10 Awesome Things to Do near Melbourne post-lockdown

Melbourne: Australia’s coolest city that is famous for its footy, horse racing and some of the best restaurants in the world. But when all three of those are closed off to the public, what else is there to do? Um, plenty! That’s what. With so many glorious destinations located just outside the big smoke, there’s no need to sit at home.

It’s time to look beyond the MCG and spend the weekend in a different way, think luxury, think gourmet, think penguins. Wait, what? Yes, we said penguins. Read on and you’ll see why. Now, where to first?

You call 1.5 metres socially distancing? HA! We’re an extremely careful lot and we choose to put 15,000 feet between us and the next person. Well, we do if we’re skydiving and you can too!

While many skydiving companies have you jump over paddocks or fields, with the Great Ocean Road Skydive you’ll have the most incredible view of the ocean to enjoy as you make your way towards your landing spot.

After a short plane trip (and time to kill those nerves) you will be ready to take the jump of a lifetime. Get a kick out of that adrenalin hit as you free fall for a full 60 seconds before your parachute kicks in and you can relish in the fresh, clean air, descending four kilometres over scenic Torquay.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to go it alone. A professional skydiver will tandem with you so that your skydive is smooth and safe.

All you have to do now is work up the courage and press ‘book now’.

If you’d prefer a slow ascent rather than a quick descent, hot air ballooning might be more your speed.

The early start time will be so worth it once you catch those uninterrupted views and with the choice to float high above either the Yarra Valley or Melbourne city, you’ll get to watch the sunrise over your selected destination as you travel serenely through the sky.

Immerse yourself in the stillness and get lost in how dreamlike, peaceful and quiet it is before making your way back down to earth again – figuratively and literally!

You can finish your experience with breakfast, or if you want to continue that feeling of elation, why not check out one of the nearby wineries (or two!).

If you're looking for something exhilarating, heart-pumping and a little dangerous after being stuck inside for so long, then this is for you! Melbourne's SEA LIFE Aquarium is the only place in the city where you can shark dive, and boy oh boy is it fun! You can get right up close to a colony of sharks (carefully protected by the SEA LIFE team) which range in size from 1 to 3 meters. There are no cages – you're going to get as close as possible with these magnificent fish as they swim all around you. You won't need any diving experience; all you need is your mettle, as you go on your dive with Nurse Sharks, Port Jackson Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Wobbegong Sharks. It's an absolutely unforgettable experience that is the perfect way to emerge from isolation.

Are you craving a trip to New Zealand for some natural mineral pool action or to Japan for a traditional experience like a Japanese onsen, we totally hear you and we feel your pain. Did you know that there is an Australian equivalent and that it’s just outside Melbourne? Get excited, people!

Set deep in Melbourne’s southern region, the Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs is the first natural thermal mineral springs and day spa in Victoria and they make a very luxurious way to wipe away the day.

On your day at Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs, you can enjoy the many hot springs, the sauna, cold plunge pools and even a Turkish hamam, and take full advantage of what the highly mineralised water does for your health. The facility also features a gondola ride, allowing you to see the grounds from up above and even have a go at spotting some of the local wildlife.

This day spa trip also includes your transfers from Melbourne so you can be in zen mode the whole time and with all those chilly Melbourne days coming up, you won’t want to miss this!

Another destination that is a short hour-and-a-half’s drive from Melbourne is Phillip Island.

Phillip Island is the home of Australia’s motorsport and it is also the birthplace of the Hemsworth brothers, so you know there’s something magical going on down there! If Liam and Chris aren’t adorable enough for you, around 32,000 penguins also inhabit the island and they can be seen easily as they waddle up to the shores of Phillip Island Nature Park.

On a scenic helicopter ride over Phillip Island, you can take in a different view and check out the Grand Prix Circuit or the penguin population from above. You can also fly over the countless beaches, capes and bays that boast some of the best surfing conditions in the world. Gnarly.

Flights can be taken up to 5:00 pm each day, and if you time it right, you can even plan for the perfect sunset ride. How’s that for romantic?

Melbourne does a lot of things well, but its best quality has to be its coffee. Australian coffee is renowned as some of the best in the world, and Melbourne coffee is the best in Australia, so we can only deduce that they have the best coffee in the country.

Don’t believe us? Join the Melbourne Coffee Lovers Tour and see (or smell and taste) for yourself.

On this walking tour, you will visit four handpicked cafes where you can try different styles of coffee and learn about their origins and quirks from your expert guide.

We already know coffee is the greatest way to start the day, but throw this tour in the mix and you’ll be left with plenty of energy and buzz for the afternoon and night to follow!

More than just a bit of wine and cheese, this gourmet tour is a foodie’s dream day out, with visits to a dairy, strawberry farm, cider brewery and chocolatier. We’re drooling already.

Taking place in the stunning Mornington Peninsula, you can relax knowing that the whole day will be taken care of, including all the driving!

Simply meet up in Melbourne at a leisurely hour of the morning before you are taken south to the Peninsula, starting with a stop off at Main Ridge Dairy.

The next visit will be to T’Gallant Winery because it’s wine o’clock somewhere in the world!

You will spend the rest of the day being chauffeured to some of the best producers the region has to offer, eating, drinking, and sampling to your heart’s content.

 In the late afternoon, you will make the trip back to the city, with your belly full and your soul nourished.

 What a fantastic way to spend a Sunday (or any day for that matter)!

The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s most treasured wine regions. Fortunately for those in Melbourne, it can be reached in around one-and-a-half hours, so a day trip is more than feasible.

We would recommend staying the night so that you can indulge in all the wine your heart desires, but if you are strapped for time, why not join a tour? Leave the driving up to someone else so you can sit back and relax and devour all of the produce created in this gorgeous region.

Starting in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, you'll then be driven to the Yarra Valley where you'll spend the day hopping between well-known wineries including De Bortoli and Rotchford Wines, where you will be served lunch.

You will also be treated to a cheese sampling (there is always room for cheese!) and dessert at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie before finishing off with one last winery before the drive home.

If you have been dreaming of a day out of the city, round up your nearest and dearest and get your wine on!

Cutting up the slopes in skis or snowboards in Victoria's snowfields is a must! Despite Australia having an international reputation for sun and surf, we’re not too shabby on the snow front either. Here’s a bit of pub trivia — all of that powdery white goodness on the Aussie Alps is actually bigger in surface area than Switzerland! 

There are endless activities on offer, and you could enjoy an exhilarating day up Mt. Buller and marvel at the breathtaking alps:

Imagine being able to spot your home as you free fall from the sky? With a skydive over Melbourne you can!

This spectacular offer allows you to jump way up over St Kilda and affords you the best views of Melbourne’s CBD and Port Phillip Bay as you drift back down to the famous beachside suburb, where you can take in a swim, relax and bring those adrenalin levels back down after your exciting experience. 

If you’ve ever dreamed of skydiving but are too strapped for time to get out of town, this inner-city experience is the best option for you.

Phew! Who knew Victoria had so much going on? Well, let’s face it, we did (we know all the secrets).

So, whether you’re into animals, motorsport or fine food and wine, we hope you’ll take out advice and get out there exploring. You definitely don’t have a reason to say ‘i-so bored’ anymore!