Let’s be real: Melbourne’s public transport is great until you’ve got kids, luggage, or a crew that refuses to split up. That’s when a maxi cab becomes your best mate—door-to-door, no parking stress, and everyone gets a window seat. I’ve piled my lot into more than a few over the years, chasing beaches, wineries, and the odd penguin parade. Here are the five-day trips we keep coming back to, all under two hours from the CBD and tailor-made for a comfy group ride.
1. Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs & Coastal Loop
Distance: ~90 mins south.
Why a maxi cab shines: You’ll want to linger in those steaming pools without worrying about who’s driving home sober.
We roll out of the city around 9 a.m., the maxi cab’s boot swallowing picnic rugs, towels, and a sneaky bottle of Peninsula bubbly. First stop: Peninsula Hot Springs. The driver drops us right at the entrance—no trudging from a distant car park. We soak for two hours, then pile back in for the 15-minute hop to Point Nepean. The cab waits (most drivers are happy to for a small fee) while we bike the old fort trails or just stare at the rip where Port Phillip meets Bass Strait. Lunch is fish and chips at Flinders Blowhole, eaten on the bonnet because why not? By 4 p.m., we’re dozing against tinted windows, the ocean still in our hair.
2. Yarra Valley Winery Wander (Without the Designated Driver Drama)
Distance: ~60 mins northeast.
Why a maxi cab shines: Unlimited tastings, zero breathalysers.
Start at Domaine Chandon—yes, the one with the hilltop views that make your Instagram followers jealous. The maxi cab’s size means we bring the good cheese and crackers from Queen Vic Market, no squishing required. From there it’s a lazy loop: a quick tasting at Yering Station, lunch in the barn at Hubert Estate (their truffle fries are criminal), then a cheeky gin paddle at Four Pillars before the sun dips. Our driver times the return perfectly, slipping us back into Richmond just as the city lights flicker on. Everyone’s happy, hydrated, and horizontally relaxed.
3. Werribee Open Range Zoo & Mansion
Distance: ~35 mins west.
Why a maxi cab shines: Pram-friendly, no juggling car seats between safari buses.
The zoo’s safari tour is brilliant, but the real hack is booking the maxi cab to wait while you do the lot—rhinos at 11, hippos at 1, then the historic Werribee Mansion for high tea in the gardens. We once had eight of us: two toddlers, one nanna, and a cooler bag the size of a small fridge. The driver even helped lift the pram in. By the time we’re rolling home, the kids are out cold, Nanna’s clutching leftover scones, and the adults are planning the next excuse to escape.
4. Dandenong Ranges: Puffing Billy & Picnic at Grants
Distance: ~60 mins east.
Why a maxi cab shines: Steep, narrow roads + zero parking at the station = instant regret in your own car.
Catch the 10:30 steam train from Belgrave—pre-book the first-class carriage if you’re feeling fancy. The maxi cab drops you trackside, then scoots ahead to Grants on Sherbrooke for a picnic table under the tree ferns. We devour Devonshire teas while the kids chase lyrebirds. Post-train, the same cab whisks us to SkyHigh for sunset over the city silhouette. The drive back down the mountain is pure magic: fog in the gullies, headlights carving tunnels through the dark. Pro move: ask the driver to take the tourist route via Olinda for extra “ooh” moments.
5. Great Ocean Road Lite: Lorne & Teddy’s Lookout
Distance: ~2 hours southwest
Why a maxi cab shines: Winding cliff roads + full van = someone else can white-knuckle the wheel.
This is the mini-epic for when you want Twelve Apostles vibes without the five-hour slog. Leave by 8 a.m.; the maxi cab glides down the Princes Freeway while you play road-trip bingo. First photo stop: the Memorial Arch at Eastern View. Then straight to Lorne for breakfast burritos on the foreshore. Hike (or short stroll) to Teddy’s Lookout—those sweeping views of the St George River meeting the sea never get old. If the group’s keen, detour five minutes to Erskine Falls; the driver can drop half at the lower car park and ferry the rest. Home by 6 p.m., salt-crusted and smug.
A Few Maxi Cab Hacks Before You Book
- Book the night before via Maxi Cab Ride or other Services—lock in a flat rate and avoid surge nonsense.
- Ask for a late-model van if you’ve got more than six; some older ones feel like a school excursion.
- Bring an aux cord or Bluetooth—the right playlist turns the Great Ocean Road into a music video.
Load up the crew, pick your poison, and let the maxi cab do the heavy lifting. Melbourne’s best day trips are waiting just beyond the West Gate—and trust me, arriving together, laughing, and without a single parking ticket is the ultimate souvenir.
