A spontaneous family getaway couldn’t be easier with these road trip itineraries and inspiration. So pack the car and buckle in the kids as we explore the best road trips in Victoria.
Simply put, the Great Ocean Road is a rite of passage for Aussie families. Winding its way alongside the Southern Ocean, it is one of the world’s most epic ocean drives. It has koala-filled canopies, ace surf breaks, pretty seaside towns and crashing waves of the Southern Ocean.
Whether you drive a little of its more than 1,000-kilometre length expect to be rewarded with pristine beaches, quaint villages, waterfalls and shipwrecks. Sleep under the stars on tranquil beachside sites, or at one of the camping grounds along the route. Water babies will find some of Victoria’s best beaches, including Torquay and Bells, home of the annual Rip Curl Pro. Commune with nature at Tower Hill, an extinct volcano that’s now a reserve teeming with wildlife.
Fit families can climb the Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia, or tackle the Otway Fly, an exhilarating guided Zipline Eco-Tour through the treetops. There’s also a gentle treetop walkway experience. Visit the Twelve Apostles, of which there are now eight. They are one of Australia’s most photographed landmarks, located off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park. Have the kids take advantage of the Digital Detective and high-tech scavenger hunt programs for a little extra fun.
The route: Perhaps the most famous road trip on this list, The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometres along Victoria’s southern coast, from Torquay to Allansford.
Don’t miss: Pit stops at Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and the rainforests of Great Otway National Park.
Driving tip: Driving one way? Start in Torquay so that you are always on the ocean side of the road.
Where to stay: Nestled beside Anglesea River and Surf Beach, Anglesea Family Caravan Park offers water fun galore right on your doorstep – and you can bring your pooch along, too.
Duration 3-4 days
If your idea of a fun family holiday involves cow chases, chocolate smothered fruit and vintage fire trucks, then rally the kids, pack the car and set your GPS for Shepparton & Goulburn Valley, an easy two-hour drive north of Melbourne. It’s famous for fruit and dairy, but the region isn’t just about paddocks and produce, it has some unexpected quirks that are pure gold for curious travellers.
An ever-changing public art exhibition where cows provide the canvas. More than 90 full-sized fibreglass cows and calves form a technicolour herd that grazes across parks, gardens and shopfronts. A quirky nod to the region’s dairy roots, each of the bovine beauties is decked out by local artists in wild and wonderful designs, from vibrant florals and bold, abstract patterns to Indigenous storytelling and, occasionally, a superhero costume. For visiting families, it’s part treasure hunt, part art crawl and always full-blown fun. Highlights include Journey, an Indigenous-inspired design by artist Ross Morgan, and Blossom, floral joy on four legs thanks to Mooroopna’s Amanda Charquero. Because the herd is always evolving, no two visits are ever the same.
Shepparton and Goulburn Valley region are packed with more than enough stuff to keep families entertained. Take a spin through the Museum of Vehicle Evolution. It’s packed with retro cars, fire trucks, motorbikes and vans, the kind that make adults nostalgic and kids who love everything on wheels wide-eyed. If you have a sweet tooth or need a reward for the most cows spotted, swing by the Chocolate Apple Factory. This place is dangerously delicious with its locally-grown apples dipped in gooey chocolate and topped with everything from crushed biscuits to rainbow sprinkles.
Only 90 minutes from Melbourne on Australia’s southern coast, enjoy a little fun on Phillip Island. The laid-back coastal town of Cowes is a central spot to base your crew, with plenty of walking and cycling trails to enjoy, an abundance of nature and wildlife along coastal coves, and surf beaches nearby where you can enjoy a lesson with a local. Take a virtual journey through the Southern Ocean to Antarctica with interactive and immersive experiences within the Nobbies Centre. Or jump on board a Wildlife Coast Cruise to see the country’s largest breeding colony of Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks, one of the best places in the Southern Hemisphere to spot them in the wild.
