great holiday spots 2-4hrs drive from Melbourne

see also:

• Melbourne
• bushwalks within 200km of Melbourne

• The Grampians
  • 252km (just under 3hrs) drive
  • main accommodation is at Halls Gap
  • great for mountain walks with views best in Spring (Sept-Oct) for wildflowers
  • regional wineries around Stawell, Avoca
• Twelve Apostles, Warrnambool, Port Fairy coastal towns and Mt Eccles volcanic remnants
  • Port Campbell is in the heart of the Twelve Apostles and is 229km via inland route taking 2hrs 40min (if you go the coastal route via Lorne and Apollo Bay it is 287km and around 4.5hrs)
• Apollo Bay, Cape Otway rainforests and remote coast
  • Apollo Bay is 200km and 2.5hrs via Birregurra and Skene's Creek (only 187km but almost 3hrs via Lorne and the Great Ocean Road)

• Phillip Island, fairy penguins, surfing, fishing, shelly beaches
  • Cowes is 142km taking just under 2hrs
• Inverloch, Venus Bay - summer beaches
  • Inverloch is 149km and just under 2hrs from Melbourne
• Wilsons Promontory - remote granite boulder beaches, camping and bushwalks
  • Tidal River camp ground is 226km and 3hrs drive, alternate accommodation at Yanakie 30minutes drive away
• Walhalla historic gold mining town and mountain forest bushwalks
  • Walhalla is 184km and almost 2.5hrs drive
• Licola remote alpine bushwalks and camping
  • Licola is 242km and 3hrs drive but the camp grounds are another 30-60min drive on gravel road (closed in winter)
• Lakes Entrance fishing and boating
  • Lakes Entrance is 318km and 3hrs 45min drive

• Bendigo historic gold mining area
  • Bendigo is an inland city 153km and 1hr 45min drive and nearby historic towns of Maryborough, Maldon and Castlemaine add further interest and interesting bushwalks
• Echuca and the Murray River - boating, fishing, golf
  • Echuca is 216km and 2hr 40min drive
• Eildon, Mansfield, Jamieson, Mt Buller, Mt Stirling camping, snow, horse riding region
  • Mansfield is 210km and 2.5hrs drive
  • Mt Buller ski resort is 251km and just over 3hrs drive
• Wangaratta, Rutherglen, Beechworth wine region and historic gold mining
  • Rutherglen is 294km and 3hrs drive and lies NW of Wangaratta and not far from the Murray River and Yarrawonga
  • Beechworth is 286km and 3hrs drive and south-east of Wangaratta and not far from the Alpine region
• Bright, Mt Buffalo, Mt Hotham, Mt Beauty, Falls Creek alpine resorts and Mt Feathertop alpine hiking
  • Bright is the main resort town at the base of the mountains and is 322km and 3.5hrs drive
  • Bright is extremely popular at Easter holidays