Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Fly from Brisbane Airport to Melbourne Airport, allowing roughly 4–5 hours door to door once you include getting to the airport, check-in and security, the flight, baggage collection, and the transfer into town. From Melbourne Airport, SkyBus is usually the simplest CBD option—about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic—or take a taxi/rideshare if you have substantial luggage. Check current flight times before booking, and make sure your Melbourne accommodation accepts your likely arrival time; the airport-to-city transfer is not instantaneous.
Start at Federation Square, beside Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River, for an easy 45-minute introduction to central Melbourne. From there, walk across Princes Bridge or follow Southbank Promenade to the National Gallery of Victoria. Allow around two hours for the main collection, which is generally free, though special exhibitions may charge admission and can require a timed booking. If you arrive late, prioritize the gallery and keep Federation Square to a brief wander; gallery hours and exhibition access should be checked for your travel day.
Take tram 58 or a short taxi/rideshare south toward the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, entering near Domain Road. Spend about 1½ hours on the lakeside paths and around Guilfoyle’s Volcano—it is a good, unhurried way to recover from the flight, and the gardens are especially pleasant in the late afternoon. Return to the CBD for dinner at Chin Chin on Flinders Lane. Expect approximately A$45–70 per person before drinks; it is lively rather than quiet, and booking ahead is wise. If there is a wait, leave your name and explore nearby Hosier Lane rather than standing in the doorway.
Allow 1.5–2 hours to drive from Melbourne to Torquay via the M1 and Princes Freeway, plus time to collect the hire car, fuel up and deal with Melbourne traffic. An early departure around 7:30–8:00am is worthwhile; use the Princes Freeway toward Geelong, then follow signs for the Surf Coast. Parking is generally easier than in Melbourne, but beach car parks fill on warm weekends, so avoid leaving valuables in the vehicle. Start at the Australian National Surfing Museum, where an hour gives you a good introduction to Australia’s surf culture and the history behind the local breaks; check the museum’s current opening hours before setting out, as they can vary seasonally.
From the museum, walk or drive a few minutes to Front Beach for a relaxed foreshore stroll and your first proper look at the coast. The sheltered bay is good for stretching your legs after the drive, while the main shopping strip around Gilbert Street is handy for coffee if needed. Continue east by car to Point Impossible Beach—roughly 15–20 minutes away—where the dunes and quieter shoreline feel noticeably less built-up than central Torquay. Allow about an hour here, and bring water, sunscreen and sturdy footwear; facilities are limited and the beach can be exposed on windy days.
Return to town for lunch at Fisho’s Torquay, a long-standing choice for fish, chips and other straightforward seafood. Expect approximately A$25–45 per person, with busier service around the midday peak; takeaway is useful if you would rather eat outdoors. After lunch, drive south along the Surf Coast Highway for about 15 minutes to Bells Beach. Follow the signed lookout and walk carefully to the viewing areas—the cliffs and surf are impressive, but this is not a casual swimming beach, particularly in rough conditions. Spend the late afternoon watching the surfers and coastal light, then return to Torquay for the night, roughly 10–15 minutes by car. Keep the evening easy after the early start, and check your accommodation’s parking arrangements before arriving.
Leave Torquay after breakfast, allowing 35–45 minutes on the Surf Coast Highway/B100 to reach Geelong. Aim for an 8:00–9:00am departure so you can check out without rushing and still have a relaxed start. On arrival, park in the waterfront or central Geelong car parks; street parking is available but time limits vary. Begin at the Geelong Waterfront, where the flat foreshore walk takes about an hour and features the colourful historic Baywalk bollards, old port views and easy access to cafés.
From the waterfront, walk roughly 10 minutes inland to Geelong Gallery. Allow around 1½ hours for the collection and temporary exhibitions. Check the gallery’s current opening days, exhibition schedule and any entry requirements before setting out, as hours and admission arrangements can vary; budget approximately A$0–20 depending on the exhibition. The gallery is compact enough to visit without feeling hurried.
Continue on foot into the Little Malop Street Precinct, Geelong’s liveliest dining area, for lunch. Give yourself about 1½ hours to browse the laneways and choose a café or modern Australian restaurant—allow roughly A$25–45 per person. After lunch, walk or drive about 10 minutes to Eastern Beach Reserve for an hour beside the Art Deco promenade. The swimming enclosure is a pleasant spot in warm weather, although the water can be cool and conditions should be checked before swimming.
For a quieter finish, drive or cycle east toward the Bellarine Rail Trail and spend around 1½ hours on a manageable section of the former railway corridor. It is best treated as a short out-and-back walk or easy ride rather than an attempt to cover the entire trail. Bring water, particularly on warmer days, and allow extra time to return the rental car or reach your accommodation; if you are leaving Geelong tonight, avoid scheduling a late departure so you have a comfortable buffer for traffic and vehicle drop-off.
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