Melbourne: The Ultimate 4 Day Itinerary
As a tourist, an Australian holiday is not complete without taking a trip to the southeastern coast of the country to see Melbourne, Victoria. I had high expectations for the trip as I’ve heard endless praise and adoration for the city and somehow, those expectations were exceeded.
Melbourne is rich in culture, history and cuisine and is a prime starting point to traveling The Great Ocean Road. Whether you are a tourist planning your Australian getaway in time for post COVID travel, or you are a local wanting to play tourist in your own city, this 4 day itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip on a budget.
I highly recommend planning your trip over a weekend as most of the action in the city is on the weekend!
DAY 1: Arrival, Hostel Check In + a Day of Museums
If you are booking a trip on a budget, hostels are always the way to go. I stayed at Melbourne City Backpackers and it was great for the short amount of time that we were staying there. I traveled with 4 other girls so we booked a 6 person room and lucked out when no one else showed up during our stay. We got in around 10 AM, so after dropping our bags and settling in, we were ready to wonder around the city.
Morning
Carlton Gardens - beautiful green space in the middle of the busy, crowded city.
Old Melbourne Gaol- For about $35 AUD a ticket, the guide takes you through the history of the prison and some of the common practices that were in place back when the prison was operating at full capacity.
Afternoon
National Gallery of Victoria- This museum had the most beautiful pieces of art. It also had a huge room with a stained glass ceiling where we laid down for a decent amount of time as a day full of travel and activity was catching up to us. Located very close to the Yarra River which has great views of the city just over the Prince Bridge.
Evening
Dinner at Nando’s
DAY 2: Street Art, Brighton Beach Boxes + Melbourne Food Truck Festival
Morning
Brighton Beach Boxes - We had one goal of this day and it was to see the Brighton Bathing Boxes. This was a 20 minute Uber from our hostel so we started our day with this which also allowed us to be pretty much alone on the beach.
Afternoon
Hozier Lane, AC/DC Lane - One of the most characteristic things about the city of Melbourne is its street art. We spent the afternoon walking around the city center viewing all of the different street art created by local artists.
Evening
Dinner at Melbourne Food Truck Festival- We lucked out and happened to be in the city of the first day of the food truck festival. It showcased a wide variety of food along with live music and a great atmosphere.
Day 3 + 4: The Great Ocean Road + Phillips Island
When coming to Melbourne, it is almost a given that you’ll want to take some time to drive The Great Ocean Road. If you are wanting more independence, renting a car and making your itinerary is the way to go. If you are wanting to sit back and relax, guided tours are a great option.
We Booked our all inclusive tour through Wildlife Tours Australia and did the 2 day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour. The website has tons of options to meet your needs but I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 day tour and felt like it was the perfect amount of time. Itinerary can be found through link above.
Day 5: Departure
After getting back from our trip at around midnight, we made our way straight to the airport as our flight was at 4 AM the next morning. I would not recommend spending the night at the airport and maybe this is dramatic but I truly thought that I my days were numbered and wouldn’t wish that experience on my worst enemy. Nevertheless, we made it home safe and sound with a story to tell!
And thats all she wrote! I am eager for the day that I can make it back to Melbourne and hope that you all enjoyed me living vicariously through my previous self.
until next time,
xx devon