Fairy penguins, wildlife cruises, wineries, bars, and bush: there’s plenty to see, eat, drink and do on Victoria’s Phillip Island.
The best winter hikes near Melbourne
From the You Yangs to the Yarra Ranges, here are nine stunning hikes near Melbourne.
After months of social distancing and self-isolation, even the chill of winter isn’t enough to keep Victorians cooped up inside. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions has seen a surge in people taking to the great outdoors for their daily dose of exercise, vitamin D and low-key escapism.
So swift has the return to outdoor outings and exercise been that some well-worn trails have been overwhelmed, and in the interests of public safety, authorities have temporarily closed the 1000 steps/Kokoda Memorial Walk in Ferntree Gully and the Warburton Redwood Forest until 11.59pm on Sunday 21 June.
But Victoria has a wide choice of beautiful walks, many of them within a few hours of Melbourne. So grab your scarf, pull on your hiking boots and get ready to embrace the feeling of (chilled) freedom from the four walls of your home.
The East-West walk in the You Yangs provides an uninterrupted view of the surrounding valley.
Pulpit Rock at Cape Schanck
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk