12 amazing natural wonders to visit near Melbourne

Visiting this national park is a no brainer if you’re driving the Great Ocean Road, especially if you like waterfalls. The park stretches from Torquay towards Princetown and up towards Colac, and it is one of the best places in Victoria to embrace a cool temperate rainforest. 

Getting there: Drive three hours from the Melbourne CBD along the Great Ocean Road. 

Time Out tip: Head out on one of the many coastal walking trails and you’ll discover lush forests, quiet sandy beaches and more than one koala poking its head through the gum trees.

If all you know about Hanging Rock is the movie (and play) about the ill-fated schoolgirls who went on a picnic there, it's time to revisit the location. Hanging Rock is a former volcano and geological formation located in central Victoria near Woodend. It's a sacred place for the local Dja Dja Wurrung, Woi Wurrung and Taungurung people, who have been occupants of the area for thousands of years. 

Getting there: One hour drive north from Melbourne's CBD.

Time Out tip: Explore the area and learn about the area's history and geology, and take a walk on the trails and paths that weave around plenty of native plants and cool rock formations.

Californian redwoods are distinguished by their extreme height (they can reach up to 115 metres tall) and their somewhat horizontal branches. The bark is a bright red-brown colour, and as the name suggests, they are indigenous to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon in the US. So, yes, arguably, the collection of Californian redwoods found in the Warburton Valley aren't exactly "natural wonders" as they were planted by man. But boy are they pretty!

Getting there: The forest is a two hour and 45 minute drive from Melbourne's CBD. 

Time Out tip: The trees are located just a few kilometres outside Warburton on Cement Creek Road. Hop out of the car and take a walk through the grid-like plantation – it includes more than 1,400 trees, up to 55 metres tall. There's also some to see out in the Otways. 

Lake Tyrrell is a massive salt lake that is one of Victoria's most popular natural attractions. It's the state's largest saltwater lake, spanning a whopping 20,860 hectares, and known for its visually striking white salt flats and photo-worthy reflections. But the most noteworthy factor of this salty spot is that, on occasion, the water turns a beautiful shade of pink. This magical occurrence happens during particularly wet and warm times of year, because of the red pigment that’s secreted by pink micro-algae called red marine phytoplankton. 

Getting there: A six hour drive from Melbourne is your best option. But, if you're not a fan of long car trips, you could stay in Bendigo for a night on the way, or there are plenty of quaint regional towns along the route to take pit stops at. You can also get a VLine train to Mildura and then hire one, or take a bus to the lake. 

Time Out tip: The best time of day to visit Lake Tyrrell is in the late afternoon or early morning, particularly around sunrise or sunset, when the light creates stunning reflections and colours on the salt flats. If you have your heart set on seeing the water coloured a pink hue, your best chance is later in spring around October or November, when the weather is warming up.

Near the end of the Great Ocean Road you’ll find one of Victoria’s most visited tourist attractions: the famous Twelve Apostles. The name comes from the high limestone stacks that sit out from the coast, though only seven remain. Loch Ard Gorge is one of the most popular spots, but the view from back at the end of the Great Ocean Walk is quieter but still as scenic. 

Getting there: Either drive 4.5 hours from Melbourne's CBD, or if you don't want to drive, there are plenty of tour buses that can do it for you.

Time Out tip: Want to stretch your legs? Consider seeing the Apostles in a whole new light and tackle the Great Ocean Walk, a multi-day trek that's been named as one of the best walks on Earth.

If you’re driving out to East Gippsland, we suggest making a pit stop at the Buchan Caves, an incredible set of limestone caves that have to be seen to be believed. Researchers have dated the caves back to the Devonian period, which was about 300-400 million years ago. The caves were formed by underground rivers cutting through layers and layers of limestone rock. The formations inside the caves were created by rainwater seeping through cracks in the roof depositing calcite and crystallising in the form of stalactites and stalagmites. 

Getting there: A five hour drive from Melbourne's CBD.

