Leave Trafalgar, VIC around 7:00am so you arrive in Melbourne with time to park or settle in before the galleries get busy. If you’re driving, it’s usually about 1 hour 45 minutes on the M1/Monash Freeway in decent traffic, but give yourself a buffer for city entry and parking in Southbank or a nearby CBD garage. If you’re taking the V/Line train, expect roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours depending on the service; from Flinders Street Station you can walk or hop a short tram ride into the arts precinct without dealing with CBD parking stress. Aim to be near St Kilda Road by late morning so you can start fresh and avoid rushing.
Start at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International) on 180 St Kilda Road when it opens at 10:00am. It’s free to enter the permanent collections, though some special exhibitions cost extra, so it’s worth checking what’s on before you go if there’s a ticketed show you care about. Spend your first couple of hours here while your energy is best — the building itself is worth lingering in, and the mix of international art, design, and rotating exhibitions makes it easy to stay longer than planned. Afterward, cross over toward Federation Square for the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which gives you a nice contrast with Australian art and a different feel from the grander Southbank gallery. The walk is easy and scenic, especially if you cut through the Yarra River foreshore, and you’ll probably want about 1 hour 15 minutes there unless something grabs you.
By midday, head back toward Café by Lucky Coq for an easy casual lunch near the gallery area. Expect around $20–$35 per person, depending on whether you just want a quick bite, coffee, or a proper sit-down meal. It’s a good spot to reset without straying far, and it keeps the day relaxed rather than turning into a transport mission. After lunch, wander to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in South Yarra for a slower-paced afternoon. The gardens are especially good after a morning indoors — take the paths around the lake, enjoy the open space, and just let yourself wander for about 1.5 hours. Wear your comfy shoes, because this is the part of the day where the little extra walking feels best, not worst.
Plan to leave Melbourne around 4:30pm, before the 5:00pm gallery closing rush and before the worst of the Monash Freeway traffic builds up. If you’re driving, get out of the CBD with a little patience and use the freeway home; if you’re on the V/Line, head back via Flinders Street or Southern Cross with enough time for any connection. If you’ve still got energy, grab a quick coffee or snack near Flinders Lane or Federation Square before heading out, but keep it simple so the return trip stays comfortable. By this point the day should feel full but unhurried — a good art-and-gardens loop with just enough Melbourne time before the drive or train back to Trafalgar.