Welcome to Melbourne, you’ve just arrived in a vibrant urban city centre jam-packed with chic laneways, succulent eats, and hidden pockets of street art and entertainment. But venture further afield and you’ll find a countryside perfect for hiking, relaxation, and coastal towns with world-renowned swells. One thing Melbourne holds dearest to its heart is coffee. Started by post-war Italian immigrants in the 1950's, any coffee shop that is not delivering world class coffee, simply won't survive here. So, if you’re a fan of the humble coffee bean, this is the city you've been dreaming about.

Hire a car from Melbourne Airport and explore the Melbourne Metro area

If you’re going on a Melbourne urban excursion, be on the lookout for events that stretch across the entire year such as Melbourne's Music Week, the International Film, Comedy, Jazz, Fringe and Writer’s festivals, the Australian F1 Grand Prix, Australian Open Tennis, Fashion Week, AFL Grand Final, Horse Racing's Melbourne Cup Carnival, and much more.

The city itself holds different areas to explore: the hipster vibes and rich street art of Fitzroy or Collingwood in the north, the fashionable Chapel Street precinct in the south, St. Kilda beach, Richmond’s rich mix of culinary expertise and discount shops, the Arts Precinct near the National Gallery of Victoria, the inner CBD which blends all interests, and coming just behind coffee as a city feature, hundreds of wide open parklands and gardens. All are easily accessible in your hire car. 

No matter which district of the broader metropolitan area you pick, you’re going to find exceptional wining and dining. Melbourne is famous as Australia’s culinary heartland, with a true melting-pot of cultures coming together to offer world-class restaurants in almost any theme you can imagine. 

Equally as well-renowned, is Melbourne’s quirky bar scene. Famous for hidden speak-easies and quirky themed cocktail bars, there are hidden gems everywhere in this city. Check out the vibe at Berlin Bar near China Town in the CBD, a cocktail bar themed to East and West Berlin during the cold war where, on arrival, patrons are randomly allocated to either the East side or the West side with different décor and cocktail menus accordingly. It’s also worth a night on a rooftop at Goldilocks, a classy establishment with exceptional cocktails and spectacular city views. 

A few other activities worth mentioning are the Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne’s CBD laneways, Royal Botanical Garden, Melbourne Museum, and the Melbourne Zoo.

Explore Victoria's natural delights in your rental car from Melbourne Airport

Outside of town, a short drive in your car rental will transport you to various outdoor settings. The Yarra Valley region is known for its countryside views and world class wineries, while the Great Ocean Road is on any ‘top road trips in Australia’ list for its coastal outlooks and endless beaches. Along the Great Ocean Road, be sure to visit the Twelve Apostles, stop in Lorne for a coffee, check out the iconic Surfing World Tour's Bells Beach and learn about the Loch Ard Gorge.

Driving in any direction will send you on a completely different adventure, transporting you to must-see landscapes like the Grampians and High Country, or the fairy penguin colony on Phillip Island. Mornington Peninsula (southeast of Melbourne) is a heavenly strip of cliff jumps, beaches, and ideal boating waters. Wilsons Promontory National Park (only a few hours onward from Mornington) is known for its picturesque hikes and secluded beaches.

If you’d rather a shorter drive with a distinct reward at the end, however, it’s always worth making the trip out to the Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s most famous wine regions exporting wines all over the globe. Tastings are the norm in the Yarra Valley, and you can easily spend a full day (provided you have a designated driver) hopping from establishment to establishment drinking the highest quality drops the world has to offer, with great food and spectacular scenery to top it all off. Best of all, it’s only an hour and a half out of Melbourne, so you can be back in time to make that dinner reservation. 

The list of outdoor adventures continues in Victoria’s Alpine Region, exploring the mighty Murray River, trekking to Healesville, the Macedon ranges, or Gippsland for lush green rolling hills and local market produce.

In addition, there are numerous towns within a short drive of Melbourne Airport that can transport you back to the era of the gold rush or give you a taste of small-town Australian life and hospitality. Castlemaine, Ballarat, Bendigo, Bright, Torquay, Walhalla, Beechworth, Port Fairy, and Sorrento (just to name a few) are perfect destinations that give you a taste of authentic Australia.

Keen to learn more? Avoid the tourist traps and discover some of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets with our guides to Melbourne’s best rooftop bars, fine food, coffee, cultural events, and more. Hire a car from Hertz at Melbourne Airport today!