The 5 Best Tours And Excursions From Melbourne

The coast and countryside around Melbourne is well worth a visit, but they aren’t always easy to access. A tour can often be the perfect alternative, particularly for those without cars. Add in experienced guides who will help you delve deeper into the history of the areas, and you have a foolproof (and ready-made) day trip planned. Whether you’re looking for rugged coastline or rolling hills covered in vineyards, there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring scenery just outside Melbourne. Make the most of it on one of these tours or excursions.

1. Mornington Peninsula Bike, Hike and Kayak Tour

Activities, Tours

Trade the bustling city for verdant topography and ocean views on this day trip from Melbourne. Departing from the city centre, you’ll be out in the fresh country air in no time. Your route starts with a hike through wild scenery along the cliffs at Cape Schanck (keep your eyes peeled for fur seals and dolphins), before biking up to Arthur’s Seat for views over the peninsula. Should all the physical activity work up a thirst, you can take a quick detour to a vineyard, before finishing off the day with an easy kayak or paddle board along the coast. The best bit? You’ll be back in the city by cocktail hour.

2. Wilsons Prom Day Trip From Melbourne

Tours, Activities

Immerse yourself in the coastal wilderness with this full-day guided tour from Melbourne. The area plays home to a number of native animals, so you can expect to find yourself well acquainted with furry friends including kangaroos and wallabies in no time. Your guide will keep you entertained on the drive down with notable facts and snippets of history about the area, and will keep you well informed with the various sights to be expected on the hikes, as you ascend mountains and explore the native bush.

3. Grampians National Park Small-Group Eco Tour

Tours

Take in dizzying views from the mountaintops, and marvel at the power of Mother Nature from the foot of MacKenzie Falls. Make sure to pack your best walking shoes, as this tour will take you up mountains and hiking through canyons, with a pit stop to meet kangaroos at Halls Gap. Learn a bit of social history over tea with a visit to the gold rush town of Ballarat, where you’ll visit the Eureka Stockade Memorial, which remembers those who passed away during the pivotal Eureka Rebellion of 1854.

5. Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour

Tours

The Great Ocean Road is among the world’s most captivating drives, so don’t miss out due to the lack of a car. This minibus tour operates with a small group, allowing you a personal experience, as well as getting you off the beaten track to the spots that are inaccessible to larger buses. Traversing stunning coastline, you’ll stop at natural wonders such as the Twelve Apostles and visit a few of the towns dotted along the route – gaining an insight into the area’s history alongside incredible views.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.