The Perfect First-Time Itinerary for Melbourne

🌟 Trip Highlights ✅ City Walk + Gold Rush History + Great Ocean Road Drive + Penguin Island + Shopping ✅ Includes attraction ticket prices & unique experiences ✅ Well-planned route covering must-visit Melbourne landmarks --- 📅 DAY1: Cultural City Walk Route: Queen Victoria Market → St. Paul's Cathedral → Hosier Lane → Flinders Street Station → NGV → State Library Queen Victoria Market: Melbourne's "community pantry" with fresh produce and must-try food trucks! St. Paul's Cathedral: Gothic architecture + graffiti streets = 💯 photo ops NGV: See authentic Picasso and Monet works for free! State Library: Visit the iconic domed reading room and channel your inner bookworm📚 --- 📅 DAY2: Steam Train & Penguin Island Day Trip Route: Brighton Bathing Boxes → Puffing Billy → Maru Koala Park → Nobbies Center → Penguin Parade Brighton Bathing Boxes: 82 colorful beach huts = perfect seaside photos🌈 Puffing Billy: Dangle your legs over the forest like Harry Potter! Maru Koala Park: Cuddle koalas and feed kangaroos! Penguin Parade: Watch thousands of penguins waddle ashore at dusk - pure magic! --- 📅 DAY3: Great Ocean Road Highlights Route: Geelong → Split Point Lighthouse → Apollo Bay → Twelve Apostles → Loch Ard Gorge Split Point Lighthouse: Fairytale red-and-white tower = insta-worthy📸 Twelve Apostles: Take a helicopter ride over this coastal wonder! Loch Ard Gorge: Hear shipwreck tales amid crashing waves🌊 🚗 Driving Tip: Grab a Flat White in Geelong to stay alert☕️ --- 📅 DAY4: Gold Rush History Tour Route: Sovereign Hill → Red Hill Mine → Ballarat Gold Town → Werribee Mansion Sovereign Hill: Time-travel to 1850s gold rush and pan for gold! Red Hill Mine: Roleplay as miners in immersive experience Werribee Mansion: 19th-century manor with adorable alpaca feeding🦙 --- 📅 DAY5: Shopping & Hidden Markets Route: CBD → Royal Arcade → South Melbourne Market → Fitzroy Market CBD Shopping: Myer, Emporium and Royal Arcade's vintage charm! South Melbourne Market: Locals' favorite for oysters and cheese🦪 Chadstone: Southern Hemisphere's largest mall with free shuttles🛍️ --- 📌 Pro Tips 1️⃣ Bring warm clothes for windy Penguin Island! 2️⃣ Choose right-side seats on Puffing Billy for best bridge photos🌉