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Melbourne itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · AustraliaJune–September

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 June–September. 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

    Graffiti lane that changes daily, next to ACDC Lane.

    Free

  2. Food

    Degraves Street Breakfast

    Laneway cafes: try a flat white and avocado toast, then walk on to Centre Place.

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

  4. Culture

    State Library Victoria La Trobe Reading Room

    Octagonal reading room, free to enter. Ned Kelly's armour is on display.

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

  6. Culture

    Federation Square & ACMI

    ACMI, the film museum, is free. 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

    Called 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. Alternative to ACMI.

Day 2 · 08:30–19:00

Queen Vic Market and Carlton

  1. Food

    Queen Victoria Market

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

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

  3. Landmark

    Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

    UNESCO-listed 1880 exhibition hall with fountains and gardens.

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

  5. Food

    Lygon Street

    Little Italy: visit Brunetti pastry shop and Pellegrini's, where Melbourne coffee culture took off.

    ≈ 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

    Fitzroy rooftop with city views at sunset and pintxos (Basque-style snacks).

    ≈ 20 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Pellegrini's Espresso BarEspresso bar unchanged since 1954, on Bourke Street.
  • Melbourne ZooZoo in Royal Park. Alternative to Fitzroy if you have children.

Day 3 · 08:30–16:00Day trip

Great Ocean Road

  1. Nature

    Bells Beach

    Tour departs 06:30 (130 AUD), or drive. 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

    Fishing town 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

    Shipwreck cove and caves, 3 minutes from the Apostles. Allow 3 hours for the return journey.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Cape Otway LightstationThe oldest lighthouse on mainland Australia. Alternative to Apollo Bay.
  • Apollo Bay BakeryScallop pie.

Day 4 · 09:30–18:30

St Kilda and Brighton

  1. Landmark

    Brighton Bathing Boxes

    82 colourful bathing boxes on Dendy Street Beach. Take the train to Middle Brighton; it is 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

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

    Free
  6. 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Nature

    St Kilda Pier Penguins

    Little penguins on the breakwater at sunset. No flash; volunteers are on hand.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Stokehouse St KildaStylish restaurant right on the beach.
  • Jewish Museum of AustraliaSt Kilda's Jewish museum. Alternative to the garden.

Day 5 · 12:00–19:15Day trip

Phillip Island

  1. Landmark

    Brighton to Phillip Island and Churchill Island

    Tour departs 12:00 (130 AUD, penguins included), or drive for 2 hours. Historic farm with sheep shearing.

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

  3. Nature

    Koala Conservation Reserve

    Koalas seen from treetop boardwalks.

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

  5. Nature

    Cape Woolamai Coastal Walk

    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, gull colonies and fur seals. Bring binoculars.

    Free

  8. Nature

    Penguin Parade

    Thousands of little penguins waddle from the sea to their burrows at sunset. Book tickets online, no photography allowed, bring a coat.

    ≈ 35 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Penguin Parade CafeVisitor centre serving fish and soup.
  • Panny's Chocolate FactoryChocolate factory. Alternative to the koalas if you have 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. Join 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: kangaroos, platypuses, wombats and a bird show.

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

  6. Food

    Yering Station

    Wine house on a historic farm, known for pinot noir and views.

    ≈ 25 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • TarraWarra EstateWine and an art museum. Alternative to 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 Ornamental Lake and views of the Shrine of Remembrance.

    Free

  2. Landmark

    Shrine of Remembrance

    City views from the memorial balcony. Free.

    Free

  3. Landmark

    Southbank Promenade

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

    Free

  4. Food

    Southgate Breakfast and Lunch

    Riverside views; have 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. Farewell.

    ≈ 22 AUD per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Eureka SkydeckLevel 88 and the Edge glass cube.
  • Ponyfish IslandFloating 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. Get a myki card (from 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. NOTE: From June to September it is WINTER in Melbourne (8-14°C, rain), and you can get four seasons in one day, so dress in layers. Penguins arrive early in winter (17:45). Cafes and museums are warm. The Rising festival takes place in July.
  3. The coffee culture is among the best in the world: try a flat white or a magic. Brunch costs 25-30 AUD, tours 130-150 AUD, and tipping is not expected.
  4. Book the Penguin Parade online; photography is not allowed. Twelve Apostles looks best in afternoon light. Queen Vic is closed Monday and Wednesday.
  5. Laneways: Hosier, ACDC, Centre Place, 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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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 June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.