Phoebe Humphrey

Victoria is filled with natural wonders, including many that exist beneath our feet. Our state's cave systems are filled with everything from limestone stalactites to phosphorus glow worms while offering a quiet change of scenery from the hustle and bustle. These serene, subterranean spaces make for a great day trip idea, or a reason to leave Melbourne for a short getaway. Go underground and discover one of Victoria's best caves. Prefer to venture forth above ground? These are the best day trips from Melbourne.

We might be 50 years on from the start of the 1970s, but disco is ‘stayin alive’. It’s the dance music that made Donna Summer ‘feel love’ and got the Bee Gees ‘jive talkin’, but disco never really died in Melbourne so get your bell bottoms out. From the vinyl revival to the NGV, there is proof all across the city that groove is in fact still in the heart. Check out where in Melbourne to listen (and dance) to disco below. For a taste of the '20s (the 1920s that is) check out the best places to hear jazz in Melbourne.  

Update 04/06/2021: During lockdown the Cookie Box stores are open from 11am-6pm and are closed Mondays. If Oreos just aren’t doing it for you anymore, this Chapel street café might have you covered. The Cookie Box is an artisanal cookie shop that prides itself on its chunky, homemade-style cookies. The Cookie Box was founded in 2017 by a couple called Rodrigo and Gabriela. After two successful years of baking cookies in Perth, the couple (who are originally from Brazil) moved to Melbourne to share their love for biscuits with a new market. The menu is simple but satisfying, with nine permanent flavours on the menu (including a vegan option) and an experimental cookie flavour every month. The flavours range from your classic choc chip to pistachio, Nutella and even churro-inspired cookies. Every cookie is made by hand using top-quality ingredients, rested for 48 hours, then baked and sold on the same day. If you're craving more than just a cookie, the café also creates Instagrammable cookie bowls – basically a cookie sundae. Order a coffee to go with your bikkies or grab a milkshake in flavours reminiscent of school lunch boxes (Ovaltine anyone?).  The café is also close to Windsor station and is open Tuesday to Sunday. The team have now also opened a second store on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn.

Fancy scoring a hole-in-one and a strike in the same night? It's now achievable thanks to a joint Holey Moley and Strike Bowling venue at  Eastland.  Beloved fun factories Holey Moley and Strike Bowling have come under the same roof for the first time in Victoria at a 1,605m2 space at Eastland Shopping Centre. The centre hosts an 18-hole mini golf course, eight bowling lanes, three karaoke rooms, and two escape rooms never seen before in Melbourne.  The mini golf course includes fan favourite holes from other locations in the city while also featuring new holes exclusive to Eastland. There's even a Cool Runnings-inspired hole called (wait for it) 'Sled Over Heels' that will make you “feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme”.  As ‘par’ usual, the venue serves bar snacks and drinks, including the wacky cocktails that go hand in hand with the venues at other locations.  

If you’re anything like the Proclaimers and you would walk 500 miles, then the opening of this new Grampians hiking trail may be of interest to you. The Grampians Peaks Trail is one of Victoria’s long-distance trails and the first section of the track has now been completed and is ready for walkers. Photograph: Supplied The first section of this circuit trail will take around three days to hike. Planning and construction are still ongoing on the rest of the trail, so those wanting more of a challenge will have to wait until later this year. The track, once fully completed, will be a 13-day, 160-kilometre journey starting from Halls Gap and will provide visitors with panoramic views of the Grampians National Park.  Photograph: supplied. The trail is designed for various walking groups and it can be broken into sections, allowing school groups, independent walkers and experienced hikers the chance to conquer this grade 4 bush walk. So put together a hiking playlist with ‘A Thousand Miles’ on repeat and get walking.  For more information visit the Visit Grampians website. The Grampians Peaks Trail is set to open fully by the end of 2020.  Check out Time Out's guide to the Grampians for more travel ideas. For more hiking, check out Time Out's 14 best day hikes from Melbourne.

