The key to short-break success is not returning more exhausted than before you left, and these two- and three-day trips do just that. Spanning multiple Australian states, these excellent escapes offer adventure and relaxation in equal measure. Be sure to keep them front of mind when planning your next mini-break or extended weekender.
Good for beach and wine devotees. Stay Watch ships sail through the heads from sky view pods at The Nest overlooking Point Lonsdale. In Geelong, the Vue Apartments sit prettier than ever along Eastern Beach following a $1.
7 million dollar refresh. See + do + eat Two Noble by chef Mario Tambajong (ex-MoVida, Coda) serves up superb South-East Asia fare in the rejuvenated Sawyers Arms Tavern or enjoy bay views, handmade seafood pasta and dry-aged meats at Maestro in Geelong’s new Holiday Inn complex. Sample the region’s best wines at the Geelong Cellar Door before catching a show at the Geelong Arts Centre.
Take a dip in the enclosed sea baths, a spin on the Giant Sky Wheel and head for the rooftop Sailors’ Rest bar for sundowners and sweeping Corio Bay vistas. Don’t miss The spectacular Moorabool Valley, a little-known wine region quietly cultivating some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines. Essentials Fly direct from Sydney to Avalon Airport, a 20-minute drive from Geelong.
Geelong is one hour’s drive west of Melbourne. V/Line trains run regularly from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station or cruise from Melbourne’s Docklands wi.