Time Out tip: These days, guided tours are conducted daily, with all caves fitted with walkways and lighting for easy access.

There’s a reason Grampians National Park brings bushwalkers back time and time again. Rough and rocky on first glance, it surprises visitors with hidden waterfalls, hollow mountains and incredible natural amphitheatres. The walk towards the Pinnacle is arguably the must-do walk in the region. It starts at the Sundial car park, where hikers can climb through fun geological terrain towards a big lump of rock overlooking Fyans Valley.

Getting there: About a 3 hour drive from Melbourne's CBD.

Time Out tip: If you’d like to test your fitness, there’s also a harder climb to the same destination that starts at the Wonderland car park.

How weird is nature? The beautiful Organ Pipes National Park can be found just off the Calder Freeway, about 20 kilometres north of Melbourne. The 121-hectare park is named after its star attraction: 2.5 million-year-old basalt columns that look strikingly like organ pipes. This type of structure is known in the geological community as trap rock. The valley walls of Jacksons Creek are actually Pleistocene volcanic rocks that fractured during cooling into these vertical columns. Today, people gather in the park to view this bizarre rock wall and spend time in the traditional country of the Wurundjeri people.

Getting there: Just a 30 minute drive from the Melbourne CBD.

Time Out tip: Do the Organ Pipes Circuit track. Just 30 minutes long, this short circuit walk starts at the visitor centre. You can follow the trail that passes along the main features of the park, including Keilor Plains, the Tessellated Pavement and the Organ Pipes themselves. 

It might only be Victoria’s second-highest mountain, but it’s arguably the most spectacular. The best way to see it? On the epic razorback trail hike. This eye-poppingly long 22-kilometre walk is in Victoria’s Alpine National Park and, for obvious reasons, can only be attempted in the warmer months. You'll start at the Diamantina Hut, just 2.5 kilometres from Hotham Village, and begin the trail that follows a ridge towards the mountain.

Getting there: The trail kicks off at the Mount Hotham village area, about a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne. 

Time Out tip: The path is mostly above the tree line, so you’re very exposed – the benefit of this is that you get to enjoy incredible views all the way to the peak.

Descending towards Beauchamp Falls can feel a little like you’re falling deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. The good news is the reward is one of Victoria’s best hidden waterfalls. Take the marked path through mountain ash forests, down a constructed staircase and over a few rocks and you’ll reach this awe-inspiring 20-metre tall cascade. 

Getting there: A 2.5 hour drive from the CBD. 

Time Out tip: The rocks will be slippery when wet, and keep in mind the walk back is a little steep, so take your time.

Did you know there are sand dunes only two and a bit hours south of Melbourne? You’ll find them on your way into the beautiful Wilsons Promontory National Park, located southeast of Melbourne. Named the Big Drift, this extensive series of sand dunes is pretty hidden from the main tourist track, and it’ll take you a bit of bush bashing to get there. Once you reach the top, you’ll be greeted by a seemingly endless view of sand, punctuated by the occasional green treetop and ocean view.

Getting there: A 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne's CBD.

Time Out tip: The sand is tough to walk up, so take your time (we suggest crawling up, it’s that steep). 

Located on Melbourne’s doorstep, the Dandenong Ranges National Park is a rainforest getaway, home to exquisite fauna and flora, sprawling gardens, picture-perfect picnic spots (like the picturesque Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens and the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden) and a diverse range of walking tracks suitable for newbies right through to the most confident hikers. A short hour-long drive or train ride from the city and you’ll find yourself immersed in steep volcanic hills completely covered in mountain ash, the world’s tallest flowering tree. 

Getting there: An hour's drive from the CBD, or get a number of different trains from the city. 

Time Out tip: If you’re feeling energetic, try conquering the famous 1000 Steps steep bushwalk, which departs from the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground, and learn about its poignant association with the Kokoda Track. Also, make a day of it and visit the rest of the Dandenong Ranges region, which boasts quaint hilltop villages, local shops, artist studios, tearooms and wineries.