At a glanceStart with three nights of food and coffee in Melbourne, drive the Great Ocean Road for three nights of surf towns, koalas and the Twelve Apostles, then fly to Tasmania for two nights in Hobart and three at Freycinet, home of Wineglass Bay and Saffire. It suits food-loving couples who like scenery and short hikes more than tropical beaches. November to April is best, with March ideal.
Southern Australia is the country's food-and-wine half. It makes a different kind of honeymoon from the reef-and-outback classic. In 12 days this route gives you Melbourne's laneway bars and restaurants, one of the world's great coastal drives and Tasmania, an island of granite peaks, white beaches and some of the best oysters you will ever eat.
The structure is simple. You spend three nights in Melbourne to beat jet lag, drive the Great Ocean Road for three nights with one base, then fly about an hour and a quarter to Hobart. In Tasmania, you spend two nights in Hobart for MONA and the waterfront before driving two and a half hours up the east coast to Freycinet National Park for the slow finish.
The weather is mild rather than tropical. Pack layers for both of you, a rain jacket and walking shoes with grip, along with something smart for the long dinners. The splurge night belongs at Freycinet.
The route
- MelbourneAustralia · 3 nights
- Great Ocean RoadAustralia · 3 nights
- TasmaniaAustralia · 5 nights
- Best months
- November to April, with March and April best for settled weather and fewer crowds
- Trip length
- 12 days
- Budget
- About $300–800 a night for two in boutique hotels, with Saffire Freycinet costing far more (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–3: Melbourne
Fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL), usually via Sydney or another Pacific hub. Take a taxi or the SkyBus about 30 minutes to the city. Stay in the CBD, near the laneways, or in South Yarra or Fitzroy if you prefer quieter streets with good bars.
Keep day one easy with a long walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and an early dinner. On day two, start with coffee and pastries on Degraves Street, wander the laneways and arcades for street art and small shops, then book a rooftop cocktail above the CBD at sunset. Melbourne's restaurant scene is the point here, so book one special dinner well ahead.
On day three, take a day trip to the Yarra Valley, about an hour away, for cellar doors and lunch among the vines. Use a tour or a driver so you can both taste. In the evening, if you have energy, watch the little penguins come ashore at the St Kilda breakwater at dusk.
Days 4–6: Great Ocean Road
Pick up a rental car and drive southwest to Torquay, about 1.5 hours from the city, where the Great Ocean Road begins. Stop at Bells Beach for the surfers, climb Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet and continue to Lorne or Apollo Bay, your base for three nights. Book a place with an ocean view, a spa bath or a fireplace, since evenings on this coast can be cool.
On day five, drive west through the Otway rainforest, stopping at Kennett River to look for wild koalas in the trees along the road. Continue to the Twelve Apostles and walk down the stairs into Loch Ard Gorge. Stay for sunset, when the limestone stacks turn gold, then drive back carefully or stay late for dinner in Port Campbell. If you want the splurge view, book a short helicopter flight over the Apostles.
Keep day six slow. Walk to a waterfall in the Otways, swim at a patrolled beach in summer and look for glow worms in the rainforest after dark.
Days 7–8: Hobart
Drive back to Melbourne, about two and a half to three hours inland from Apollo Bay, return the car at the airport and fly to Hobart Airport (HBA), about an hour and a quarter. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city. Stay on the waterfront: MACq 01 and The Henry Jones Art Hotel both sit in historic buildings by the harbor.
On day eight, take the ferry up the Derwent River to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, which is equal parts provocative and fun. Leave time for a wine tasting and lunch on the grounds. In the evening, dine at one of Hobart's small, ambitious restaurants, many of them built around Tasmanian seafood and produce.
If your trip includes a Saturday, spend the morning at Salamanca Market. If the weather is clear, drive up kunanyi/Mount Wellington for a view over the city and the river, but pack warm layers, since the summit can be cold even in summer.
Days 9–12: Freycinet and Home
Pick up a rental car in Hobart and drive about two and a half hours up the east coast to Freycinet National Park, stopping at vineyards and the town of Swansea. Saffire Freycinet is the splurge of the trip and one of Australia's top lodges, with views of the pink granite Hazards and all meals included. Freycinet Lodge, inside the national park, costs less.
On day ten, climb to the Wineglass Bay lookout, about an hour and a half return. Walk down to the beach if you have the energy. On day eleven, put on waders and shuck oysters while standing in Great Oyster Bay, an experience offered at Saffire and through local farm tours. Spend the rest of the day on the beach or kayaking around the peninsula.
On day twelve, drive about two hours to Launceston Airport (LST) or two and a half hours back to Hobart (HBA) for your flight home, usually connecting through Melbourne or Sydney. Leave a good buffer for the international connection.
Getting Between Stops
This route uses one domestic flight and two short rental car periods. Rent a car in Melbourne for the Great Ocean Road and return it at Melbourne Airport before flying to Hobart, about an hour and a quarter. Rent another car in Hobart for the drive to Freycinet.