Gourmet Pawprints is hosting a dog-friendly mystery tour this autumn. The enigmatic tour will take Melburnians and their furry sidekicks to regional towns in Victoria to support businesses directly and indirectly affected by this summer's devastating bushfires. The tour is designed for you and man’s best friend to get out of the house and enjoy a day of leisure while putting money back into towns hit over the recent months.  The dog friendly bus (playfully named Bella) takes you on a drive to a secret regional location where you can wander the area and buy from local businesses. Departing from Port Melbourne, the two-hour drive has several stops along the way so you and your four-legged friend can stretch out on your adventure away from the city. The bus has everything from a fruit platter to doggy seat belts making sure people and their pups can be at ease while travelling.  Gourmet Pawprints also hold a range of dog-friendly days such as winery tours, picnics and even a doggy walking tour in Williamstown if you can't make the magical mystery tour. After selling out the first mystery tour on March 7, a second mystery tour has been announced for Saturday, April 18. For more information, head over to Gourmet Pawprints’ website. Want more Melbourne dog content? Check out Time Out's dog-friendly Melbourne guide. Feel like pale ale with your pup? Here's a list of dog-friendly pubs in Melbourne. 

Werribee Open Range Zoo has launched a new savannah experience for guests to join zoo keepers during the early hours.   Visitors have the chance to join zoo keepers as they start their day caring for some of the zoo’s African animals such as giraffes and rhinos.  Guests will be guided by their own private ranger as they witness and even participate in a zoo keeper’s early morning routine such as cleaning the giraffe house.  Photograph: Supplied With no two days being the same, you might see a veterinary procedure or ostrich training, observing more than you might on the zoo's usual safari bus tours.  After all the dirty work, guests can enjoy morning tea and watch the savannah animals frolic during one of their most active times of the day – and before the general public arrive.  Groups are limited to six people, making it an intimate experience with all proceeds contributing to the fight against wildlife extinction, making it a great way to spend your morning.  For ticketing and more information, visit the Werribee Open Range Zoo website. P.S. you can also get up close to meerkats at Werribee Open Range Zoo.  

A Mornington Peninsula wine tour company has made its tours more charitable by donating to individuals experiencing homelessness.  Hops and Barrels take Melburnians to over 20 different wineries and distilleries on its hop-on hop-off tours and has recently partnered up with charity Pay A Sack Forward.   Pay A Sack Forward creates and provides sacks filled with food, hygiene and warmth supplies to aid Australians experiencing homelessness. For every booking made for a wine tour with Hops and Barrels, the tour company "pays a sack forward" (that is, pays for a sack to be created and distributed). The charity has already helped over 8,000 Australians experiencing homelessness and the two local businesses are coming together to further help those in need.  Hops and Barrels tours operate similar to a Busabout tour. The tour has a schedule of stops so you can design where you want to pop into. The tour takes in many popular venues along the peninsula (Like Pt Leo Estate, Montalto, Bass and Flinders and Jetty Road Brewery) as well as highlighting some smaller, family-run businesses. The best part is there is no designated driver needed and there are many additional venues you can walk to from certain stops.  So if you love great wine and doing good deeds, you may want to add this one to your list. For booking and more information, visit the Hops and Barrels website. Check out Time Out's weekend getaway guide to Mornington Peninsula  Can't decide between Bellarine or Mornington Penin

The Common Man at South Wharf now lets punters bring their own pups to pilates.  The 45-minute workouts are held every Saturday morning, allowing you to stretch out and do sun salutations with your spaniel.  The summer exercise sessions are designed to boost endorphins and get tails wagging, with the option to stay around and enjoy a coffee or some puppy-approved snacks.  Classes are free but there are limited spots available so register to secure a spot for you and your healthy hound.  For those who like to exercise without the occasional bark, the Common Man is also offering free yoga sessions for all abilities every Wednesday morning until the end of March.  Experienced yogis will guide you through a morning flow routine with views of the Melbourne CBD while you realign your mind and body.  The hour-long classes have mats provided, so all you need to do is register and start your day off on the right foot.  For more information visit the Common Man website. Interested in other events coming to Melbourne? Here are 9 exciting things to look forward to in 2020.