beautiful towns near melbourne

Craving a quick escape from Melbourne’s traffic ballet? Daylesford and Hepburn Springs serve spa serenity and brunch glory, while Kyneton adds heritage charm and a feed worth writing home about. Swing east for the Dandenong Ranges—Sassafras and Olinda are all mist, trees and scones, like a postcard that discovered carbs. The Yarra Valley’s Healesville and Yarra Glen bring wineries, wildlife, and the sort of views that make you forgive the hills. Down on the Mornington Peninsula, Sorrento and Red Hill deliver beaches, backroads and a picnic that mysteriously costs as much as dinner. If you’ve got a bit more time, Lorne and Apollo Bay along the Great Ocean Road are show-offs in the best possible way.