Melbourne itinerary: laneways, neighbourhoods and coast trips
Melbourne is less about landmarks and more about laneways, coffee, food, footy and neighbourhoods with their own character. This prompt lets your todo.is agent plan a Melbourne itinerary around the free tram zone, the markets and inner suburbs, plus a day on the Great Ocean Road or with the Phillip Island penguins.
The prompt
- Plan a Melbourne itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Use the free tram zone in the CBD and group days by area: the laneways and arcades (Hosier Lane, Degraves Street, Block Arcade), Queen Victoria Market and its market days, Southbank and the NGV, Fitzroy and Collingwood, Carlton, St Kilda and South Yarra. Add [DAY TRIP] and say how long it takes. Check if there is AFL, cricket, tennis or another big event on my dates: [EVENTS]. Interests: [INTERESTS]. Melbourne weather changes fast, so add a layers tip and an indoor backup each day. Explain myki and tap on/off. Email me the PDF; no bookings.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "4".
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "8 to 12 January". The Australian Open is usually in January.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "2 friends", "family".
- [DAY TRIP]: E.g. "Great Ocean Road", "Phillip Island penguins", "Yarra Valley wineries", or "none".
- [EVENTS]: E.g. "find an AFL game", "we want a tennis day", or "no events".
- [INTERESTS]: E.g. "coffee, street art, live music, galleries, food".
Example result
- Melbourne in 4 days, 2 friends
- Coffee, street art, live music · March
- Where to stay
- • CBD: inside the free tram zone, laneways at your door.
- • Fitzroy: bars, gig venues and vintage shops, 10 min by tram to the centre.
- Day 1: Laneways and arcades
- • Morning: coffee on Degraves Street, then the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.
- • Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane for street art.
- • Afternoon: Federation Square and the Ian Potter Centre (free Australian art). Rain backup: State Library's domed reading room.
- • Evening: dinner in Chinatown on Little Bourke Street, then a rooftop bar.
- Day 2: Market, Carlton and Fitzroy
- • Morning: Queen Victoria Market (closed some weekdays, so check the days). Hot jam doughnuts are a tradition.
- • Afternoon: tram to Carlton: Lygon Street, the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum.
- • Evening: Brunswick Street and Smith Street in Fitzroy and Collingwood, then a gig at a pub venue.
- Day 3: Great Ocean Road
- • A long day: Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles is about 3.5 hours each way. A tour is easier than driving there and back.
- • Stops: Bells Beach, Lorne, koalas at Kennett River, then the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge near sunset.
- • Driving yourself? Think about one night near Apollo Bay instead.
- Day 4: Southbank and St Kilda
- • Morning: NGV International (permanent collection free) and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
- • Afternoon: tram to St Kilda: the pier, Acland Street cake shops, Luna Park.
- • Evening: sunset on the foreshore, then dinner in South Melbourne.
- Good to know
- • Trams are free inside the CBD zone. Outside it, tap on with a myki card (or your phone where accepted).
- • "Four seasons in one day" is real: carry a jacket even in summer.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your days, dates, group, day trip, events and interests.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent by WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent emails a Melbourne PDF by neighbourhood, with tram tips and event links.
- Ask for changes ("add the Yarra Valley", "find a Saturday footy game") and buy tickets yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Do the Great Ocean Road with a tour or stay one night. Driving there and back in a day is very long.
- For Phillip Island, the penguins come ashore at dusk; ask your agent to time the trip around it.
- Ask your agent to plan coffee stops as you walk. Melbourne's café culture is a sight in itself.
- Seeing a game at the MCG? Ask for the fixture list and ticket links for your dates.
Melbourne itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Melbourne? Three days covers the city and inner suburbs. Add a day for the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island or the Yarra Valley.
- Is the Great Ocean Road worth it as a day trip? Yes, but it is a 10 to 12 hour day. Staying overnight in Lorne or Apollo Bay makes it more relaxed.
- Are trams free in Melbourne? Only inside the Free Tram Zone in the city centre. Elsewhere you need a myki card or an accepted contactless payment.
- When is the best time to visit Melbourne? March to May is often mild and settled. Summer can be hot; winter is cool but has big sports and events.
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