Top Melbourne Outdoor Activities

Discover Melbourne’s history and highlights on this guided Yarra River cruise. Float past the city’s towering skyscrapers and lovely urban gardens while learning about the transformation of this vibrant city from 19th-century port town to a modern cultural capital. Your sightseeing cruise takes you upriver and downriver for a scenic overview of attractions on both banks.

Discover the natural delights of Phillip Island with an eco-tour from Melbourne. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. Visit the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with koalas and other Australian wildlife. Finish the day at a local beach where you can watch hundreds of some of the world's tiniest penguins waddle out of the ocean and across the sand to their burrows.

Marvel over the dramatic canyons, cascading waterfalls and wildflower valleys of the Grampians National Park on this action-packed full-day tour. Visit the gold rush town of Ballarat; take a bushwalk to see the Silverband Falls and spot wild kangaroos at Halls Gap. After lunch (own cost), embark on a short hike to the Grand Canyon, stand in awe beneath the MacKenzie Falls and admire jaw-dropping views over Stringybark Forest, Victoria Valley, and Lake Bellfield. This small-group tour includes selected hotel pick-up and round-trip transport from Melbourne.

Cruise from Melbourne to the historic seaport city of Williamstown while soaking up the sights along the Yarra River. Spend as much time as you like in Williamstown, where you can browse art galleries, explore local seafaring history or enjoy a coffee or meal at one of the many charming cafés. Customize your cruise options and travel one-way in either direction or take a round-trip cruise for a delightful day trip.

Spend an evening on the Yarra River during this Melbourne dinner cruise. As you admire the twinkling city lights reflecting on the water, enjoy a 4-course gourmet meal inclusive of beverages. This fine dining experience includes beer, wine, and spirits, as well as coffee, tea, dessert, port, and a cheese plate. Cruise past attractions like Federation Square and the Royal Botanic Gardens while soaking up the elegant and relaxing atmosphere of the boat.

Experience the Great Ocean Road’s top attractions on this guided excursion that follows the iconic road in reverse. Embark on your journey and beat the crowds while learning about the region’s scenic landscapes and pretty coastal towns from an informative guide. Visit sites including the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell, London Bridge, and Great Otway National Park Rainforest.

Discover some of Australia’s most photographed landscapes on this full-day tour of the famous Great Ocean Road from Melbourne. Stop for morning tea in Anglesea, spot wild koalas along the way, and tuck into lunch overlooking the dramatic Apollo Bay. After lunch, enjoy a hike through Great Otway National Park, learn how the notorious Shipwreck Coast earned its name, and marvel over natural landmarks like the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and the Gibson Steps.

Take in breathtaking sights of long sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs on this guided, full-day tour of Australia’s Great Ocean Road. See some of the most spectacular coastal scenery on Earth, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks and Gibson's Steps, site of historic cliff lines. Bushwalk in Great Otway National Park and try out your koala-spotting skills. Travel in a deluxe mini-coach with a small group for a relaxing, personalized experience.

Spot Aussie icons like kangaroos, koalas and emu, as well as exotic beasts like lions, gorillas and meerkats on a thrilling family day trip to the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Hop on an open-window bus for a 40-minute safari tour and get up close to giraffes, rhinos, zebras, camels and more. Then, explore the rest of the park on foot, and walk the boardwalk above the hippo pool, enjoy zookeeper talks and presentations, or make the most of the kid’s play areas.

Discover the rugged mountains and wildflower valleys of the Grampians National Park on this full-day tour from Melbourne. Once there, learn about Aboriginal culture, have lunch in Halls Gap, then climb to the Boroka Lookout for fantastic views of the Mt. William and Serra Ranges. That’s not all: hike to see the dramatic Balconies; view the idyllic Mackenzie Falls, and spot wild kangaroos roaming through the valleys.

Soak up a spectacular aerial view of Melbourne with a visit to Melbourne Skydeck— the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Admire the watery expanse of Port Phillip Bay and the rolling Dandenong Ranges in the distance. Even the other skyscrapers of Melbourne’s business district will seem miniature from this incredible vantage point. Thrill-seekers can upgrade to experience ‘The Edge’— a moving, glass-bottomed cube that lets you hover over the city streets 88 floors below.

Spend a day immersed in the amazing animal kingdom at the Melbourne Zoo. Encounter native land species like koalas, wombats and kangaroos at the Australian Bush exhibit, and watch Victoria’s indigenous penguins and seals splash around at the Wild Sea. Admire creatures from around the globe, such as mighty Asian pachyderms at the Trail of Elephants and elegant African zebras and giraffes in open-air habitats. Don’t miss the energetic primates at Lemur Island and an elevated orangutan exhibit!

