Planning a weekend road trip from Melbourne in an EV?

With a growing network of EV charging stations in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, you can easily set out for a scenic drive on the weekend or further afield without worrying your battery’s going to run out. Plot your route with one of our favourite EV trip planners to include EV charging stations along the way.

Whether you’re heading to Phillip Island to check out the wildlife, sampling the wine of Yarra Valley or McLaren Vale, or making the drive to Sydney or Adelaide, here are some of our favourite EV-friendly destinations from Melbourne for your next long weekend adventure.

1. Great Ocean Road

    One of Australia’s most iconic drives, we think everyone needs to drive the Great Ocean Road at least once in their lives. What better way to do it than in an EV? Especially as there are plenty of EV charging stations along the route.

Starting in Torquay, about an hour and a half from the CBD and ending near Warrnambool, the drive is packed with natural wonders. From the majestic Twelve Apostles, best seen at sunrise or sunset, to Bells Beach, a world-renowned surf beach that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro.

Even better, make it a long weekend adventure and book one of the hotels or holiday homes along the route. If you’re feeling indulgent, we can’t go past the architecturally designed Cape Patton Lot 5, with its expansive views of Bass Strait, Apollo Bay and Otway National Park, and abundant wildlife.

2. Yarra Valley

    Only an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, the Yarra Valley is an easy day trip from Melbourne. But why stay for a day when you could stay for the whole weekend?

Famous for its lush vineyards and award-winning wineries, we recommend paying a visit to Bortoli Wines, established almost a century ago; Yarra Yering, helmed by Gourmet Traveller’s Winemaker of the Year, Winemaker of the Year; and Rob Dolan Wines Cellar Door, which is only a hop, skip, and a 30-minute drive from Melbourne.

Besides wine, you could take a hot air balloon ride over the valley or take in views of a different kind at the TarraWarra Museum of Art, with works by Australian artists including Jenny Watson, Gordon Bennett and Brett Whiteley.

EV charging stations are conveniently located at many of Yarra Valley’s wineries and major attractions, making it easy to keep your EV charged throughout your visit.

3. Phillip Island

    Little Penguins. Need we say more? Home to the largest colony of Little Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) in the world, seeing Phillip Island’s daily “Penguin Parade” is definitely one for the bucket list. Like clockwork, the penguins waddle back to their burrows every evening at sunset. 

But penguins aren’t the only wildlife the island’s famous for. The Koala Conservation Reserve is also a must-visit, with tree-top boardwalks that let you get up close and personal with the koalas. Beyond wildlife, there are beautiful beaches galore, walking tracks and, of course, the Grand Prix Circuit, where you can race go-karts with a view of the spectacular Bass Strait.

EV charging stations are available at several points, including the Phillip Island Visitor Information Centre.

4. Melbourne to Sydney

    Planning a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney? The coastal drive is some 1432 km long (about 20 hours driving time), but we can guarantee it’s worth the journey. One of our favourite stops is the Gippsland Lakes, a network of turquoise lagoons that cover more than 600 square metres, separated from the Tasman by Ninety Mile Beach’s golden sand dunes. You’ll find EV charging stations throughout Gippsland.

If you’re making a return trip, why not take the inland route? On your way back, visit Walhalla, a perfectly preserved gold mining town that was once one of the richest towns in the country. There, you can explore the historic buildings, pan for gold, or take a ride on the Goldfields Railway. Today, the town’s home to something distinctly modern, too, with its own EV charging station.

5. Melbourne to Adelaide

    The direct, inland route to Adelaide is eight hours from Melbourne. But why would you take the direct route when you could take the Southern Ocean Drive? The route includes South Australia’s only World Heritage-listed site, Naracoorte Caves National Park, which is home to fossils of the giant marsupials that lived here 500,00 years ago, including giant kangaroos.

For wine lovers, there’s McLaren Vale, an hour out of Adelaide and another of Australia’s famous wine regions. There, winemakers have been cultivating grapes to produce some of the best Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache Australia has to offer since 1838.

EV charging stations are available along the route, including in Naracoorte and McLaren Vale.

Ready to go electric?

    A road trip in an EV is like nothing else: smooth and silent, you can sink in and enjoy your surroundings.

With quick acceleration and state-of-the-art features, Avis’ fleet of Tesla Model Ys are ideal for any adventure. Thanks to a comprehensive network of EV charging stations across Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales, you can enjoy your travels without the stress of running out of power.

Whether you're winding your way along the Great Ocean Road or sampling award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley, convenient EV charging locations along major routes will make it the smoothest road trip you’ve ever had.

Book your Tesla Model Y online now, and make sure to download the Avis App before you pick it up.

If you have any questions, check out our FAQs on renting an EV.