ESSENTIALS
Getting there Several international airlines ly from London to Melbourne, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad and Qatar Airways (from £725; qantas.com.au). Flights take at least 22 hours, including a short transfer in Asia or the Middle East.
Getting around
Central Melbourne has a good network of trams and trains, but the best option for rural Victoria is a rental car. Some locations, such as Powers Lookout and Mount Stirling are accessible only via unsealed roads, so a 4WD is a good idea (from £155 per week; rhinocarhire.com).
Further info
Plan your trip with Lonely Planet’s Melbourne & Victoria guidebook (£14.99; shop.lonelyplanet.com), and ind inspiration and relevant information at visitmelbourne.com. For an evocative history of the Kelly Gang, try Ned Kelly: A Short Life, by historian Ian Jones.
Day 1
Start your bushranging adventure at the Old Melbourne Gaol, where Ned Kelly was hanged (£15;oldmelbournegaol.com.au), then wander the city’s laneways in search of works by Kelly-referencing street artist Regan Tamanui (regantamanui.com). Rest your head at quirky QT Melbourne, a boutique hotel with rooms inspired by contemporary fashion and a handsome rootop bar looking out over the city (from £200;qtmelbourne.com.au).
Day 2
Ater a gourmet smashed avo brunch at the airy Top Paddock café (from £1 1; toppaddockcafe. com), head east towards the Dandenong Ranges. Jump aboard the historic Puing Billy train for a ride deep into the fern forests (tickets £32;puingbilly.com.au) before driving north to the Yarra Valley and its wineries. Stay the night at Chateau Yering, a heritage-listed hotel with palm-illed gardens and views across the river valley (from £255;chateauyering.com.au).