2-Hour Itineraries: Coastal Foodie Roadtrips from Melbourne
It’s undeniably one of the best things about Melbourne – what surrounds it. Within a couple of hours in any coastal direction, you’ll find ocean views, fresh seafood and a smorgasbord of restaurants that are well worth the drive. So, whether you’re chasing surf-town charm or clifftop dining experiences, these short road trips from Melbourne prove you don’t need to go far to feel like you’ve properly escaped to hustle and bustle.
Bellarine Peninsula
Just over an hour from Melbourne, the Bellarine Peninsula has stacks of seaside charm as well as a brilliant food and wine scene. Start at Bellbrae Harvest Restaurant, a rustic mud brick house canopied by soaring trees and overlooking a dam filled with waterlilies. The gourmet seasonal menu features eclectic dishes like cured duck breast and roasted quail – a proper country escape just 15 minutes from Geelong or Torquay. Continue to BeachHouse Barwon Heads, which is a converted fire station serving up Modern Australian cuisine that champions local Bellarine produce. The terrace is great for a sun-soaked lunch spent people-watching. For wine lovers, Leura Park Estate in Curlewis rounds out the day with grazing platters and stone-baked pizzas – not to mention its acclaimed cool-climate wines in a stunning cellar door setting. The Bellarine is one of the best Melbourne road trips for foodies who want great wine and ocean air in equal measure.
Sorrento & Portsea
At the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, around about 90 minutes from Melbourne, Sorrento and Portsea pack a classic coastal punch of sophistication. Bistro Elba in Sorrento is a standout, with its Southern French cuisine ingredients sourced from its own farm garden near Daylesford. Think grass-fed eye fillet and wild-caught fish stew, plus a wine list that’s heavy on local drops. For something more laid-back, The Portsea Hotel has iconic bay views from its wrap-around verandah, with innovative dishes at prices that won’t sting your hip pocket. This stretch is one of the best road trips from Melbourne for seriously good food.
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Phillip Island
Around two hours’ drive south-east of Melbourne or a half-hour ferry trip from the Mornington, Phillip Island is famous for its penguins – but it’s the food scene that deserves more attention. Saltwater Phillip Island in Newhaven gives you 270-degree waterfront views across Westernport Bay, with a seafood-led menu complemented by wood-fired pizzas and local wines. Over in Cowes, Rusty Water Brewery Restaurant & Bar is home to the island’s only handcrafted ales and plates up fresh Modern Australian cuisine with plenty of local seafood. It’s the kind of relaxed, family-friendly road trip Melbourne locals keep coming back to.
Lorne
The gateway to the Great Ocean Road and just two-and-a-bit hours from Melbourne, Lorne has long been a favourite coastal escape. Lorne Hotel is perched right on the Great Ocean Road with panoramic views over Loutit Bay and the Otway National Park. The bistro and beer garden serve everything from hearty pub classics to lighter wellness bowls, and it’s great for families and groups who need to refuel mid-drive. Lorne is a must-stop on any Great Ocean Road trip from Melbourne.
Apollo Bay
Continue further along the Great Ocean Road and you’ll arrive at Apollo Bay, a picturesque seaside township that’s well worth the drive from Melbourne. Chris’s Restaurant is stunningly positioned in the Otways above the coast, with a Southern European menu assembled from local produce and paired with sweeping ocean views from the timber-and-glass dining room. Back in the township, The Bird House will surprise you – in a good way – with its comforting modern dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all with views overlooking the beachfront. Apollo Bay is where the best road trips from Melbourne really hit their stride.
Melbourne’s coastline is stacked with incredible food destinations, each with its own unique flavour profile of the Victorian seaside. No matter if you’re after a lazy Bellarine vineyard lunch or a long afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula, these coastal road trips prove the journey is just as delicious as the destination. So pack up the car, pick a direction and eat your way along some of the best Melbourne road trips going.
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