Why Melbourne & Victoria Should Be Your Next Luxury Wellness Escape

Melbourne is one of those cities where the best experiences happen when you leave room to wander. Spend a morning exploring the city’s famous laneways, ducking into independent cafés, admiring ever-changing street art, and discovering hidden bars and boutiques tucked behind historic facades. Coffee culture is practically a way of life here, so don’t rush your daily flat white.

For a deeper connection to the city, I highly recommend a Koorie Heritage Trust walking tour early in your stay. It offers valuable insight into Melbourne’s First Nations history and adds meaningful context to everything you’ll see afterward. The National Gallery of Victoria is also worth a visit, even if you’re not typically a museum person.

If you’re traveling with kids, the city’s parks, riverfront, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods make exploring easy and enjoyable. Sports fans will quickly notice why Melbourne is considered Australia’s sporting capital, with stadiums, events, and a palpable energy woven into everyday life.If you’re a foodie, make reservations well in advance for restaurants like Marmelo or Gimlet—they’re absolutely worth it.

Before leaving the city, set your alarm early for a sunrise hot air balloon flight over Melbourne. It’s a high-energy, unforgettable way to see the city from above. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but absolutely magical as the skyline and surrounding landscape come into view with the first light.

After landing and warming up with a well-earned coffee, as Melbourne insists you do, it’s time to pack the car and head out for a day trip to Daylesford. Stop by Daylesford Cider for a tasting before spending the early afternoon at Hepburn Springs Bathhouse. After a few hours relaxing, finish your evening early with dinner at the incredible farm-to-table restaurant Sault.

For Midwestern travelers, the region often feels familiar in the best way, reminiscent of small towns in western Michigan, with charming local shops, relaxed restaurants, and a growing mix of breweries and wineries set among rolling countryside. We strongly suggest spending two days in the region, with a stay at Lake House, the only luxury lodge in Victoria. It is the ideal base for experiencing Daylesford’s food, wellness, and countryside at a relaxed, immersive pace.

Today is all about slowing down and soaking up the Bellarine Peninsula’s easy coastal rhythm. Start with the Portarlington mussel experience, which is such a fun, hands-on way to see where some of Australia’s best seafood comes from; you’ll never look at mussels the same way again. From there, head along the coast toward Jack Rabbit Vineyard for a long, lingering lunch with sweeping views over Port Phillip Bay; it’s one of those places where you end up staying longer than planned just because the setting is so good. Take a look at the winery’s special events, they offer a yoga class among the vines.

After lunch, drive to a mini airfield nearby to bravely board a fixed wing plane! You will be seeing the Twelve Apostles from the air and the most stunning and iconic coastline. It was unforgettable and gave a completely different perspective on the incredible beaches and coastline from the sky. Not quite brave enough to hit the sky, there’s time to wander a bit more through the peninsula’s beach towns with plenty of spots to stop if you’re traveling with kids who need to stretch their legs. It’s an easy, relaxed day that still feels incredibly special without trying too hard.

There are two ways to get to the Mornington Peninsula, which delivers a perfect mix of wine, wellness, and beautiful scenery. ‌The Mornington Peninsula is one of those places where you’ll wish you booked an extra night. It’s super easy going but still feels really special; vineyards, beaches, great food, and that salty coastal air that makes everything feel like a reset. The sweet spot to stay is around Red Hill or Sorrento, so you’re nicely placed between wineries, hot springs, and the coast without spending half the day in the car.

Wine tasting here is a must-do. Ten Minutes by Tractor or Pt Leo Estates are the standouts that feel really polished but still relaxed, with views that make you want to linger over every glass. There are also loads of smaller cellar doors dotted through Red Hill if you feel like exploring a bit more off the main track. If golf is your thing (or even if it’s not usually), this area is surprisingly good for it. Courses like Moonah Links and St Andrew’s Beach Golf Course are set right into the coastal landscape and feel more like a scenic experience than just a game.

For something slower, a soak at Alba Thermal Springs and Spa is a perfect pause, minimal effort, maximum relaxation. A true standout experience is spending the day in a Brighton Bathing Box. Ask how to gain access to these exclusive beachside retreats!

Families should set aside a day to visit one of the region’s wildlife parks, where kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and other native Australian animals can be seen up close. Wine lovers will find no shortage of reasons to spend an afternoon in the Yarra Valley, enjoying long lunches, cellar door tastings, and beautiful vineyard views just outside the city.

Sports enthusiasts can easily plan an entire trip around Melbourne’s event calendar. Whether it’s attending the Australian Open, experiencing the excitement of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, or simply catching a cricket or Australian Rules Football match, the city’s passion for sport is impossible to miss.