Swap sandy beaches for snowy mountains on this full-day tour to the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort from Melbourne. Enjoy around three hours to play amid the snowfields, visit the magnificent Steavenson Falls or make the most of the snow with a 90-minute ski lesson or a ride on the snow tube and toboggan runs (extra costs apply). Along the way, pass through the idyllic Yarra Valley and stop to sample regional specialties at the Gateway Estate in Coldstream and the Yarra Valley Chocolatier and Ice Creamery.

Explore this remarkable coastal and rainforest region on a tour that offers a truly personalized experience. Beat the crowds and benefit from a tour that focuses on new experiences, exclusive locations, unique wildlife and a sense of adventure. Marvel at the area’s beauty from the iconic 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and ancient Otway rainforest to sleepy seaside townships. Witness the gateway to Great Ocean Road, see koalas in their natural environment and enjoy lunch on the wharf featuring freshly cooked, local fish and chips on an experience that goes beyond the traditional.

Spend a full day exploring the landmarks of the Great Ocean Road. Watch the sunset at the famous Twelve Apostles rock formation, pass the Otway Ranges and spot koalas, explore landmarks in Port Campbell National Park and more. Known as one of Australia's most beautiful drives and one of Victoria's most popular destinations, the Great Ocean Road offers great photo ops of coastal scenery, picturesque seaside towns and pristine wilderness—a must-do excursion from Melbourne.

Travel on a small-group tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade and other wildlife highlights of Victoria. Your full-day tour stops at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park to meet Australian natives such as koalas and wallabies. Explore the dramatic Cape Woolamai surf beach and the Nobbies boardwalk where you can enjoy the views of the rugged South Coast.

Take in a bounty of Melbourne’s highlights along the scenic Yarra River on this narrated sightseeing cruise. Spend a delightful hour aboard a riverboat as you glide under the Princes Bridge and past beautiful river gardens, Herring Island, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and other top cultural attractions.

See the magnificent wildlife of the Werribee Open Range Zoo during a 75-minute off-road safari by 4-wheel drive vehicle. Your guide heads off road where you become immersed in the savanna and its amazing animals including giraffes, rhinos, and zebras. Includes admission to the zoo and the option to explore the zoo further at your leisure.

Embark on a thrilling journey along Australia’s most famous coastal drive—the Great Ocean Road. Set out from Melbourne for a full-day tour by air-conditioned minivan, stopping along the way at the coastal town of Apollo Bay and Split Point Lighthouse. Keep your camera on hand as you spot kangaroos and koalas on a rainforest stroll and admire the dreamy landscapes of Port Campbell National Park, including the iconic 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. This small-group tour is limited to 11 people for a personalized experience and includes hotel pick-up.

Enjoy an authentic taste of the Yarra Valley on this full-day ecotour from Melbourne. Visit local farmers, family-run wineries, and artisan producers as you travel through the patchwork of vineyards and farmlands. Stop along the way to indulge in wine tasting at De Bortoli winery; sample scrumptious handmade chocolates at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie; and enjoy a delicious lunch at Rochford Winery. That’s not all: other stops include Yarra Valley Dairy and Yering Station.

Come face-to-face with Australia’s wild and wonderful creatures at the Healesville Sanctuary, a refuge specializing in native Aussie wildlife. With your general entry ticket valid all day, you can spend as much time as you want exploring the zoo and marveling over koalas, dingoes, wombats, wallabies and kangaroos. That’s not all: learn how Healesville was the first place in the world to breed a duck-billed platypus in captivity; watch a spectacular display of birds of prey and parrots; and peek behind-the-scenes at the animal hospital.

Create your very own snow day on this fun and frosty full-day tour from Melbourne. At the winter wonderland of Lake Mountain resort, you can opt to partake in snow sports like cross-country skiing or tobogganing (at own expense), or simply play in the snow. Soak in the cascading beauty of Steavenson Waterfalls on a guided nature walk and indulge in the flavors of Yarra Valley with a sweet stop at a chocolate and ice cream shop.

Enjoy a more relaxed experience of Melbourne than you’d get in a traditional tour vehicle on a walking tour that provides the ultimate introduction if you're visiting for the first time. You’ll stop to hear tales and trivia that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebook about top Melbourne attractions such as Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Old Melbourne Gaol, and much more.

Soar over the Yarra Valley during the golden light of sunrise during an unforgettable hot air balloon flight. Float over the scenic landscape of gentle rolling hills and vineyards as day breaks across this beloved winemaking region. Upgrade to enjoy hotel pickup and a delicious sparkling wine breakfast at Balgownie Estate after touching down back on solid ground.