ESCAPE FROM THE CITY

Find BEACHES to surf at, STEAM TRAINS to ride and a hidden ISLAND gem on a DAY trip from Melbourne.

THE YARRA VALLEY AND DANDENONG RANGES

TheYarraValley and Dandenong Ranges combine to offer day-trippers a grab bag of quaint towns and stunning natural landscapes. Drop in at Healesville to visit Healesville Sanctuary to see our fabulous fauna up close, then head to the Rainforest Gallery/Donna Buang inYarra Ranges National Park.When tummies start to rumble, visit Meletos Garden and Café in Coldstream for gyros overlooking the vineyard and then venture into the lush natural landscape of the Dandenong Ranges to ride the Puffing Billy Railway on your way back to the city.

TORQUAY

Driving the Great Ocean Road needs to be undertaken over a few days to do it justice, so in the case of a day trip head straight to one of its sparkling coastal towns. In Torquay, less than 1.5 hours from Melbourne, life revolves around the water so spend the day paddling atTorquay Front Beach or Cosy Corner.The kids can take surf lessons (tryTorquay Surfing Academy) and you will all love the Australian National Surfing Museum ($25 for a family ticket).

CHURCHILL ISLAND

In spite of the fact it’s right next to Phillip Island, Churchill Island (the land of the Boon Wurrung /Bunurong people) is definitely a secret gem. Head here to wander the wide open spaces, do a spot of birdwatching and see the historical buildings dating back to European settlement in the 1850s. Spend the arvo at Churchill Island Heritage Farm watching displays of blacksmithing, cow-milking, sheep-shearing and whip-cracking, and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, too.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

The Mornington Peninsula is where Melburnians day-trip to in search of beaches, cute towns and great food and wine. There is so much to do here that you will need to plan ahead (or go back for a longer stay), but some suggestions include a visit to Mt Martha to see the colourful bathing huts, a tour of Pt Leo Estate’s Sculpture Park in Merricks, and zip lining at the Enchanted Adventure Garden in Arthur’s Seat.

PHILLIP ISLAND

Just 90 minutes’ drive from the city, Phillip Island is famed for its penguins (32,000 versus just 10,387 people), its motorbike race and as the spot where the Hemsworth brothers spent their formative years. It’s also a great day trip with lots to explore, from visiting the Penguin ParadeVisitor Centre and watching the little cuties shuffle ashore to wandering the treetop boardwalks to see koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Reserve to spotting whales in season and spending time in the island’s townships of San Remo, Newhaven, Cape Woolamai and Cowes.