Five towns near Melbourne you should road trip to this weekend

So if you want to head out and visit an interesting country town you can choose pretty much any point of the compass. Need a few tips on villages to visit this weekend? Here are five to get you started.

While this Weekend Drives article lists five towns to road trip to, there are many more in each pocket of the country which we encourage you to visit also. Think of this as your starting point. The devastating bushfires have affected many regional towns across the country so there has never been a more important reason to pack the car with mates and an empty esky and visit the towns around your region to support local and in many cases, family businesses.

With its historic 19th century buildings, quirky boutiques, a vibrant foodie scene and bustling country-town atmosphere, Kyneton is a wonderful place to visit. Highlights include the Piper Street shops and cafes, the Farmers Market on the second Saturday of every month and some seriously good antique boutiques. Grab a curry at Dhaba at the Mill, an award-winning pie from Country Cob Bakery, traditional pub-grub done well at the Royal George hotel or for a hatted lunch or dinner, Source Dining is highly recommended. If you have time, check out Woodend and Mount Macedon on the way home, plus there are heaps of cellar doors to try.

In the heart of the Yarra Valley’s vineyards, bushland and mountains sits peaceful Healesville. The magnificent Healesville Sanctuary of Australian fauna is a natural destination (especially for kids and overseas visitors), but then the main street with its shops, cafes, the Grand Hotel for lunch and some other excellent restaurants invite much more than just a stroll. There are some big-money wineries just outside town, the fabulous Four Pillars gin distillery, plus the ever-changing exhibits at the TarraWarra Museum of Art and, for something different, you could do a balloon ride nearby - and it’s all less than 90 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD.

The Mornington Peninsula just south-east of Melbourne has bustling beaches on either side but up the middle runs Main Ridge, and in its green and hilly centre sits Red Hill. The collection of shops and restaurants around Red Hill South has the brilliant Epicurean larder and cafe, the Red Hill craft brewery plus the Red Gum BBQ, an authentic American-style smokehouse BBQ restaurant. Head a little further out and you’ll find any number of wineries, berry farms, exquisite country restaurants and, of course, the busy Red Hill Market on the first Saturday of every month.

After leaving Melbourne’s sprawling south-eastern suburbs you’ll find yourself in West Gippsland, and its unofficial capital, Warragul. Unlike the coal-mining enclaves of Moe and Morwell, Warragul (named after the indigenous term for dingo) was founded on the dairy industry and still has a comfortable, agrarian atmosphere. Stroll the main street shops and eateries, visit the historical museum, take a look at the National Trust-listed town hall and the West Gippsland Arts Centre has a revolving program of exhibitions and performances.

There may be cuter and more fashionable towns along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road but none are as in easy striking distance of Melbourne as this one. Torquay’s ocean beaches – one kid-friendly, while Bells Beach is world famous for surfing – are the obvious attractions and the shopping area has a nice villagey feel, cafes galore and of course, opportunities for veritable seaside fish and chips (try Fisho’s on The Esplanade). For a spot of foraging, the weekly Saturday morning farmers market is a must-visit. There’s golf for the adults, mini-golf for the kids or for something different try a joy ride in a vintage Tiger Moth biplane.

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