Melbourne:
Following an epic, extended road trip along the Great Ocean Drive, Barbie and I had to quickly re-adjust our mindset. It’s always a trip going from wide-open spaces and raw nature back to the congested reality of “city life,” but it was time to hit the bright lights of Melbourne.
On our last visit to Melbourne over two years ago, we based ourselves in the northern suburbs of Carlton and Fitzroy—hands down home to some of the world’s best brunches. This time around, we once again purposely avoided the crowded CBD (Central Business District) and opted for an Airbnb right along the beach in the laid-back town of Elwood.
After five days of urban exploring, we got right back on the road and straight back into nature, which has officially become our ultimate comfort zone.
Wilsons Promontory:
Most everyday travelers have never heard of Wilsons Promontory National Park, nor its infamous Squeaky Beach. Honestly, that obscurity alone was reason enough for us Flashpackers to go check it out.
It’s about a three-hour drive south of Melbourne, and the place is home to some fabulous walks and dramatic coastlines. We spent our time hitting the absolute best spots in the park: Norman Beach, Squeaky Beach, and Picnic Bay. If you fancy raw nature, great beaches, and spotting local wildlife, Wilsons Prom delivers on every single front.
Phillip Island:
Our next stop was a road trip out to Phillip Island. I’ll admit, my expectations going in were on the lower side. I had a nagging feeling that because of its close proximity to Melbourne, this island would be a bit too commercialized and touristy for our taste.
Much to my surprise, Phillip Island turned out to be a cool spot. I had no idea the beaches here would be so spectacular. The stretches of sand along Cape Woolamai—specifically The Colonnades, Anzacs Beach, and my personal favorite swimming spot, Woolamai Beach—were awesome. Smiths Beach, just a short drive away, was another absolute winner. If you are a surfer, these breaks will have you smiling from ear to ear.
Skipping the Day Tour Trap
I am so glad we opted to drive ourselves out here instead of booking one of those rigid, touristy penguin parade day tours from Melbourne. To actually get into the rhythm of the island, we allocated four full nights, and we easily could have stayed longer considering the great beach weather we caught.
Having our own rental car allowed us to explore all of the hidden coves and lookouts at our own pace—something you just can’t achieve when you’re trapped on a tour bus schedule.
Trails & Headlands
If you go, a must-see is the Phillip Island Nature Park, located right at the bottom of Cape Woolamai. It features a real cool walking track right on top of the headland overlooking Woolamai Beach. The views looking south from up there are amazing. We did the full loop walk out to the Pinnacles Lookout, Beacon Lookout, and the Old Granite Quarry. Our reward for finishing the trek? A glorious afternoon just hanging out and recovering on Woolamai Beach.
Flashpacker Tip: We completely bagged the famed “Penguin Parade” experience. We just couldn’t bring ourselves to pay cold cash to see penguins when you can see them come ashore completely for free if you know the right local spots to look.
We also drove out to The Nobbies to check out the rugged rock formations and the seal colonies. We caught this area on an intensely windy day. The gusts were so incredibly fierce it almost blew my poor little Barbie straight onto her ass! It was a real trip watching her try to cut her way through a powerful, natural wind tunnel. Big Doug sliced thru those winds like a pro.
St. Kilda, Melbourne:
When we returned to the Melbourne area, we opted to stay near the water again. This time, we set up camp with the youngun’s in the hipper, small seafront town of St. Kilda.
As I said, city life can feel a bit claustrophobic, so the relaxed, vibe of St. Kilda proved to be the perfect base. The best part? On the days we actually wanted to take in the frenzied city life, it was a simple, 25-minute straight shot on the tram right into the center of Melbourne.
Our days were spent hanging on the beach and hitting the nearby food scenes:
- The Market Circuit: We ate our way through Prahran Market, Queen Victoria Market, and the South Melbourne Market, munching on a massive range of international street food.
- Cruising the Coast: Aside from the beach scene, we rented bikes and spent hours cycling the long, beautiful coastal bike path.
Footy & In-Stadium Action
We were lucky enough to arrive in Melbourne right at the beginning of the Aussie football season, so we managed to catch a live AFL (Australian Football League) game.
As a guy who appreciates a good wager, I absolutely loved the convenience of being able to get some action down on the game right from the automated betting machines located inside the stadium. Let me tell you, it sure would be great to walk into an NBA or NFL game back home and place a bet right at the arena without having to call up your local bookie!
The Verdict: Farewell to Oz
Unfortunately, our time is officially up in Australia, and our Great Aussie road trip has sadly come to an end.
For the past four months—including our extended stay in New Zealand—we have spent just about every waking moment surrounded by incredible wildlife and embedded in the thick of nature. It’s a very difficult feeling to fully articulate to people back home, but if I had to sum up our journey through these two spectacular countries into a few words, these are what come to mind:
Calming. Safe. Normalcy. Relaxing. Stress-Free. Clean. Trusting. Reliable. Green. Protected. Welcoming. Good Vibes.
Big Doug & Barbie Drop Out of Society 