Melbourne - Great Ocean Drive / Yarra Valley / Healesville

📅 Itinerary Day 1: Melbourne → Great Ocean Road (Lorne / Apollo Bay) • Depart early morning from Melbourne CBD • Stop at: • Bells Beach • Anglesea Lookout • Split Point Lighthouse • Memorial Arch • Lunch at Lorne • Visit Erskine Falls • Sunset at Teddy’s Lookout or Apollo Bay Overnight in: Apollo Bay or Lorne ⸻ Day 2: Great Ocean Road → 12 Apostles → Return to Melbourne • Breakfast at local café • Drive to: • Gibson Steps • 12 Apostles • Loch Ard Gorge • Optional: Take a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles • Lunch at Port Campbell • Start return drive to Melbourne (approx. 3–4 hours) • Light dinner back in Melbourne Overnight in: Melbourne CBD ⸻ Day 3: Yarra Valley Wine & Chocolate Day • Depart 8:30 AM from Melbourne • Visit: • Domaine Chandon or Yering Station for wine tasting • Yarra Valley Dairy for cheese tasting • Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery • Lunch at Meletos or Innocent Bystander • Optional: Hot air ballooning (if you start the day very early) Overnight in: Yarra Valley (optional) or return to Melbourne ⸻ Day 4: Healesville Sanctuary + Local Attractions • Arrive at Healesville Sanctuary by opening (10:00 AM) • Enjoy wildlife encounters (wombats, kangaroos, platypus) • Lunch at Sanctuary Harvest Café • Optional nearby stops: • Maroondah Reservoir Park • Four Pillars Gin Distillery • Return to Melbourne in the evening Overnight in: Melbourne CBD ⸻ Day 5: Free Day in Melbourne / Local Exploration • Explore any of the following: • Queen Victoria Market • Royal Botanic Gardens • National Gallery of Victoria • Brunch at Hardware Société or Higher Ground • Souvenir shopping / Relaxed dinner ⸻ 🏨 Accommodation • Melbourne CBD: Dorsett Melbourne, Oaks Melbourne on Market, or Quincy Hotel • Great Ocean Road (Day 1): Mantra Lorne, Apollo Bay Eco YHA • Yarra Valley (optional): Balgownie Estate, Yering Gorge Cottages ⸻ 🍴 Food Recommendations • Great Ocean Road: • The Bottle of Milk (Lorne) • Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant (Apollo Bay) • Yarra Valley: • Meletos • Innocent Bystander • Yarra Valley Chocolaterie • Healesville: • Giant Steps Winery • Four Pillars Gin Tasting Room • Melbourne CBD: • Chin Chin (Thai fusion) • Tipo 00 (Italian) • Hardware Société (brunch) ⸻ 📌 Tips • Rent a car for Great Ocean Road and Yarra Valley – driving gives more flexibility • Book winery tastings and hot air ballooning in advance • Bring layers – weather can change quickly along the coast and in the valley • Start Great Ocean Road early to beat the crowds • Avoid driving at night in regional areas (wildlife hazard)