small towns near melbourne Page 9

If you’d like to swap trams for trees, there are cracking small towns within a couple of hours of Melbourne.

Head north-west for Daylesford (~115 km), Trentham (~95 km), Kyneton (~85 km) and Woodend (~70 km) for spa water, bakeries and properly brisk nights.

Eastward, the Dandenong Ranges serve up Sassafras, Olinda and Emerald (35–45 km) with scones, steam trains and twisty roads.

Further out, Healesville and Yarra Glen (50–65 km) tick the wine-and-wombat box, while Warburton (~72 km) wins on rainforest vibes.

South, the Mornington Peninsula’s Red Hill and Flinders (~70–85 km) bring farm gates and sea breezes; Sorrento is busier but still charming in the off-season.

Weekends get busy, so book ahead, pack a jacket, and remember: the best pies are found where mobile reception goes to die.