Modern Vespa

Tomorrow afternoon we will be picking up a Vespa GTS and Burgman 400 to explore from Melbourne. Besides the Great Ocean Road where should we go over the following 2-3 days?

http://m.visitvictoria.com/

I'm not being lazy. I'll let the site and and pictures help you decide.

I can definitely recommend the Mornington Peninsula as well as the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Hills. You're going to love it, a fabulous area. Don't miss out on Melbourne itself either, my favourite city.

View from our hotel overlooking Victoria Market

If you have time, another direction is the Yarra Valley from Lilydale > Coldstream > Yarra Glen for wineries (plenty of maps available - most fun wineries Domain Chandon, Coldstream Hills and Yering Station) ... but better yet, take a run over the Dandenongs from Healesville to Alexandra. Choices are then a long run over the hills to Whitfield and the upper King Valley (try Pizzini Wines) or turn west to Yea and run back through the Yarra Valley.

OR ... heading south east to Pakenham, then north along C411 through Cockatoo to Healesville is also a nice hills run (we have used this road to get a nice run past Melbourne coming from the MotoGP).

Can be team with a spin back through the Yarra Valley (go north west from Healesville).

Watch out for "J Turns" in Melbourne,as they are very odd! We were there in 2000 and drove the Great Ocean Road, then north through the Grampions, the to Sovereign Hill/ Ballarat, wine country, and back to Melbourne . Great times!!!

Ah yes the infamous hook turns, a very strange concept I've never seen or head of anywhere else.

We have transport now. One GTS and one Burgman that we will switch between. Melbourne has to be the most PTW friendly city with free motorcycle parking on the sidewalks and also dedicated free spaces like the one our rental scoots are in. Not only that the car spaces are restricted to 2 hours max while the bike ones are unrestricted.

Mornington Peninsula by Simon Davis, on Flickr

Victoria coast. by Simon Davis, on Flickr

Vespa on a Melbourne sidewalk. by Simon Davis, on Flickr

How do you Melbourne riders (or anyone else that lives in a city with trams) go with the tram tracks?

You ride between them or to one side depending on where in the lane they are positioned. Avoid riding on the tracks especially if there is any liquid substance on them.

I think you might need a bit more time than a couple of days if you want to do all that has been suggested...

Down the Mornington Peninsula is nice and then the ferry across to Queenscliff and an explore in that area...

Enjoy.

Picked up scooter and next morning headed to 12 Apostle.

The Burgman looks huge next to the little Vespa

Keep the photos coming, please.

have had a coffe in a cafe within your view at the market, a few years ago

Do to Phillip island circuit on the scoot.
Scrape that knee..