Help me plan 5 days in Australia, please

[Dancingbea]

I am going to Melbourne in October. I am speaking at a conference on the Sunday or Monday, then would like to go explore for a few days. I am taking my 11 year old son with me (it’s half term). What can I feasibly do? I would LOVE to go to the GBR (went to Dunk island as a kid when my mum was working in Melbourne but can’t remember any of the logistics of it). Any itinerary help greatly appreciated

You only have a few days and would lose a full day getting to the GBR. IMO, it's not worth it this time.

I think far better to hire a car and stay local.

The snowfields may be open still. www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/
www.visitvictoria.com/regions/high-country.

Philip Island should keep you occupied www.visitvictoria.com/regions/phillip-island

I loved Sovereign Hill www.visitvictoria.com/regions/goldfields

Fly out of Adelaide, doing the GOR and shipwrecks www.visitvictoria.com/regions/great-ocean-road. It's a manageable distance. southaustralia.com/places-to-go/murray-river-lakes-and-coorong/

Fly out of Sydney. Also a manageable distance. www.visitvictoria.com/regions/gippsland. www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast

Early October is school holidays and a long weekend so various festivals etc. Late October still weekends out but not so much. Have fun.

Do you ride? There are fantastic multi-day trail rides in the High Country e.g. Watsons

GOR is great. I agree with pp - the Barrier Reef is a long way to go when you only have 5 days.

Plus with the recent flooding in Queensland, the water quality might not recover for your trip. Mud everywhere!

In Melbourne, there are some great kid friendly things to do, including the museum (with great playground outside in the park). Collingwood Children's Farm is lovely if your DS is on the younger side. Also loads of 'adventure playgrounds' scattered through the city. Great climbing, really engaging spaces.

Also in Vic, I'd try the Great Ocean Road, stopping at Geelong first, because there's some great stuff for kids there.

Or fly to Sydney, and go full tourist. Harbour Bridge, Opera House, ferry to Manly, walk along the beach front. Out to Bondi. Museum of Sydney is good for Indigenous history and also convict era history.

Not definitely beach weather in Melbourne in October. The Mornington Peninsula is lovely, an hour or so drive out of Melbourne with beaches and wineries. I would also take in Healesville zoo - focus on Australian animals in natural habitat and a lovely day out, drive in the country. Or look into a swimming with dolphins or seals experience for your DS near Melbourne.
To get to the reef will be a 4 hour flight to Cairns and then a boat ride.

This is what I was thinking of
dolphin swim

www.zoo.org.au/healesville