Need a last-min long-weekend escape? Here's some day-trip inspo

What better way to ring in the warmer weather than a taking a day trip this long weekend to the great outdoors?

Spring has officially sprung. And with daylight savings about to kick in (for some states), the October long weekend is the perfect opportunity to get out of the city and into the great outdoors. Haven’t booked anything? You don’t need to! There’s an abundance of great long weekend day trips just one to two hours’ drive from Australia’s major cities, and we’ve rounded them up below. Here’s to the long weekend!

We asked the Australian Traveller Media team: what’s your favourite spring getaway destination around Australia?

Sydney

an aerial view of Resolute Beach in Ku-ring-gai National Park — Ku-ring-gai National Park contains bush walks that lead to secluded beaches, such as Resolute Beach.

Sydney is basically surrounded by world-class National Parks. The Royal National Park is a weekend classic, whether you’re into kayaking, SUPing, swimming at Wattamolla cove or enjoying the idyllic ferry ride from Cronulla to Bundeena.

But while the south steals a lot of the spotlight, daytrippers should also set their sights north. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is just a 40-minute drive north of the city. Inside this 14,977-hectare swathe of bushland, you’ll find hiking trails leading to secluded beaches, Aboriginal engraving sites and incredible views over dazzling inlets. Avoid the crowds by jetting past the city limits, all the way up to Bouddi National Park. It’s 90 minutes north of the CBD, but the journey is well worth it for the golden-sand beaches and incredible bushwalks, like the epic eight-kilometre Bouddi coastal walk that runs from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach.

Looking for even more day trip inspiration close to the Emerald City? We’ve rounded up all of the best day trips to take from Sydney.

Melbourne

Can you kick it? Yes, you can, in Victoria’s hot spring country that surrounds Melbourne. The Mornington Peninsula, Daylesford and Gippsland are all within a two-hour drive of the Victorian capital, offering lots of mineral baths and steamy outdoor pools for the ultimate spring reset.

If you’d rather get moving, head an hour east to the Dandenong Ranges to wander along trails that thread through forests of towering mountain ash. Or get your steps in by cafe hopping and browsing dinky antique stores and galleries around the villages of Mt Dandenong.

And if neither of those take your fancy? We’ve got a whole laundry list of day trips you need to check out near Melbourne.

Brisbane

South Gorge on North Stradbroke Island — Secluded South Gorge beach on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah is the perfect spot for a dip. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Sean Scott)

October is one of the best months to visit North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah. Just a short drive and ferry ride from the city, the island is perfect for kayaking, swimming and pottering around the many pristine beaches and laid back cafes. if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins when you’re out on the water.

Foodies can set their sights on the Scenic Rim, just 90 minutes away from the Queensland capital. The 4000-square-kilometre region is packed with an array of epicurean adventures, from paddock-to-plate eateries to fine wines at destinations like Kooroomba Vineyard. If those don’t satisfy your day-trip hunger, we’ve got plenty more suggestions for the best day trips to take from Brissie.

Adelaide

Wine, wine and more wine: there are plenty of boozy excursions a cork’s toss from the South Australian capital. A trip to McLaren Vale or the Barossa is classic Adelaide day trip territory, but if you’d rather ditch the glass and get active, head an hour south to the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula. Here, you can stroll sandy coastlines, meander through the cafe scene and gorge on freshly caught seafood. Yum!

Perth

With its impossibly blue waters, paradisiacal white sands and famously friendly locals (we’re talking about the quokkas), Rottnest Island is no secret to Perthlings. Just a 90-minute ferry ride from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty, ‘Rotto’ or Wadjemup is always a good idea, whether you’re cycling around the island, snorkelling its reefs or picnicking by the beach. For something different, head north to the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park (about two hours’ drive), where thousands of limestone spires rise from the lunar-like landscape.

Darwin

Surrounded by lush forest, a woman cools off in Florence Falls, just one of many incredible things to do in the Northern Territory. — Cool off beneath the cascading waters of Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park. (Image: Joshua Griffin)

Darwinites already know to make a beeline for Litchfield National Park to cool off in one of the majestic swimming holes like Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole. With October marking the end of the dry season, the long weekend is a great opportunity to get some swimming in before the Top End is plunged into monsoon season.

Here are more Darwin daytrips you must experience.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

Need a last-minute long-weekend escape? Here’s your perfect day-trip inspo