If you’re eager to see penguins, Phillip Island is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. Every evening people flock to the world-famous Penguin Parade, which sees the adorable birds come ashore in groups, waddling their way up the sand at sunset. The Koala Conservation Reserve is a tangle of treetop boardwalks across swathes of Aussie bushland. The kids can also get up close to koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and bats. Churchill Island is a heritage-listed farm offering a fascinating glimpse at the lives of the early settlers, as well as furry fun in the hands-on animal nursery. Enjoy a sweet moment at Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, where you can create your own chocolate and enjoy samples of multiple flavours – they stock 190 varieties. Finally, make sure you visit A Maze’N Things. The space is filled with interactive magic displays and optical illusions, plus mini-golf and a giant labyrinth, and kids will love getting lost in the mirror maze, hiding in the disappearing room and becoming very small or very tall in the shrinking room.
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First stop Moe, about 90 minutes from Melbourne. Stretch your legs at Moe Botanic Gardens or step back in time at Old Gippstown, a once-upon-a-time collection of relocated buildings and horse-drawn vehicles.
From Moe, head to Lakes Entrance, where Gippsland Lakes merges with the Southern Ocean. A family favourite surf, fishing and swimming destination, kids will love exploring the long stretch of sand by camel.
Read: 26 best things to do in Gippsland with kids
Forty minutes northeast is Orbost, an early settler town surrounded by national parks, forests and beaches. From Orbost head to the seaside town of Marlo. Overlooking the floodplain and estuary of the Snowy River, it’s a perfect spot to perch for a night.
Explore the white sandy beaches, granite peaks and heathlands of Croajingolong National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Splash into Betka Beach and lagoon, a safe swim spot for kids of all ages.
Hit the highway nice and early for the drive to Mallacoota, a gateway to a world of water and coastal wilderness. You’ll find plenty of kid-friendly nature-based activities such as mountain bike trails, kayaks, paddleboats and putt-putt. Enjoy the views from Gipsy Point, a peninsula that juts into the top lake of the Mallacoota Inlet and is home to a large mob of kangaroos.
Gabo Island, situated 14 kilometres from Mallacoota is a must-see for its distinctive pink granite lighthouse and wildlife.
With stunning valleys, mountains, rivers and lakes, the Victorian High Country is ideal for a family adventure/
Penguins and seals, colourful bathing boxes, great wildernesses, waterfalls and more. Here are the best places to holiday in Victoria.
322 kilometres (one way)
Roughly three and a half hours’ drive from Melbourne, Victoria’s High Country is deservedly famous for the spectacular snowfields of Mt. Hotham and Falls Creek. However, as the warmer weather melts the snow away it uncovers hundreds of kilometres of breathtaking scenery to hike, bike and paddle through.
Following the Great Alpine Road, you’ll pass through the pretty town of Myrtleford with attractions such as the Red Stag Deer and Emu Farm and Bright Berry Farms, warranting a stop. Then on to Bright, a picturesque village surrounded by enchanting scenery. Best explored via its many walking and cycling tracks, or a kayak or canoe along the Ovens River. The river is a favourite for white water kayaking as the snow melts into the river in spring and an ideal spot for swimming and splashing when the currents slow in midsummer, there’s even a water slide and designated swimming area.
Victoria’s High Country is also Kelly country. You can visit Ned Kelly’s hometown and Glenrowan, the infamous site of the final siege and capture of the bolshie bushranger, where you’ll find the Big Ned Kelly statue. The famous bushranger spent quite a bit of time in the historic Beechworth jail and courthouse too, which is well worth a visit to learn of the region’s rich history, from the gold rush to the Kelly Gang.
Best for Heritage attractions and outdoor fun
Drive time 3 hours (return)
The heart of Australia’s goldfields, Ballarat is a fascinating mix of history, heritage, food, and – of course – plenty of gold-themed attractions.
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Lead image © Robert Blackburn/Visit Victoria
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