Leave Trafalgar around 7:15am so you’ve got a relaxed run into Melbourne CBD / Southbank before parking stress kicks in. It’s usually a 2 hr 15 min–2 hr 45 min drive, depending on traffic through Dandenong and the city approaches, so aim to be in a Southbank or CBD car park by about 9:45am. The easiest options are the big public garages around Southbank Boulevard, Flinders Lane, or near Crown Melbourne—handy because you can walk to the gallery precinct in a few minutes and avoid circling the block. Expect day parking to be roughly $25–45, sometimes a little less if you book ahead online.
Start with South Melbourne Market for breakfast and a proper local feel before you head into the art world. It’s an easy hop from Southbank by car, tram, or a short walk if you’ve parked nearby. Grab coffee and a pastry from one of the bakery stalls, or something simple from the hot food counters; $15–25 per person is plenty for a good breakfast. The market is best in the morning, when it still has that lively, unhurried buzz and you can actually browse without the lunch rush.
Head across to National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International) for your main visit, ideally arriving right around opening so you can make the most of the quieter rooms. Plan on 3.5–4 hours here, which is enough time to see a solid mix of the permanent collection and any major temporary exhibition without rushing. The NGV is open 10am–5pm, and while the general collection is free, ticketed exhibitions usually cost extra, so it’s worth checking the current show before you go. My local tip: don’t try to see everything—pick a few areas, take breaks in the central spaces, and use the cloakroom if you’ve got coats or bags so you can move comfortably.
After the gallery, keep things easy with a wander through Federation Square and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) precinct. It’s only a short walk from the NGV area, and this is the kind of reset that works well after a few hours indoors: architecture, open space, street life, and no real schedule pressure. Give yourself 45–60 minutes to drift through the square, maybe peek into ACMI if something catches your eye, and enjoy being in the middle of the city without needing to commit to another big activity.
Finish with an early dinner at Maha in Flinders Lane, which is close enough that you won’t waste time on extra travel and polished enough to feel like a proper end to the day. Budget around $45–70 per person, depending on whether you go à la carte or add drinks, and book ahead if you can—this is the kind of place that’s worth securing, especially on a Wednesday. Aim to sit down around 4:45pm–5:15pm so you’re not rushing, and leave yourselves just enough time to enjoy dinner without making the drive home feel late.
For the trip back to Trafalgar, leave Melbourne around 6:30pm. That keeps you ahead of the worst of the evening drag once you’re clear of the CBD, and the drive is again about 2 hr 15 min–2 hr 45 min. The easiest exit is straight onto the city freeways once you’re out of the central grid, so don’t overthink it—just get pointed out of town, settle in for the drive, and if you’ve got energy left, you’ll be home before the night feels too long.