Melbourne makes an excellent base for exploring Victoria, with most of the state's highlights reachable in a day. The Great Ocean Road is the classic drive, threading through seaside towns like Lorne and Apollo Bay before reaching the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge near Port Campbell. You can rush it in a long day or, better yet, spread it over two or three.
Other rewarding day trips include the gold rush towns of Ballarat and Bendigo, the Yarra Valley wine region, the penguin parade on Phillip Island, and the bushwalking at Wilson's Promontory. The Mornington Peninsula, with its wineries, beaches, and hot springs, is the easiest escape of all.