Melbourne Events Worth Travelling For – And Where to Go Beyond the City

Melbourne has no shortage of reasons to visit. From world-class sporting events and major festivals to racing, live entertainment and cultural celebrations, the city’s events calendar attracts visitors from across Australia and around the world.

But if you’re travelling to Melbourne for an event, why stop at the city limits?

Victoria is made for road trips, with beaches, mountains, wine regions, charming country towns and spectacular coastal drives all within easy reach of Melbourne. Hiring a car gives you the freedom to turn an event weekend into a longer Victorian escape, with the flexibility to explore before or after the main event.

Here are some of the major events worth planning a trip around, along with ideas for where to take the road next.

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix – Phillip Island

For motorsport fans, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is one event where having a car can make exploring the wider region particularly appealing. The 2026 event takes place from 23–25 October at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Located around two hours from Melbourne, Phillip Island is more than just a race destination. Once the engines have stopped, spend some time exploring the island’s beaches, coastal walks and wildlife attractions. The famous Penguin Parade is an obvious highlight, while the Nobbies offers spectacular views along the rugged coastline.

You could even turn the event into a longer Gippsland road trip, stopping at seaside towns and exploring the Mornington Peninsula on your way back towards Melbourne.

Image credit: Emily Godfrey and Visit Victoria

AFL Grand Final – Melbourne

Few sporting events capture Melbourne quite like the AFL Grand Final. In 2026, the MCG hosts the Grand Final on 26 September, bringing fans from around Australia to the city.

While the game itself is the main attraction, Grand Final weekend is a great excuse to experience Melbourne beyond the stadium. Spend a few days exploring the city’s laneways, cafés, restaurants and cultural attractions before extending your trip into regional Victoria.

From Melbourne, you can easily head into the Yarra Valley for a change of scenery, explore the Dandenong Ranges or continue towards the Mornington Peninsula for coastal walks and seaside towns.

Image credit: Santiago González, Australian Football League and Visit Victoria

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival – Taste More of Victoria

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is a great reason to plan a city break around food, with events, dining experiences and culinary celebrations taking place across Melbourne and beyond. The 2027 festival will run from 5–21 March, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to build a longer Victorian getaway around their trip.

Once you’ve had your fill of Melbourne’s food scene, extend your trip beyond the city. A hire car makes it easy to explore Victoria’s regional food destinations, from the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula to the Bellarine Peninsula and High Country. The festival itself includes regional road-trip events, highlighting just how much of Victoria’s food culture can be discovered outside Melbourne.

Grampians Grape Escape – Make a Weekend of It

For a regional event that’s worth travelling for, Grampians Grape Escape is a standout. Held in Halls Gap from 30 April to 2 May 2027, the festival brings together food, wine and live music against the backdrop of the Grampians. With local producers, food experiences, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment, it’s a great excuse to venture beyond Melbourne and discover more of western Victoria.

Turn the festival into a longer road trip by spending a few days exploring the surrounding Grampians region. Take in the dramatic mountain scenery, discover walking trails and lookouts, or base yourself in Halls Gap and explore the nearby towns and landscapes at your own pace. With accommodation available across Halls Gap and surrounding areas, having a car gives you more flexibility to make the most of the journey there and back.

Image credit: Grampians Grape Escape

Australian Open – Melbourne Park

Every January, tennis fans descend on Melbourne for the Australian Open. The 2027 tournament runs from 11–31 January at Melbourne Park, making it a great reason to plan a summer trip to Victoria.

Once you’ve watched the action at Rod Laver Arena, swap the city for the coast. The Great Ocean Road is an obvious choice for a longer road trip, with dramatic cliffs, beaches, rainforest and the Twelve Apostles along the way.

For something closer to Melbourne, spend a day exploring the Mornington Peninsula or head north to the Yarra Valley for a relaxed change of pace.

Image credit: Emily Godfrey, Morgan Hancock, Tennis Australia and Visit Victoria

Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix – Albert Park

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix transforms Albert Park and Melbourne into one of the world’s biggest motorsport destinations each year. The 2026 event took place from 6–8 March, with the Grand Prix returning to Melbourne in 2027.

While Melbourne’s public transport makes getting to Albert Park straightforward, hiring a car can be particularly useful if you’re extending your stay beyond the city.

After the race weekend, head west along the Great Ocean Road or north towards the Grampians for a completely different Victorian experience. You can trade the roar of the engines for ocean views, native wildlife and scenic walking trails.

Image credit: Jim Zapsalis – Walking Perspective

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Not every reason to visit Melbourne involves sport. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is another major event on the city’s annual calendar, bringing comedians and audiences together across the city from late March into April.

Make a weekend of it by combining comedy shows with Melbourne’s famous food and cultural scene, then venture beyond the city for a couple of days.

Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges make an easy road trip, with spa towns, gardens, galleries, cafés and country scenery providing a relaxing contrast to the energy of the festival.

Image credit: Emily Godfrey, Jesse Hisco and Visit Victoria

Turn Your Melbourne Event Trip Into a Road Trip

One of the best things about travelling to Melbourne for an event is that your trip doesn’t have to end when the final whistle blows, the checkered flag falls or the curtain closes.

Victoria’s regions are surprisingly accessible from Melbourne, making it easy to add a day trip or a few extra nights to your itinerary. Depending on the season, you could head towards the Great Ocean Road, explore the Yarra Valley, discover the Mornington Peninsula, visit the spa towns of Daylesford or venture further into regional Victoria.

And that’s where having your own car can make all the difference. Rather than planning your trip around public transport timetables, you can set your own pace, stop at scenic lookouts and take the occasional detour when something catches your eye.

Make the Most of Your Melbourne Trip

Whether you’re coming to Melbourne for tennis, motorsport, racing, football or comedy, an event can be the perfect starting point for a bigger Victorian adventure.

So when you’re booking your next Melbourne event trip, consider adding a few extra days to explore beyond the city. With scenic coastal drives, regional towns and natural landscapes all within reach, the best part of your Victorian getaway might just happen after the event is over.