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City to Serenity – VIC

Roadtrip

City to Serenity, VIC




This Victorian road-trip from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula and on to Gippsland takes in many of the state’s best attractions – incredible art and food in the city; wineries to the south that make some of the country’s greatest drops; and, as the journey turns to where the great lakes meet the ancient trails of First Nations people in the east, outdoor adventures await.
We’ve got the best things to do in Melbourne,Frankston and Sale to get your road-trip checklist started.



Explore our local picks

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Melbourne

Lying just south of the bustling CBD, Quest St Kilda Road is in close proximity to hip restaurants, lush parks and the best of the city's culture. Drop your bags at this accessible-accredited and pet-friendly property, then meander to the Royal Botanic Gardens to start your city escape with a little immersion in nature.

National Gallery of Victoria
It’s home to over 76,000 unique and diverse works from all over the world, including famous Australian paintings and around 4000 pieces of Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander art. That, or the impressive roster of blockbuster exhibitions, may be why it's Australia’s most visited art museum. While you’re in the area, be sure to stop into Lune Croissanterie to try what might be Australia’s best croissant. 
Matilda 159 Domain
Located in one corner of the Botanic Gardens, this South Yarra eatery is all about cooking with fire – be it over coals, flames, or in a wood oven. While it’s popular for the share-style lunch and dinner on offer, Matilda also serves up a mean brunch.
Fawkner Park and Albert Park
With three different children’s playgrounds, barbecue facilities, and tennis courts, Fawkner Park, just 700 metres away from Quest St Kilda Road, is perfect for families. A little further afield lies Albert Park, where you can tee off on the golf course, hire a boat for a spin on the lake, or check out the Grand Prix racing track.
Prahran Market
If you’re headed to a park, stop in at these markets first to collect picnic supplies – or ditch the picnic altogether and take a seat at one of the many eateries here. Prahran Market, just around the corner from famed Chapel Street, is renowned for its impressive range of produce stalls and delis, selling everything from fresh oysters to Japanese-style pork belly.
Birrarung Wilam (River Camp) Walk
This one-hour tour takes in a series of Aboriginal art installations while talking guests through the way in which this region has changed over time, always holding deep significance to the Aboriginal People of the Kulin Nation.

Frankston

An idyllic waterfront suburb, Frankston is the perfect base from which to explore the Mornington Peninsula, famous for its food and wine offerings and thermal springs. There are two Quest properties to choose from here: Quest Frankston and the accessible-accredited, pet-friendly Quest Frankston on the Bay, both set just blocks back from the beach.

Enchanted Adventure Garden
If Willy Wonka had turned his mind to outdoor activities instead of chocolate, he might have come up with this Victorian playground around a half-an-hour drive from Frankston. Kids love it, and so do the grown-ups (no screens!) – there are giant mazes to get lost and found in, slides you can tube in, trees you can surf in, and even some choice spots for a picnic. Set aside around half a day for this destination.
Pt Leo Estate
If the Enchanted Adventure Garden is a kid’s wonderland, Pt Leo Estate is the grown-up equivalent, thanks to its Sculpture Park – a 16-acre outdoor gallery featuring more than 60 works, both small and grand – as well as its fine-dining, hatted restaurant Laura, and its cellar door, with tastings including a flight of five wines.
Alba Thermal Springs
If you’re a fan of relaxation, water therapy, and stunning design, this is your mecca. Around a 40-minute drive from Frankston, the sleek and sophisticated Alba offers hot springs, a rain pool, a forest pool, salt pools, cold plunge pools, and more – plus a restaurant serving up healthy dishes for when you need to refuel.
Common Folk Cafe
Less than 200 metres from Quest Frankston on the Bay, this cafe is a local favourite thanks to its comprehensive coffee menu and a food menu that includes dishes like the Mr & Mrs Fritters (corn fritters, poached egg, cucumber salsa, and charred lime) and the pancakes with salted chocolate sauce, Biscoff ice cream, and biscuit crumb.
Street Art Tour
Melbourne doesn’t have all the cool street art – Frankston is famous for its ‘mega murals’, with more than 60 artworks that appear on carpark walls, the sides of shops, and all over the city. Explore at your leisure – just download the street art map and follow the QR codes – or book a guided tour of your choice (some include beer and bao).

Sale

This lakeside town, on the lands of the Gunaikurnai People, is dotted with charming pubs, historical buildings and plenty of lush scenery. Quest Sale, with its 53 apartments, sits central to much of the town’s best offerings – including the 150-year-old Botanic Gardens. And when you’re done with exploring, our property has a swimming pool and barbecue area to help you close out the day in classic holiday style.

Botanic Gardens
A five-minute drive from Quest Sale, it’s easy to while away an afternoon at the Gardens. Set up on the grassy banks of Lake Guthridge with a picnic (or grab some fish and chips from the Red Rose cafe on the way), take the kids to the playground or check out the fauna enclosure (look for pademelons and red-necked wallabies).
Bataluk Cultural Trail
The name “Bataluk” means lizard and this trail, which winds around East Gippsland and sits less than an hour’s drive from Sale, covers the routes used by the Gunaikurnai people who relied on the wetlands to obtain food and resources. Learn about sacred rituals, hear Dreamtime stories and discover the rich history of the First Nations people who occupied the area for thousands of years.
The Criterion Hotel
Just a couple of blocks from Quest Sale, the “Cri” (as it’s affectionately known to locals), is one of the largest historical hotels still intact in Victoria. Tuck into a porterhouse steak with red wine jus or parmesan crumbed prawns with a glass or two of local shiraz, and enjoy the view from the stately balcony, a hotel highlight.
Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park
Seaspray – a town just 20 minutes drive from Sale — lies at one end of this coastal park, which stretches all the way to Lakes Entrance. In between you’ll find plenty of great spots for kayaking, canoeing, boating, fishing, plus Ninety Mile Beach, one of the world’s longest stretches of sand.
Gippsland Art Gallery
Down from The Criterion Hotel, this gallery is home to more than 4000 works from both international and local artists, including First Nations pieces. With around 30 exhibitions held annually, there is always something new and exciting going on in one of the six exhibition spaces.