12 days in Melbourne & Summerlands Itinerary

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

Sovereign Hill and National Gallery of Victoria are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Old Melbourne Gaol and Parliament House of Victoria will appeal to history buffs. Step out of Melbourne with an excursion to The Great Ocean Road in Torquay--about 1h 20 min away. There's much more to do: admire the natural beauty at Royal Botanic Gardens, steep yourself in history at St. Patrick's Cathedral, examine the collection at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, and get the lay of the land with Walking tours.

To see where to stay, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, go to the Melbourne trip planner.

Tokyo, Japan to Melbourne is an approximately 14-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference moving from Japan Standard Time to Australian Eastern Standard Time (Victoria) is 1 hour. While traveling from Tokyo, expect much hotter days and somewhat warmer nights in Melbourne, ranging from highs of 30°C to lows of 14°C. You'll have a few hours on the 9th (Wed) to wrap things up before traveling home.

Head to Summerlands on Philip Island for the chance to see thousands of penguins waddling along the coastline.

Summerlands is known for wildlife, zoos & aquariums, and beaches. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: get to know the resident critters at The Nobbies Centre, trek along Swan Lake Trail, kick back and relax at YCW Beach, and stroll through Flynns Beach.

For maps, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Summerlands tour planner.

Traveling by car from Melbourne to Summerlands takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and car; or take a bus. December in Summerlands sees daily highs of 28°C and lows of 15°C at night. On the 11th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.