Melbourne

The overnight flight from Singapore landed in the morning. We dropped our bags and walked the city: Flinders Street Station, St Paul's, Hosier Lane, the Sunday market at the Arts Centre and the State Library, then sushi for dinner.

The La Trobe Reading Room at State Library Victoria, seen from the gallery under the dome

First Day in MelbourneMorning

D1Mon 24 Apr

Yarra Valley wineries

A day tour out to the Yarra Valley: a farm shop, wine tastings at Balgownie, Rochford and Yering Station, and the chocolaterie. Back in the city in time for sunset from the Eureka Skydeck.

Yellow autumn vines rolling towards the hills in the Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley Wine TourMorning

Melbourne and the Yarra River from the Eureka Skydeck in the golden hour

Eureka Skydeck SunsetEvening

D2Tue 25 Apr

ANZAC Day and the bathing boxes

Croissants from Lune while the ANZAC Day march went past Flinders Street, street art in Fitzroy and Collingwood, St Patrick's Cathedral, then St Kilda and sunset at the Brighton bathing boxes.

A Collingwood street lined with murals on both sides

ANZAC Day in MelbourneMorning

A row of colourful bathing boxes on the sand at Brighton in the evening light

Brighton Bathing BoxesAfternoon

D3Wed 26 Apr

Up in a balloon

Out at 4:30am for a hot air balloon flight over the suburbs at sunrise. Then South Melbourne Market, the Old Melbourne Gaol, lobster rolls at Pinchy's and the Queen Victoria Market at night.

The sun rising over Melbourne's suburbs, seen from a hot air balloon

Balloon at SunriseEarly morning

The long cell block of the Old Melbourne Gaol with its iron walkways

Old Melbourne GaolMorning

Check in · Airbnb · 1 night

D4Thu 27 Apr

The Great Ocean Road

Picked up the car and drove out before sunrise. Breakfast in Torquay, Split Point Lighthouse, the Memorial Arch, brunch in Lorne, Erskine Falls, koalas at Kennett River and sunset over Apollo Bay.

Drive · a full day with stops

6:15amMelbournebefore sunrise
7:30amTorquaybreakfast
9:50amSplit Point LighthouseAireys Inlet
10:25amMemorial ArchEastern View
11:25amLornebrunch, Erskine Falls
2:10pmKennett Riverkoalas
4:10pmApollo Bay1 night

Open the route in Google Maps

Split Point Lighthouse at the end of a road lined with coastal bushes

Great Ocean Road, Day 1Early morning

The coastline and a calm blue sea from Teddy's Lookout near Lorne

Koalas and Apollo BayAfternoon

Check in · Airbnb · 1 night

D5Fri 28 Apr

The Twelve Apostles

Scallop pies in Apollo Bay, a rainforest walk, Cape Otway Lightstation, then the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge and the Bay of Islands, all the way to Warrnambool.

Drive · a full day with stops

7:10amApollo Baypies for breakfast
9:40amCape Otway Lightstation
12:00pmTwelve Apostles
12:40pmLoch Ard Gorge
1:45pmPort Campbelllunch
2:50pmLondon Bridgethe Grotto, Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands
4:50pmWarrnambool1 night

Open the route in Google Maps

The white Cape Otway lighthouse on a green headland under grey clouds

Cape Otway LightstationEarly morning

The limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles standing in the surf below the cliffs

The Twelve ApostlesMorning

Rock stacks and small islands in the sea at the Bay of Islands

Bay of IslandsAfternoon

Check in · Ballarat · 2 nights

D6Sat 29 Apr

Up to Ballarat

Pies at Browns Depot Bakery, then inland to Ballarat for Lydiard Street, the Art Gallery, the Botanical Gardens, a ride on the old trams by Lake Wendouree, and stargazing at the Ballarat Observatory.

Drive · about 2h 45m

7:10amWarrnamboolBrowns Depot Bakery
10:00amBallarat2 nights

Open the route in Google Maps

Grand Victorian buildings on a Ballarat street under a big blue sky

BallaratEarly morning

Lake Wendouree under blue sky and white clouds

Ballarat Trams and StarsAfternoon

D7Sun 30 Apr

Sovereign Hill

A whole day at Sovereign Hill, the gold rush town: the main street, the horses, an underground mine tour, the gold pour and the redcoats.

Sovereign HillMorning

A little timber cottage with a veranda and a picket fence at Sovereign Hill

Sovereign Hill AfternoonMorning

Check in · Batman's Hill on Collins · 1 night

D8Mon 1 May

Alpacas, then back to Melbourne

Breakfast at Beechworth Bakery, then a morning walking and feeding alpacas at Chakana Blue Alpacas. Back to Melbourne to return the car, and one last walk past Parliament House.

A row of alpacas in white, brown and grey standing in a green paddock

Chakana Blue AlpacasMorning

The columns and steps of Parliament House in Melbourne

Bye, MelbourneAfternoon

D9Tue 2 May

Flying home

The morning flight back to Singapore, eating our way home.

Next flight

Boarding pass · Min & Liang

SINFUK

To: Fukuoka, Japan
When: 2023

All trips →

FukuokaComing soon · Japan