South east touring route
Balloons, wine and wildlife
301 km / 187 miles, about 3.5 hr
Catch a theatre show, share a rooftop drink, or shop up a storm in cosmopolitan Melbourne and then drive on to discover three very different and beautiful regions, all just an hour apart. Take to the skies in a hot air balloon at dawn over the Yarra Valley, get up close to the little penguins and furry koalas on Phillip Island, and sample the pinot noir and chardonnay varietals along the famous Mornington Peninsula wine region.
Spend a lazy afternoon exploring local boutiques, cafes and bars hidden all around Melbourne's historic arcades and bluestone laneways.
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56 km / 35 miles, about 1 hr
Get an early start and watch the sun rise over the Yarra Valley vineyards from a hot air balloon.
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140 km / 87 miles, about 1.5 hr
Visit Phillip Island Nature Park and see penguins, seals and koalas in their natural environment.
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105 km / 65 miles, about 1 hr
While away a morning in the gardens of the peninsula, then stop for lunch at one of many renowned wineries.
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Highlights
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square is the home of Australian art with superb collections of Australian Indigenous and...
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Watch for waking koalas and peek at a joey in a kangaroo's pouch, meet keepers or observe vets in the animal hospital, all in an Aussie bush setting.
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Rise above the Yarra Valley at sunrise on a silent, scenic hot air balloon flight – a tranquil way to experience the wonders of the landscape.
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Get amongst an atmosphere that is genuinely electric as the island roars to life with international motorcycle and car racing championships.
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Sniff, sip and sample your way around Mornington Peninsula's boutique cellar doors for unexpected experiences, new friends and delicious meals.
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