Coastal Melbourne is the capital of Australia’s southern state of Victoria. It is renowned as the ‘cultural capital’ of Australia and consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Away from the bustle of the city, surrounding Melbourne you’ll discover a laid-back beach life in the small towns along the shores of Port Philip Bay. Inland, the landscape changes from rolling countryside with vineyards and nature parks to forests and mountains.

With the ease and convenience of an Avis Car Rental, you can easily explore Melbourne and experience the lifestyle this wonderful region has to offer.

If you are planning a trip to the state of Victoria, our friendly Avis teams across the city of Melbourne are on hand to offer advice and provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

Whether you are visiting Melbourne for business or leisure, you'll find Avis rental stations conveniently located right across the city.

Australia’s second largest city is also known as the country’s foodie capital so expect to dine well while you’re here whether you pick a beach-side diner or a smart city eatery. Given its location on Port Philip Bay, seafood is fresh and plentiful, served up alongside some of the finest waterside views. A melting pot of cultures through time from Europe to Africa and Asia inform Melbourne gastronomy. You’ll find a plethora of dining options around the bay and central business district with eclectic influences from far and wide – from Greek and Italian to Ethiopian and Vietnamese.

While you are here, get your bearings by following the Yarra River as it snakes its way through the city. Whether you walk or catch a boat tour, the river takes in some of the city’s major attractions including the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens which cover 38 hectares with a remarkable collection of more than 8,500 plant species. On your way, stop off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the largest sporting venue in the southern hemisphere and hallowed ground for cricket lovers the world over.

Further along the river, the city’s Gothic-style St Paul’s Cathedral, built in 1885, sits amid Melbourne’s modern central business district of Flinders. The area is also popular for its maze of streets where you can people-watch at one of the many cafes and restaurants. For a completely different view of Melbourne, head to the Eureka Skydeck in the city’s Southbank. At 300 metres tall, it’s the highest viewing gallery in this part of the world. As well as giving a birds-eye view across many of Melbourne’s famous landmarks, the Skydeck is a wonderful place to watch the sun go down.

Great Ocean Road to Great Otway National Park

This drive of around 3hrs takes you out of Melbourne along the M1 and onto the spectacular Great Ocean Road – the B100. This open, winding route, right along the cliff edge, takes you past resort villages and inviting sandy beaches with views of the crystal-clear ocean. Your destination is the equally breathtaking Great Otway Park with hiking trails among the Californian Redwoods and waterfalls.

Twelve Apostles

Head inland for an alternative route to the coast by taking the quick route and heading west along the wide (and straight), modern M1 highway before dropping south towards the coast along the C163 road. This takes you across the heart of Victoria’s farmland through rolling countryside and green pastures. The trip of 226km is achievable in around 2hr45min and you are rewarded by arriving at one of Australia’s great natural wonders, the Twelve Apostles in the heart of Port Campbell National Park. These awe-inspiring limestone stacks are a must on any Great Ocean Road Drive and the viewing platform is the place to head for those bucket list images.

Mornington Peninsula to Cape Schanck Lighthouse

A drive around the Mornington Peninsula is surely one of the best road trips from Melbourne past some of the city’s most prosperous beachside communities lining the horseshoe-shaped Port Philip Bay. The 106km trip south to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse takes just over an hour. There are tours of the lighthouse, which is still operational, and the peninsula is a great spot for whale-watching with viewing platforms around the reserve.

If you are staying in the centre of Melbourne, you’ll find the city has a great public transport system with trams, trains and buses. However, for the convenience of heading across or out of the city, whether to the beach or exploring further afield you’ll find hiring a car one of the best ways to travel independently around the city. Hiring a car is also ideal if you are travelling to Melbourne on business and need the flexibility and freedom self-drive brings.

As the Melbourne has a tram network, be aware that the city’s road network often crosses or runs alongside tramlines. There are also a number of toll roads in the city so our top tip for driving around Melbourne is to plan your route before you travel and use GPS to navigate. In Melbourne, like the rest of Australia, you will be driving on the left-hand side of the road.

It’s worth checking the driving rules in Australia before you arrive to pick up your hire car. But if you have any questions, you’ll find the rental teams at our Avis locations in Melbourne are experts in the local area and ready to help you get the most from your driving experience with us.

While there is on-street parking in Melbourne, the city is well served with off-street car parks – there are around 130 of them offering nearly 70,000 spaces and you can pre-book at many of the city council’s car parking.