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Looking for your next day trip from Melbourne? Explore the gorgeous waterfalls, remarkable landscapes, historical sites, and scenic views of the Victorian Goldfields. Take a look through the following list of day trips from Melbourne, these are sure to inspire your next adventure!
The Cascades, Metcalfe VIC
The Cascades, Metcalfe VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 19 min
- Check out while you're here: Metcalfe Recreation Reserve, Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve, Turpins Falls (check for closures), Malmsbury Botanic Gardens
This extraordinary hidden gem is tucked away in the quiet town of Metcalfe, Victoria. A series of cascades sweep over layers of bedrock as the water whirls down through rockpools, crevices and little caverns. Relax in a rockpool, take a dip in one of the larger swimming holes, or make your way across the stunning bedrock and boulders to wander along and appreciate the scenic beauty of the Coliban River. Learn more.
Sailors Falls, near Daylesford VIC
Sailors Falls, near Daylesford VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 15 min
- Check out while you're here: Trentham Falls, Jubilee Lake, Bryces Flat Picnic Area, Tipperary Springs, Twin Bridges, Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Cornish Hill, Missing Childrens Memorial
Sailors Falls Mineral Spring is located just outside Daylesford, Victoria and features a stunning seasonal waterfall, mineral spring taps, two undercover picnic tables and excellent information signs/displays. An attractive feature of this waterfall is that it is practically roadside, with a lookout right alongside the picnic area, then it only takes a few minutes to descend the stairs to reach the lower lookout, and a further few minutes to cross the creek and approach the base of the falls. Learn more.
Explore Lal Lal
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 33 min
Lal Lal is a beautiful little hamlet which hosts three gorgeous waterfalls, a charming historical railway station, and scenic forests filled with fascinating remnants of the area's rich mining history. Located just twenty minutes from Ballarat, Lal Lal makes a fantastic spot to spend an afternoon (or a whole weekend!) exploring. Learn more.
Colbrook Reservoir, Colbrook VIC
Colbrook Reservoir, Colbrook VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 21 min
- Check out while you're here: Werribee River Picnic Area, Werribee River Camping Ground, Balt Camp, Blackwood, Ballan
One of the most beautiful lakes in the Victorian Goldfields, Colbrook Reservoir is an amazing place for bushwalking, swimming, bush camping, and photography. Featuring a stunning dam wall complete with seasonal waterfall, this place is a must-see when exploring the beauty of the Wombat State Forest.
Explore Vaughan
Red Knob Mining Landscape, Vaughan VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 32 min
Explore the beautiful mineral spring parks and historical landscapes of Vaughan, near Castlemaine. Spend an afternoon here and sample the mineral spring water, walk along the scenic Loddon River, wander through the town's historical cemeteries and look out over old mine workings. Learn more.
Mount Alexander Regional Park, Harcourt North VIC
Views from Lang's Lookout in the Mount Alexander Regional Park
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 31 min
Embark on an adventure across the stunning rocky outcrops of the Mount Alexander Regional Park! Experience breathtaking views and gorgeous scenery as you trek among the enormous granite boulders and across forested slopes, visiting multiple lookouts along the way. Points of interest include Lang's Lookout, Dog Rocks, Shepherd's Flat Lookout, Silk Worm Farm Ruins and the Leanganook Campground/Picnic Area.
Explore Steiglitz
Historic Court House, Steiglitz VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 16 min
Head over to Steiglitz and take the easy circuit walk around the town, exploring the area's many interesting ruins, relics and buildings of the gold rush era along the way. Learn more.
Loddon Falls, Glenlyon VIC
Loddon Falls, Glenlyon VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 22 min
- Check out while you're here: Glenlyon Mineral Springs Reserve, Glenlyon Community Dam, Glenlyon Recreation Reserve, Biolink Track, Upper Loddon Bush Camp 1 and 2.
The gorgeous Loddon Falls drops dramatically over a wall of huge hexagonal basalt columns into a swimming hole below, before continuing on through the spectacular rocky gorge. This stunning hidden gem is hidden away in Glenlyon and offers beautiful views along with a scenic walk. Learn more.
Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve, Heathcote VIC
Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve, Heathcote VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 36 min
- Check out while you're here: Viewing Rock Lookout, Powder Magazine, Heathcote Playspace, Heathcote Stamp Battery
The Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve is a remarkable area on the edge of Heathcote. Take an educational circuit walk showcasing the reserve's stunning geological features, where hydraulic sluicing carried out in the late 19th century washed away the top layer of earth and revealed the dramatic, colourful cliffs on display today. Learn more.
Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings, Castlemaine VIC
Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings, Castlemaine VIC
- Distance from Melbourne CBD: 1 hr 26 min
- Check out while you're here: Garfield Water Wheel, Pennyweight Flat Childrens Cemetery, Expedition Pass Reservoir, Monster Meeting Site, Anticlinal Fold
Bring a picnic lunch and take an easy stroll through the Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings, exploring many fascinating historical features of this world-renowned alluvial goldfield. At this site during the gold rush, miners sought to strike their fortune from the gravels of an ancient river bed - a former course of Forest Creek which formed millions of years ago. Miners continued to work this site for gold well into the 20th century, with many interesting relics left for us to see today. Learn more.
Also of interest
There are so many beautiful waterfalls to explore throughout the Victorian Goldfields. From stunning twin falls to charming cascades, check out this list and start planning your next adventure!
The beautiful, varied landscape of the Victorian Goldfields provides countless fantastic settings for bushwalkers to enjoy. Along with the epic 210 km Goldfields Track, you can take many scenic walks throughout the region which showcase our rich history and stunning natural treasures. Take a look through this huge collection of local bushwalks and start planning your next day out exploring in the Victorian Goldfields.
With many fantastic campgrounds located close to historical sites, natural treasures and scenic walks, camping is a great way to explore the Victorian Goldfields. Take a look through the following list to discover some of the best campgrounds throughout the region!
The Victorian Goldfields is filled with fascinating ruins and relics, where abandoned mines, diggings, boilers, machinery foundations and gold puddlers are scattered in abundance throughout the region. We've gathered together this list of abandoned mine sites where you can safely explore and learn a bit about this remarkable aspect of our local heritage.
There are so many amazing places for kids to explore throughout the Victorian Goldfields! Our own kids have had so much fun on their adventures through this beautiful region that it was hard to choose just fifty of our favourites for this list. If you're after a new outdoor adventure for your family, look no further - the following fifty locations are absolutely unmissable and are always a big hit with the kids.
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