Where to go near Melbourne when the sun is shining

Picture it. The morning sun is shining brightly in the Melbourne CBD. You’ve checked the forecast for the day, and your weather app says it’s set to be a scorcher for the entire day.

With the weather being so unpredictable, it’s only natural that you’d want to head out and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts! Here are some of our favourite places to head out to when the weather is beautiful in Melbourne.

Where should you go on a sunny day in Melbourne?

1. Ballarat and Sovereign Hill
2. Phillip Island
3. Mornington Peninsula
4. Dandenong Ranges & 1000 Steps
5. Great Ocean Road
6. Melbourne CBD

Ballarat and Sovereign Hill

Distance from Melbourne: 1.5 hours

Head over to Sovereign Hill, and immerse yourself in a day filled with history and fun! This fascinating, charming experience is a full replication of what life was like during the Ballarat Gold Rush when gold was first discovered in Victoria.

It’s a fully outdoor museum that combines history with immersive, fun experiences! This day tour allows visitors to get involved with lots of different family-friendly activities.

This historic day out is an opportunity to immerse yourself in history…allow Victoria’s most famous outdoor museum to transport you back to the Ballarat Gold Rush from the 1850s.

Immersive experiences at Sovereign Hill:

• Dress up in traditional Victorian clothing and have your photo taken… 1950s style!
• Candle making
• Gold panning
• Tour underneath the gold mine
• Playing traditional Victorian games

Everything about this museum is interactive, so you won’t be bored!

The historic building is a hub for artists, both locally and internationally, to exhibit artwork.

Phillip Island

Distance from Melbourne: 2 hours

Phillip Island in the summertime really is a great way to experience coastal Victoria. Head over to the penguin parade at sunset to experience the most wholesome display of nature!

Every day at sunset, fairy penguins run out from the ocean and waddle to their cosy burrows on the side of the beach. This happens as though like clockwork, daily – imagine being able to see this from the beach!

This is a great place to head in the summer, seeing as the penguin parade is all outdoors. You’ll be able to see these small penguins as they come out of the water and make their way into their little burrows in the sides of the banks just above the beach.

Mornington Peninsula

Distance from Melbourne: 1 hour 30 minutes

Head over to Mornington Peninsula for a refreshing spa break amongst the hot springs.

Head over to the hot springs in Mornington for a dip. You’ll be able to relax in the body-loving minerals and get yourself pampered. Hot springs are a great way to soak yourself in all of the essential minerals, which are absorbed through the pores in your skin.

Read more about the benefits of the hot springs here!

Or enjoy a massage at the spa!

Dandenong Ranges and 1000 Steps

Distance from Melbourne: 40 minutes

The Dandenong Ranges sit about an hour away from the CBD, and are home to a beautiful ferny rainforest. The 1000 steps might not have a huge lookout at the very top, but the way up is really pretty.

It’s a gorgeous way to spend an early morning or an afternoon! Or, bring a packed lunch and make a day of it. There are barbecues scattered around the top!

Great Ocean Road

Distance from Melbourne: 2.5 hours

Of course, we can’t mention Melbourne day trips without giving the Great Ocean Road a mention! The Great Ocean Road is one of the best day trips from Melbourne – particularly on a sunny day. The rugged cliffs of the Southwestern Victorian coast, cute wildlife (spot wild koalas!), and the balmy beachtowns make this day trip from Melbourne one to remember.

Summer day activities in/around Melbourne

If you want to stay more central to the Melbourne CBD and you’re after some cute summery activities in the city, or close to Melbourne, then check out these CBD locations!

• Monstsalvat: Welcome to the oldest artist’s community in Australia! This rustic quarter of Melbourne is home to a gorgeous art gallery situated within a beautiful stone building, located on the borders of the Yarra Valley. It’s only a 40-minute drive away from the CBD, which means it’s a lovely little day out!
• Daylesford: If cute wine bars and art galleries, and small towns are your thing, then head over to Daylesford!
• Melbourne’s beaches: Head to St Kilda for a cute beach day, or check out the Brighton Bathing Boxes at Brighton Beach. For prettier sand beaches, head further south towards Edithvale. Melbourne isn’t really known for its beaches, but the further south you go, the prettier the beaches are!
• Outdoor Cinemas: From the pretty lawns of the Abbotsford Convent, to the CBD Moonlight Rooftop Cinema
• Outdoor markets: The Queen Victoria Summer Nights Market (every Wednesday at 5 pm). Or check out the Fitzroy Markets every Saturday/Sunday. Or explore the Camberwell Markets every Sunday.
• Walking Tours: Wander around the city with a local guide! A walking tour around the city is a great way to spend a sunny day in the city – plus you’ll learn lots in a short space of time!