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Melbourne itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · AustraliaOctober–May

Days
7
Stops
34
Per day
≈ 164 AUD
First stop
08:30

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Melbourne itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Laneways and Federation Square
  2. Day 2 Queen Vic Market and Carlton
  3. Day 3 Great Ocean Road

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 3, 5 and 6 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 164 AUD a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 09:30–16:45

Laneways and Federation Square

  1. Landmark

    Hosier Lane

    A graffiti lane that changes daily, next to ACDC Lane.

    Free

  2. Food

    Degraves Street Breakfast

    Laneway cafes serving flat whites and avocado toast, near Centre Place.

    ≈ 18 AUD per person
  3. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Culture

    State Library Victoria La Trobe Reading Room

    An octagonal reading room, free to enter. Look out for Ned Kelly's armour.

    Free
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Culture

    Federation Square & ACMI

    ACMI, the film museum, is free. The Ian Potter NGV showcases Australian art, and the Yarra riverbank is right there.

    Free
  7. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Food

    Lune Croissanterie Fitzroy

    Billed as the world's best croissant. Take tram 11 to Fitzroy and expect a queue.

    ≈ 10 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Higher Ground BreakfastBrunch in a former power station on Little Bourke Street.
  • Melbourne Museum CarltonNatural history and an Aboriginal gallery, next to the Royal Exhibition Building. A swap for ACMI.

Day 2 · 08:30–19:00

Queen Vic Market and Carlton

  1. Food

    Queen Victoria Market

    A market dating from 1878. Try the American Doughnut Kitchen van and the cheese and deli hall. The summer night market runs on Wednesdays. Closed Monday and Wednesday.

    ≈ 15 AUD per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Landmark

    Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

    A UNESCO-listed exhibition hall from 1880, with fountains and gardens.

    Free
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Food

    Lygon Street

    Little Italy: Brunetti pastry shop and Pellegrini's, where Melbourne's coffee scene began.

    ≈ 22 AUD per person
  6. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Shopping

    Fitzroy Brunswick Street

    Vintage shops, street art and the Rose Street Artists' Market at weekends.

    Free
  8. 2 h · travel, break, free time

  9. Landmark

    Naked for Satan Rooftop Bar

    A Fitzroy rooftop with city sunset views and pintxos.

    ≈ 20 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Pellegrini's Espresso BarAn espresso bar unchanged since 1954, on Bourke Street.
  • Melbourne ZooA zoo in Royal Park. A swap for Fitzroy if you're travelling with children.

Day 3 · 08:30–16:00Day trip

Great Ocean Road

  1. Nature

    Bells Beach

    Take a tour leaving at 06:30 (130 AUD) or drive. A legendary surf beach at Torquay.

    Free
  2. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    Kennett River Koala Walk

    Wild koalas and parrots in the trees, along Grey River Road.

    Free
  4. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Food

    Apollo Bay

    A fishing town known for fish and chips and calamari.

    ≈ 20 AUD per person
  6. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    Twelve Apostles

    Limestone stacks (8 remain). Gibson Steps lead 86 steps down to the beach. The light is best in the afternoon.

    Free

  8. Nature

    Loch Ard Gorge

    A shipwreck cove with caves, 3 minutes from the Apostles. Allow 3 hours for the return.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cape Otway LightstationThe oldest lighthouse on mainland Australia. A swap for Apollo Bay.
  • Apollo Bay BakeryTry the scallop pie.

Day 4 · 09:30–20:30

St Kilda and Brighton

  1. Landmark

    Brighton Bathing Boxes

    82 colourful huts on Dendy Street Beach. Take the train to Middle Brighton. Quiet in the morning.

    Free
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    St Kilda Esplanade & Pier

    Take tram 96 to the pier and the Luna Park laughing mouth. Little penguins appear at sunset (under the pier).

    Free

  4. Food

    Acland Street Cake Shops

    Monarch Cakes (1934) and European patisseries, a legacy of Jewish immigrants.

    ≈ 12 AUD per person

  5. Landmark

    Luna Park Melbourne

    A funfair from 1912. Entry is free, and the Scenic Railway wooden roller coaster costs 15 AUD.

    Free
  6. 5 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    St Kilda Pier Penguins

    Little penguins on the breakwater at sunset. No flash photography, and volunteers are on hand.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Stokehouse St KildaA stylish restaurant right on the beach.
  • Jewish Museum of AustraliaSt Kilda's Jewish museum. A swap for the garden.

