. Summer (Dec–Feb) is festival season; March brings the Formula 1; January hosts the Australian Open. Pack layers—Melbourne is famous for “four seasons in a day.”

Melbourne

Melbourne rewards curiosity. Duck down Hosier Lane for ever-changing street art, peek into heritage arcades like Block Arcade, and then ascend to a rooftop for sunset over the Yarra River. Food is a highlight: ramen one night, modern Australian the next, followed by late-night Greek or a gelato run.

• Top sights: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Royal Botanic Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance, State Library Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Museum, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Bathing Boxes.
• Sports & culture: Tour the MCG and Australian Sports Museum, catch an AFL match in season, see live music on Gertrude Street, or comedy in Collingwood.
• Food & drink: Flinders Lane restaurants, Fitzroy bars, South Melbourne cafes, Lygon Street Italian classics, and the city’s serious specialty coffee at spots like Industry Beans and Patricia Coffee Brewers.
• Fun facts: Melbourne’s grid and laneways were laid out in 1837. The City Circle Tram is free. Coffee rivals say this is the best espresso city in the world.

Where to stay (handpicked and bookable):

• Crown Towers Melbourne (resort-style luxury, riverside pools, city views): Check availability
• The Langham, Melbourne (classic glamour, Southbank promenade): Check availability
• Space Hotel (stylish budget-friendly private rooms + hostel facilities): Check availability
• Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD (value stay in the heart of the city): Check availability
• Self-catering apartments & homes (great for families or groups): Browse Melbourne stays on VRBO
• More hotels (filters for pool, parking, family rooms): Search Melbourne on Hotels.com

How to get to Melbourne: Fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL). From Sydney it’s ~1h25 nonstop (often ~$60–$150 one-way). From Brisbane ~2h15; Perth ~3h45; Singapore ~7h45; Los Angeles ~15–16 hours. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. From the airport, the SkyBus runs to Southern Cross Station (~22 minutes). Rideshare and taxis are widely available.

Day 1: Arrival, Laneways, and First Sips

Afternoon: Touch down in Melbourne and check in. Shake off the flight with a stroll through the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade to admire mosaic floors and boutique windows. Grab a flat white at Patricia Coffee Brewers (standing room only, exceptional espresso) or the cult croissant at Lune Croissanterie CBD if you need a buttery pick-me-up.

Evening: Hunt for murals in Hosier Lane, then wander to Flinders Lane for dinner. Book Supernormal (pan-Asian—lobster roll, peanut butter parfait) or Chin Chin (loud, fun Thai; the son-in-law eggs are a classic). Nightcap at Section 8, a container bar with DJs and strings of lights, or ascend to Rooftop at QT for skyline views.

Day 2: Culture Hit—NGV, Gardens, and Yarra by Night

Morning: Breakfast at Higher Ground (ricotta hotcakes, crab scramble) in a heritage powerhouse space. Tour the State Library Victoria—the La Trobe Reading Room’s dome is a stunner—then ride the free tram to NGV International. Don’t miss the water wall, Indigenous galleries, and the design store.

Afternoon: Picnic or stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens and climb the Shrine of Remembrance for city vistas. If sport is your language, detour for a guided look at the MCG and the Australian Sports Museum (check session times).

Evening: Dine on the river with the Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise—a relaxed way to see the skyline glow while enjoying multi-course dishes and local wine (typically 3 hours; from ~AUD 175–190). Book the Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise

Day 3: Great Ocean Road—Apostles, Rainforest, and Surf Coast (Full Day)

Full-day: This is the coastal epic you came for. Join a small-group eco tour (10–24 guests) to curve past surf towns, spot koalas near Kennett River, walk the rainforest at Maits Rest, and stand before the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and Gibson Steps. Expect 12–13 hours round-trip with scenic stops and a lunch break; bring layers for ocean winds. From ~AUD 140–170 per person. Book the Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour

Back in the city, refuel with late ramen at Hakata Gensuke (tonkotsu heaven) or wood-fired pizza at DOC on Lygon Street.

Day 4: Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Queen Victoria Market

Morning: Coffee crawl in Fitzroy. Start at Industry Beans Fitzroy (signature iced bubble coffee), then browse Gertrude and Brunswick Street boutiques and galleries. Brunch at Proud Mary (ricotta hotcake, filter flights) or Archie's All Day for a Melbourne-style benedict.

Afternoon: Tram to Queen Victoria Market. Snack your way through: a hot bratwurst at Bratwurst Shop & Co, the cult jam-filled from the American Doughnut Kitchen van, then cheese and olives for later. Walk to the Old Melbourne Gaol if you like dark history, or head for contemporary art at ACMI in Federation Square.

Evening: Italian night in Carlton. Try Tipo 00 (Little Bourke; silky tagliolini and the famed “tipomisu”) or Grossi Florentino (grandroom Tuscan with a storied mural). Post-dinner, cocktails at The Everleigh or Black Pearl, both standard-bearers for Melbourne mixology.

Day 5: Yarra Valley Wine Country (Full Day)

Full-day: Swap city streets for vine rows on an all-inclusive Yarra Valley wine tour. Taste cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir at a handful of top estates, often with a winery lunch and a sweet stop for chocolate or gelato. ~9–10 hours; from ~AUD 150–190. Book the Yarra Valley Wine & Winery Tour from Melbourne

Back in town, keep it easy at Embla (natural-leaning wine list, wood-fired plates) or explore modern Southeast Asian at Sunda (otak otak, Vegemite curry roti).

Day 6: Phillip Island Penguins and Coastal Wildlife (Full Day)

Full-day: A Victoria classic: meet koalas in coastal scrub, then at sunset watch the Penguin Parade as hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore. This tour includes the premium Penguins Plus viewing platform for the best vantage. Allow ~9–10 hours, returning late; from ~AUD 130–170. Dress warm—the ocean breeze bites after dark. Book the Phillip Island Day Trip with Penguin Plus Viewing Platform

Late-night bite when you return: Stalactites on Lonsdale for spit-roasted gyros and Greek salad.

Day 7: St Kilda, South Melbourne Market, and Farewell

Morning: Brunch by the bay at Fitzrovia (house-baked crumpets, corn fritters) or old-school at Galleon Café. Walk the St Kilda Pier for city views and, if time allows, tram down to the Brighton Bathing Boxes for that rainbow-beach photo. If markets are more your scene, detour to South Melbourne Market for the legendary dim sims and fresh oysters.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping in the CBD—grab beans from Dukes Coffee Roasters or local design souvenirs near Flinders Lane. Pick up your bags and head to the airport for your flight.

Insider Tips

• Getting around: The Free Tram Zone covers the CBD. Beyond it, tap a myki card (available at stations and select shops). Trains are fast for inner suburbs; rideshare fills the gaps late at night.
• When to book: Reserve restaurants like Tipo 00, Supernormal, and Gimlet weeks ahead on weekends. Tours to the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island sell out in peak seasons and during major events.
• What to pack: A compact umbrella and layers—Melbourne’s weather swings. Comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone laneways and coastal boardwalks.
• Events: January’s Australian Open, March’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, winter’s Rising Festival, and AFL matches March–September add electric city energy (and hotel demand).

Book your stays and transport: Compare hotels on Hotels.com, browse apartments via VRBO, and find flight deals on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

In a single week, this Melbourne itinerary blends laneway art, top museums, culinary standouts, coastal icons, and wildlife encounters—showcasing why locals love their city fiercely. You’ll leave with a camera roll full of sunsets and a newfound appreciation for great coffee, great sport, and even greater road trips.