Best Family Holidays Near Melbourne

Victoria is a fantastic holiday destination offering a wide range of cultural attractions, beautiful landscapes and historical landmarks for you to discover and enjoy. It is a great place to travel with a family — take the car and discover the state at your leisure. The kids will love it; there is a regional forest to explore, beaches to swim at or small towns to visit. A driving holiday is a simple and relaxed option; simply choose your destination, pack the car, grab the family and off you go! Most people know how important travel insurance is when going abroad, but not everyone thinks to have an Australian car insurance comparison when going on a domestic journey. The comparison can let you see the most affordable option, while being covered for things that can come up unexpectedly. You don’t want to be left stranded with the kids in a car that may break down or be left to worry about things that could be covered with standard car insurance like rental vehicle excess, travel delay reimbursements, ski insurance and more. Be sure you’re prepared all around before you head out.

So where should you go? Here are three of our favourite holiday destinations within a stone’s throw of Melbourne:

The Grampians

Discover the volcanic landscape of the Grampian ranges, just a three hour drive from Melbourne. A great option is to be based at Halls Gap, situated right in the heart of the ranges. From here you can discover the national parks, head to the top of the hill peaks and have amazing views across the valleys and visit other towns in the nearby region. For mum and dad there are also some fantastic wineries in this region where you can sample wine and relax. For the kids, visit the Halls Gap zoo.

The whole family can learn about the aboriginal heritage of the area at Brambuk, the national park and heritage centre. You can see ancient oven mounds, tools and learn about the traditional beliefs the aboriginal community has passed down from one generation to the next, according to VisitVictoria.com.

The Murray

Defining the border between New South Wales and Victoria, the Murray River offers a vast array of cultural, recreational and culinary activities that will excite the whole family. A two- to five-hour drive will take you to various points along the river where you can enjoy:

• Fishing
• Canoeing and other water sports
• Pioneer villages such as Swan Hill
• Amazing food and wine at one of the many great restaurants and wineries

Teach your children about the history of the pioneer settlement in Mildura and Albury Wodonga. Learn more about paddle steamers that were used along the Murray River with a visit to Echuca’s historical museum. Go on one of the many river tours and cruises that head along the river. The Paddle Steamer Melbourne operates two tours per day from Mildura, according to VisitVictoria.com.

Port Fairy

Less than a four-hour drive away is the small coastal fishing village of Port Fairy. Located at the end of the Great Ocean Road, it is a wonderful town to visit for a relaxing holiday by the coast. Learn about the maritime history of the area, spot some seals playing on the rocks or watch the local fishermen bring in their catch along the port. Every March is the Port Fairy Music Festival, one of the largest music festivals in Australia. You can sample some fabulous local cuisine — the fresh fish is amazing! For more information about visiting Port Fairy, visit port-fairy.com.