Day 5 · 12:00–21:00Day trip

Phillip Island

  1. Landmark

    Brighton to Phillip Island and Churchill Island

    Take a tour leaving at 12:00 (130 AUD, penguins included) or drive for 2 hours. See the historic farm and a sheep shearing show.

    ≈ 15 AUD per person
  2. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    Koala Conservation Reserve

    See koalas from treetop boardwalks.

    ≈ 15 AUD per person
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Nature

    Cape Woolamai Coastal Walk

    A pink granite headland and surf beach, with the Pinnacles.

    Free
  6. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    The Nobbies & Seal Rocks

    Rocky cliffs, seagull colonies and fur seals. Bring binoculars.

    Free
  8. 2 h · travel, break, free time

  9. Nature

    Penguin Parade

    At sunset, thousands of little penguins waddle from the sea to their burrows. Book tickets online. Photography is NOT allowed, and bring a coat.

    ≈ 35 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Penguin Parade CafeIn the visitor centre, serving fish and soup.
  • Panny's Chocolate FactoryA chocolate factory. A swap for the koalas if you're travelling with children.

Day 6 · 10:00–17:00Day trip

Yarra Valley

  1. Food

    Yarra Valley Dairy

    Cheese tasting at Yering.

    ≈ 10 AUD per person

  2. Food

    Domaine Chandon Yarra Valley

    Sparkling wine tasting with vineyard views. Take a tour (about 150 AUD) or drive for 1 hour.

    ≈ 35 AUD per person
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Healesville Sanctuary

    Native animals including kangaroos, platypuses and wombats, plus a bird show.

    ≈ 50 AUD per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Food

    Yering Station

    A winery on a historic farm, with pinot noir and views.

    ≈ 25 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • TarraWarra EstateWine plus an art museum. A swap for Yering.
  • Innocent Bystander HealesvillePizza and wine in the town centre.

Day 7 · 09:00–13:45

Southbank and a gentle farewell

  1. Nature

    Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

    38 hectares of gardens, with the Ornamental Lake and views of the Shrine of Remembrance.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Shrine of Remembrance

    See the city from the memorial balcony. Free entry.

    Free

  3. Landmark

    Southbank Promenade

    The Yarra riverbank. Eureka Skydeck (30 AUD) is optional.

    Free

  4. Food

    Southgate Breakfast-Lunch

    Riverside views and a farewell flat white.

    ≈ 22 AUD per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    Southern Cross SkyBus

    SkyBus to Tullamarine takes 30 minutes. Time to say goodbye.

    ≈ 22 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Eureka SkydeckThe 88th floor and the Edge glass box.
  • Ponyfish IslandA floating bar-cafe under the bridge.

Getting around: get a myki

Covers trams, trains and buses. Trams in the centre are FREE (Free Tram Zone), and the daily cap is about 11 AUD.

Good to know: 6 things that make a Melbourne trip easier

  1. Buy a myki at 7-Eleven. The centre is a Free Tram Zone, and the SkyBus airport transfer costs 22 AUD. For the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Yarra Valley, take a tour or hire a car (they drive on the left).
  2. December to February is summer at 25-35°C, with hot northerly winds bringing 40°C days. The Australian Open is in January and the F1 in March. March to May, in autumn, is best.
  3. Coffee culture is among the world's best: try a flat white or a magic. Brunch costs 25-30 AUD and tours 130-150 AUD. Tipping is not expected.
  4. Book the Penguin Parade online, and note that photography is not allowed. The light at the Twelve Apostles is best in the afternoon. Queen Vic Market is closed Monday to Wednesday.
  5. Laneways to see: Hosier, ACDC, Centre Place and Degraves. For street art, head to Fitzroy and Collingwood, and Sydney Road in Brunswick.
  6. UV is high in summer, so wear sunscreen. Tap water is safe to drink.

Spending: ≈ 1,150 AUD per person for 7 days

  • Food480 AUD
  • Entry and tours480 AUD
  • Local transport90 AUD
  • Other100 AUD

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

On world lists: 1 place in this city

Cocktails · No. 19Caretaker's Cottage

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

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Your next trip

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Melbourne?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 3, 5 and 6; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Melbourne cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 164 AUD per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Melbourne?

The first stop is at 08:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.