We are a group of 4 adults and two kids planning a small trip for two or three days during easter holidays.
As the kids are not okay with car trip for long hours, we are looking for trips that we can make with public transport mainly. We are open to short trips with uber or other providers where available, just not long ones.
None of us in the group can drive.
Can you suggest any trip that we can take within Victoria. We are open to renting an accommodation for one or two nights.
Well. We were thinking of hiring a private car with driver if the kids are comfortable with long car drives.
Bendigo, or any of the large regional places you can go on trains or coaches.
+1 to Bendigo; as a Sydneysider who doesn't rent a car when in Melbourne, I found Bendigo very easy to get around on foot and via V-Line.
Thanks. Any recommendations on places to see in Bendigo once we get there?
I liked the Bendigo Art Gallery and the Chinese Museum, but not sure how kid-friendly they are (I went by myself).
Bendigo is about two hours via train from Southern Cross; the kids can try spot farm animals and kangaroos on the way
Add Ballarat to your list.
Take the tram in Bendigo. It goes past major attractions.
CBD tram has the museum, China town and markets close by to each other. Easily make it a day, not sure if still running due to Covid but the markets a few days a week have food carts at night.
for one day, you can see places around CBD like Shrine of Remembernce, QV market, St. Kilda beach,Brighton beach boxes, Melbourne Star,, Museum etc, may be Dandenong ranges (like Burkes lookout) , Frankston beach too
if you need to go furthur like Point Nepean, It will take a whole day
Docklands
Kids can play 'spot the ferris wheel' behind the taller office buildings.
At least there's no chance of losing the kids in the crowds ;)
Woodend is lovely, and not too far. I’ve only done day trips which has been enough, but I’m sure you could stay a night if you wanted.
Which train line are you already on, OP?
Southern cross is closer.
Oh then definitely Woodend. It’s a lovely Main Street with the Holgate Brewery right near the train. They make a great range of beers.
You can do a few stops on the one line and maybe stay a few nights in different places. Bendigo for one night then Woodend for another?
Yes. Unfortunately.
It's not exactly public transport, but you can do bus tours to Phillip Island to see the penguins. The one we did picked us up from our hotel.
https://phillipislandtour.com.au/tours/phillip-island-pengui…
There are other companies that do them. Also tours out to the Great Ocean Road and other attractions.
Thanks. We tried this already. But everywhere it is listed that tours start from Oct 2021.
Oh, didn't see that, sorry! You can probably find private tour operators running them now.
Seymour, Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo are all towns on train lines an hour or so from Southern Cross. Maybe Echuca for a longer trip?
Bendigo’s a two-hour trip one way …
Echuca is a 3 hour train trip but perfect to visit for families. It's a tourist town with heaps of accommodation and restaurants / cafes. Plenty of activities including paddle steamers which kids and adults enjoy. Weather would still be pretty warm over Easter (well warmer than Melbourne).
There are buses from Geelong Station to the GOR.
Honestly, if the kids aren't happy in the car, they'll unlikely to be any happier on a bus.
You can get to Healesville via the Lilydale line + a bus, and they've got the awesome sanctuary zoo for kids
Once we get to Healesville, is it possible to get public transport or uber to go to nearby places?
Lots of good suggestions from others here, but also consider a ferry trip:
https://www.portphillipferries.com.au/
You could do Ballarat and Bendigo in 2-3 days. Easy to commute and lots of attractions in there, esp. Sovereign Hill in Ballarat.
If "None of us in the group can drive." then I cannot see that "As the kids are not okay with car trip for long hours"
Is an issue??