Melbourne and area advice for late Feb. 2025

I have seen multiple zoos and animal sanctuaries in Oz. Healesville is my absolute favorite - despite thinking every other place was also very good! It seemed as if there were more of the unique Aussie animals. There was a platypus presentation when I visited in 2019. Fascinating- other presentations were also very fine.

Phillip Island was another unique experience for me. Very much enjoyed it.

I’m burned out on wineries - didn’t visit any, but was encouraged to do so by locals “in the know”. I researched GOR, but didn’t end up doing it. I decided the California and a couple other coastlines would be similar enough that I choose other activities and sites. I know both of above are popular, but I have no personal regrets in skipping.

I enjoyed Melbourne quite a bit, preferring it to Sydney. (Others have different opinions, I know.) I think I was there 6 or 7 nights as a base. This was late 2019.

Thanks, ORDTraveler! You helped cement my change of heart. I also went back and re-read JILL’s thread that had a ton of good information. I think I will just make Melbourne my base - and enjoy all that it has to offer.

We loved the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island.
Also, we did a day trip to the Yarra Valley vineyards. That was good. Also, we took a great tour of Melbourne.

Hi TTM.
I would suggest spending a couple of nights in or around Healesville.
This gives you a good chance to explore the beautiful Yarra Ranges area. Maybe Tarra Warra winery, also Healesville Sanctuary. A drive over the beautiful Black Spur then the Acheron Way to Cement Creek and a stop in pretty Warburton then back to Healesville over Mt Donna Buang. Great scenery, beautiful forests of giant Mountain Ash and Tree Ferns.
It is about the same travel time from Healesville to Phillip Island as from Melbourne (2 hrs).
I would suggest booking accommodation at Phillip Island. The penguins come out of the sea at dusk so a return drive to Melbourne after is not ideal.
So perhaps drive from Healesville to Phillip Island, quite a few things to see and do there before the evening "show".
By the way even a hot Feb day can turn into a pretty chilly evening Penguin Parade.
Cheers.

The GOR is a lovely journey. In Feb you will miss school hols but it will still be pretty busy (lots of grey nomads pulling caravans I'd reckon).
The scenery is both coastal and lush forest.
Tour buses often turn at Port Campbell but I'd recommend going through to at least Warrnambool or impossibly cute Port Fairy.
A side visit to Tower Hill will normally get you some close encounters with emus, roos and maybe an echidna or two.
You could head back inland possibly visiting the Grampians on the way back.

Thanks, Eatsrootsandleaves! That helps with logistics. I am now wishing I had 3-4 more days in this area and struggling to keep believing my mantra of “you can’t see everything so be good with what you do see”. I will get to work on the lodging piece of this puzzle asap. I also have to keep in mind I am not typically “a city girl”, so some of these other spots might have to take precedence over Melbourne itself with my limited time.

I am also going to circle back around to your trip report for NZ with a question or two soon. I won’t have a camper but I AM set for quite a few of the same areas. It precedes Melbourne (in January), so I worked on it first.