Australia · Melbourne
Melbourne with Alfred
July 10–14, 2026 • the flexible middle
The loose, host-led stretch of the trip — staying out at Alfred's place in Pakenham, with the days shaped around family time, getting Tucker settled for his internship, and a couple of big drives: the Penguin Parade and the Great Ocean Road. Held lightly on purpose, with one fixed bookend — the early Tuesday flight to Queenstown, where the solo New Zealand run begins.
The Melbourne days
A rough shape, not a schedule — Alfred's playing host, so the plan bends to the day.
Saturday · family & penguins
Settle Tucker, then the parade
The day Tucker peels off for his internship — and the day ends with little penguins.
- am
Breakfast with Alfred, Neriman & familyA slow morning in Pakenham with the whole household.
- ~1p
Drop Tucker downtownAfter lunch, you and Alfred run Tucker into the city to the Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Little Collins — his base for the Deakin internship. This is where he settles in and you carry on.
- aft
A first look at Melbourne with AlfredA quick wander while you're in town — the laneways, Federation Square, a proper Melbourne coffee — before pointing the car south.
- ~4:30p
Down to Phillip IslandAbout 1.5 hours from the Pakenham side. Aim to reach the visitor centre an hour or so before sunset.
- ~5:45p
The Penguin ParadeLittle penguins rafting in and waddling up Summerland Beach at dusk — the world's largest colony. Bundle up; it's cold and windy, and no flash photography once the sun's down.
- eve
Back to PakenhamRoughly an hour and a quarter home for the night.
Book Penguin Parade tickets ahead and pick a viewing tier — General, the smaller Penguin Plus platform, or the eye-level Underground (a good shout for a cold winter night). Winter means thinner crowds. Alfred's call: this same afternoon is the only window for Melbourne Zoo — but it's up north of the city and closes late afternoon, so it's really the zoo or the penguin drive, not both. With Featherdale, the coast koalas and Kiwi Park still to come, the penguins are the rarer pick.
Sunday–Monday · the Great Ocean Road
The coast, end to end
Two days so you can do it properly — out along the coast, a night near the Apostles, back inland.
- Sun
West to the coastOut past Torquay and Bells Beach, under the Memorial Arch at Eastern View, through Lorne and the koalas at Kennett River to Apollo Bay, then inland to the Otways — Cape Otway and the Gables Lookout.
- dusk
The Twelve Apostles at sunsetThe limestone stacks at golden hour — plus Gibson Steps and Loch Ard Gorge nearby. Staying out here means catching them after the day-trip buses have gone.
- night
Overnight out westBed down near the Apostles — Port Campbell or Apollo Bay. (Still to pin down.)
- Mon
A last look, then backMorning on the coast, then the faster inland road home via Colac and Geelong — back in Melbourne in the early afternoon.
It's a big loop — the overnight is what turns a frantic day-trip into a real one, and lets the Apostles land at sunrise or sunset rather than midday glare.
Monday night, then out
A Melbourne evening, an early flight
The last of the city, then the handoff to New Zealand.
- Mon pm
Dinner & the city, properlyBack from the coast with the evening free — the laneways and rooftop bars, the Yarra and Southbank, whatever Saturday didn't have time for. A good last Melbourne night.
- night
Back to PakenhamAn early start tomorrow, so don't push it too late.
- Tue am
Alfred runs you to the airportAn early lift from Pakenham for the flight out.
- Tue
Fly to QueenstownThe earlier flight you're banking on — the one that buys a full first afternoon on the lake.
From here you're solo: the
South Island plan → takes over in Queenstown (the lake, Milford, and the run over the Alps to Christchurch).