Best Places to Escape to Near Melbourne This Spring

We know - spring is here but Melbourne never quite gets the memo until it's basically nearly summer. If you're dying to get out of the cold grey of the almost-spring city, why not hit up some of these spots for a bit of RnR? Stroll along the beach and get a good lungful of salty fresh air, cosy up in the mountains with a fireplace to really make the most of the weather, or just enjoy looking out the window and seeing a completely different view for a bit.

Ready? Let's explore!

Wander Down to Phillip Island

There's so much to see and do on Phillip Island that I feel like it has the best of both worlds. You can go and have a whale of a time or you can just go to the beach every day and chill - it's got everything you need for any holiday motivation!

We love to stroll around the Phillip Island Nature Park, get our proper fill of sandy feet and rugged coastline views, check out what's new in the Art & Craft Community Gallery, and get over to Churchill Island Heritage Farm whenever we can (they have wine!). 

Less than 2 hours from Melbourne along the South Gippsland Highway, your island adventure awaits

Get Lost in Daylesford

Go have lunch at the Lakhouse, browse the Mill Markets (leave the teacups for me!), check out any number of wineries and cideries, be inspired at the multiple galleries, buy a pure wool jumper (you won't know yourself, really, they're amazing), and stay at a cosy B&B before waking up to do it all over again, with perhaps a side visit to the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens. Glorious stuff.

Wine it up in the Yarra Valley

If you're looking for hearty wood fires, wine and cheese platters, homely country pubs, and green hills as far as the eye can see, it's the Yarra Valley you'll be wanting.

We love it for farmstays, wine tours, fresh air, mountain views, and the obligatory visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.

Step Back in Time to Historic Ballarat

We go to Ballarat often (admittedly not in winter quite so much!) because it has everything. The beautiful old buildings that I love, the wonderful lake to walk around (and nearby pubs to lunch in), playgrounds, shops, delis, markets, plenty of places to stay, and a visit to Buninyong and its shops and cafes is mandatory. It feels like a country town with every convenience of the city, and you can feel miles away from Melboune when the reality is, you're only 72.

Where do you love to go when Spring is waking up and you need to get out of the city?

Main image credit: Friends of Phillip Island Facebook