The Great Ocean Road is slow, with curves, cliffs and plenty of tour buses. Plan on about three to four hours from Torquay to the Twelve Apostles without stops, which is why the route uses a base in Lorne or Apollo Bay rather than driving it in a day. Australia drives on the left.
In Tasmania, roads are quiet but narrow and winding. Wildlife is very active at dusk, so avoid driving after dark where you can. You can fly home from either Hobart or Launceston, so pick whichever has the best connection.
Where to Stay
In Melbourne, pick a neighborhood before a hotel. The CBD puts you near the laneways, theaters and many top restaurants. South Yarra and Fitzroy are calmer and full of bars and cafés.
On the Great Ocean Road, Lorne has more restaurants and a lively beach. Apollo Bay is quieter and closer to the Otways and the Twelve Apostles. Look for cottages or small inns with ocean views and fireplaces.
In Hobart, MACq 01 and The Henry Jones Art Hotel are both on the waterfront. MONA Pavilions, at the museum itself, is a striking alternative for art lovers.
At Freycinet, Saffire Freycinet is the top choice, all inclusive and priced accordingly. Freycinet Lodge, inside the national park near the Wineglass Bay trailhead, is a comfortable lower-cost option.
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When to Go
November to April is the best window, with the warmest weather and the longest days. December to February is summer, when Melbourne can have hot spells and the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania are busiest, especially during school holidays. Book early for those months.
March and April are the sweet spot. The weather is usually settled, the crowds have thinned and autumn brings harvest season in the Yarra Valley and Tasmania.
Winter, June to August, is cold and often wet in all three places. Snow can fall on Tasmania's mountains, while the Great Ocean Road can be stormy. It is still a cozy trip if you love fireplaces, red wine and fewer people, but plan indoor options for each day. Spring brings wildflowers and lambs in the fields but changeable weather.
What It Costs
Southern Australia is pricey, though not as expensive as the reef islands. As an approximate guide, good boutique hotels in Melbourne cost about $250 to $500 a night for two. Great Ocean Road cottages and inns cost about $200 to $450. Waterfront hotels in Hobart cost about $300 to $550.
Saffire Freycinet is the big splurge, starting around $2,150 a night with all meals, drinks and some experiences included. Freycinet Lodge costs much less.
Add a domestic flight to Hobart, two rental car periods, a Tasmanian parks pass, a winery tour in the Yarra Valley and the ferry to MONA. A helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles is a short, worthwhile splurge. Melbourne and Hobart restaurants can be expensive, but the food quality is very high.
Tips for the Two of You
Pack layers. A day on this route can start at 55°F and reach 85°F, or the other way around, so each of you will want a warm jacket, a rain shell and shoes with good grip for coastal trails. The sun is strong in southern Australia, even on cool days.
Swim only at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. Rip currents along the Great Ocean Road are strong. Many of the most scenic beaches are not safe for swimming at all.
The route works for different interests. One of you might surf a lesson at Torquay or hike further at Freycinet while the other lingers at MONA or books a spa treatment. Melbourne suits both shoppers and sports fans, so plan separate mornings and meet up for lunch.
Make It Shorter or Longer
With a week to ten days, skip the Great Ocean Road and spend three nights in Melbourne, two in Hobart and three at Freycinet. You keep the best food and the splurge lodge with fewer hotel changes.
With two weeks, add two nights at Cradle Mountain in northwest Tasmania for the Dove Lake circuit and alpine scenery, then fly home from Launceston. Another option is a couple of nights in the Barossa Valley near Adelaide for Shiraz and long lunches.
With three weeks, finish with five nights somewhere warm. Fly north to Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree, or to the Whitsunday Islands for Whitehaven Beach. That gives you a cool south and a tropical north in one honeymoon.
FAQPlanning this trip
Is Tasmania good for a honeymoon?
Yes, for couples who love scenery, hiking and food. Tasmania has granite peaks, white beaches, cool-climate wine and excellent seafood on a compact island. Saffire Freycinet is one of Australia's most romantic lodges. Couples who want warm water and tropical beaches should look further north.
How many days do we need for the Great Ocean Road?
Three nights is ideal for a honeymoon. You can drive it in a long day, but that leaves little time for koalas, rainforest walks and sunset at the Twelve Apostles. A base in Lorne or Apollo Bay keeps the drives short and gives you one slow day.
Should we fly into Hobart or Launceston?
For this route, fly into Hobart for MONA and the waterfront, then fly home from either Hobart or Launceston. Freycinet is about two and a half hours from Hobart and two hours from Launceston, so choose whichever airport has the better connection to your international flight.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne and Tasmania?
November to April is best, with the warmest weather and longest days. March and April are often the sweet spot, with settled weather, harvest season and fewer crowds. Winter is cold and wet but quieter, which suits couples who love fireplaces and red wine.
Do we need a car for this itinerary?
Yes, for the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania. In Melbourne, use trams, trains and taxis instead. Rent one car in Melbourne for the coastal drive and another in Hobart for the east coast. Australia drives on the left. Driving at dusk in Tasmania means watching closely for wildlife.
