Fun, lively and effortlessly stylish, Melbourne is one of Australia’s trendiest cities. Being Australia’s sports hub, sports fans and tourists alike flock to this city every year to take part in the rich atmosphere and culture that the city is so well known for. Take to the diverse city like a local and drive around town with Hertz Car Rental. If you’re touching down through the Melbourne Airport, you can even pick up your car rental right at its doorstep.
Driving is a great way to explore the area, after all, there’s just so much to see! Take a Melbourne road trip through and around the city to experience all the area has to offer. Melbourne road trips can vary from simple day trips to weeklong adventures. Take a trip down to the nearby Bendigo, a haven of culture and hip cuisine. Filled with beautiful old style architecture, Bendigo is only a few hours drive away from Melbourne, making it the perfect short escape. Try some of the city’s highly acclaimed cuisine or simply tour around the beautiful town for some photos. Or take it easy at Daylesford, an idyllic, laid-back town near Melbourne. Here you can feel like you’ve stepped back into a Jane Austen novel as you rest in an inn by misty lakes and enjoy tea under the dappled sunlight. For the more adventurous, take your Melbourne road trip through the Great Ocean Road. Drive past dramatic cliff faces and impressive national parks. Stop by the nature reserves to meet some of Australia’s fuzziest native inhabitants like the koala.
Melbourne has no shortage of beautiful landscapes. Even the simple drive from Melbourne Airport into downtown is a scenic experience. Visit the beautiful Melbourne Botanical Gardens, a green haven that has flourished in the heart of the city. The garden’s vast area is divided into various areas such as a herb garden and an indigenous rainforest. With lush fields and an impressive collection of native plants and flowers, visitors are welcome to go jogging, picnicking or sightseeing. Interested to see more of Melbourne’s unrestrained, urban wild side? Stroll down Hosier Lane, one of Melbourne’s most well-graffitied laneways. The cobbled street is lined with graffiti done by local artists. The art changes regularly on the whims of the artists, so be sure to snap a few pictures while you can!
Melbourne’s effortless style extends to its illustrious shopping scene. Get styled up like a local in Melbourne’s fashion districts. The city’s CBD area hides the most number of brand name department stores. Head there to Bourke Street Mall, one of the city’s more popular shopping hubs housing multiple big-name Australian brands and eateries. Also, explore the shopping arcades that surround the mall to find more boutiques. Then, visit The Block Arcade, a heritage building in the CBD that houses multiple well-known boutiques and retailers.
The city’s accessible roads and great architecture make for a scenic drive no matter where you’re driving from, out of the city or from Melbourne airport. Make full use of your car rental cruising through the city in style.
The Great Ocean Road, a trip of a lifetime
Soak up the salty sea breeze on one of Australia’s best road trip routes. The Great Ocean Road provides an irresistible draw for visitors with its scenic open roads and spectacular views. Enjoy visiting coastal towns, trying fresh seafood, and snapping amazing photos on this Australian road trip.
Start your Great Ocean self drive Australia road trip from Melbourne. With the road only a drive away from the big city, it’s a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. You can pick out a comfortable car from Hertz Car Rental Australia while in the city and join the throng of excited road trippers down to the shore!
Though an oceanside drive laced with attractions, none stand out as brightly as the Twelve Apostles. A collection of limestone spires stretching out of the waters, they are an impressive sight that has gained prominence the world over. Visit the Visitors Center for a perfect view of the Apostles, or head down to Gibson Steps, a beach with a clear view of the spires that offers a welcome respite from the crowd. Take a drive down to the Loch Ard Gorge, an impressive gorge that shields a pristine stretch of sand between its cliff faces. Go down, take a stroll and read up on the sombre past of the gorge with the informative plaques set around the area.
Sate both your appetite and your wanderlust here on the Great Ocean Road. The small coastal towns that line the road hide some of the best seafood restaurants in Australia. Visit the idyllic Aireys Inlet, a town along the Great Ocean Road that takes pride in their fresh seafood dishes. Or if you’re interested in sampling some fine dining, self drive to Birregurra. A thriving town with one of the world’s most famous restaurants, the Brae Restaurant, you’d be spoilt for choice on what to eat. Just remember to make a reservation ahead of time!
Take a walk on the wild side at the Great Ocean Road’s more adventurous attractions. Visit Beech Forest, home to a vast collection of redwood trees. These tall trees form a thick canopy of leaves, leaving the forest with only dappled sunlight peeking through. Touring the forest makes for an almost magical experience. Do take note that certain areas in the Beech Forest are more suited for a four-wheel drive vehicle, so be sure to check in with the staff at Hertz Car Rental Australia when picking out your car. You can also take the time to explore the Great Otway National Park. The soothing moss covered trees hide spectacular hidden pools and more. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of glowworms in the dark.
The Great Ocean Road is a fantastic option for both a day trip out of Melbourne or a weeklong self drive Australia adventure. Traveling to and around the Great Ocean Road can be lengthy and taxing on drivers, so be sure to take a break from all the driving to stretch your legs at some of the quaint rest stops along the way. Your car rental vehicle will surely welcome the break as well.
