Alto Hotel, Melbourne

Alto Hotel’s neo-baroque facade might be an unfamiliar sight in Australian cities but the striking frontage belies the property’s true significance. Alto was the first inner-city Melbourne hotel to receive the coveted EarthCheck silver certification, and has since won a number of sustainability awards; green credentials include renewably sourced energy, rooftop beehives for honey and electric-car hire. There’s also free Wi-Fi, complementary fair- trade espresso in the guest lounge and a bunch of superior in-room entertainment options. All this in the heart of Melbourne, a short walk from both Spencer Street and the central shopping district.
• 636 Bourke Street, +61 3 8608 5500, altohotel.com.au. Doubles from A$158 (£92)

Punthill Manhattan apartment hotel, Melbourne

A boutique hotel in Melbourne’s business district, Punthill Manhattan occupies a nondescript former repository in a relatively quiet area with easy access to the bars and boutiques scattered in the alleyways beyond Collins Street, the sports stadiums to the south-east, and the Princess and Regent theatres. If all that fails to impress, the transport hub of Flinders Street is just a block away. The hotel itself defies its modest facade, with rooms presented in a warehouse-style reminiscent of the property’s namesake. Every apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, in case all that action outside gets a little tiresome.
• 57 Flinders Lane, +61 3 9659 3788, punthill.com.au. Rates are changable but currently start at AU$162 (£95) a night for a one-bed apartment; discounts for longer stays

Robinsons in the City B&B, West Melbourne

Housed in a former bakery built in the early 1850s, Robinsons in the City sits on the western edge of the business district, in an area where the history is not signposted but embedded deep in the buildings themselves. Owners Paul Humphreys and Tish Black are seasoned hospitality pros, so bring a welcome sophistication to the B&B experience. The accommodation is in the original sleeping quarters, while breakfast is served inside the old brick bakery itself. Explore the numerous cafes that are popping up in the area or stroll up the hill to experience the renowned Queen Victoria Market.
• 405 Spencer Street, +61 3 9329 2552, ritc.com.au. Doubles from A$155 (£91)

Heath Terrace, Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne is the city’s forgotten suburb, somewhere not often considered by the average tourist. For the canny visitor this oversight is an advantage, with a three-bedroom property such as Heath Terrace going for as little as A$372 (£219) a night. A traditional Melbourne brick terrace with large, quiet bedrooms and generous refurbished living areas, the property sleeps six adults in easy comfort. And while the cool kids might raise an eyebrow at the locale, it’s just around the corner from the High Street – for coffee and breakfast hit Balderdash, dinner go rustic gourmet with Pure Pie – and a quick walk to the 109 tram, which will have you in the city in less than 10 minutes.
• 35 Heath Street, +61 3 9530 8854, boutiquestays.com.au. From A$372 (£219) a single night, discounts for longer stays. Sleeps six

Tolarno Hotel, St Kilda

This boutique hotel has invested heavily in Melbourne’s thriving arts scene. Every room features distinctive artwork by an up-and-coming local artist, and Tolarno has sponsored art prizes with three of the city’s universities. As for the rooms, they’re modern, relaxed and individually styled. Another major attraction is Guy Grossi’s Mirka Continental Bistro, but for something a little more adventurous step out on to St Kilda’s infamously eclectic esplanade.
• 42 Fitzroy Street, +61 3 9537 0200, tolarnohotel.com.au. Doubles from A$155 (£91) a night

Thai Villas, Daylesford

Daylesford, 115km north-west of Melbourne, has long been known as “spa country” – a place for city slickers to relax and let themselves be pampered for a weekend. But in more recent times the town has matured, offering a more diverse range of accommodation. These quiet, private villas are a prime example, their cool, dark furnishings summoning the earthy spirituality of Bali but balanced with the comforts required in the Victorian countryside: large fireplaces, deep leather couches, generous bedding. Daylesford itself hangs on to its range of bathhouses – most famous being the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, which offers both private and public areas – but a number of award-winning restaurants have also moved in. For coffee, hit Buffalo Girls Coffee Bar in Duke Street, while dinner is all about Kazuki’s on Camp Street.
• 7 King Street, +61 3 5348 1448, dabs.com.au. Two villas, both sleeping two, are available from A$174 (£101) a night (two-night minimum)

Foreshore Camping, Sorrento

Seaside camping close to Melbourne hardly gets any better than Sorrento’s Foreshore campgrounds. An easy one-hour drive around Port Phillip Bay from Melbourne, Sorrento’s point of difference is its choice of beaches: you can relax on the foreshore, or stroll across to the other side of the peninsula to find some fantastic surfing spots. Sorrento itself is a classy little town and a great base for exploring the wider area. Wake up via a coffee at Stringers Stores on Ocean Beach Road, and recharge at the end of the day with tapas at Three Palms.
• 3176 Point Nepean Road, +61 3 5950 1011, mornpen.vic.gov.au/Leisure_Tourism. Open 26 October to 27 April, sites from $A26 (£15) a night

Queenscliff Inn, Queenscliff

Queenscliff packs more variety in terms of accommodation than some of the glitzier destinations dotted around the far reaches of Port Phillip Bay. It means the 80-minute drive from Melbourne turns up gems like the Queenscliff Inn, which is both comfortable and affordable. Apart from a short stint as a private residence, this has always been a guesthouse, the inn hanging on to its 111-year history via original awnings, leadlight glass and shared bathrooms. For a lazy brunch head out of town to Piknik on Queenscliff Road, and while away your evening on the Blues Train, which steams out of Queenscliff railway station every Friday and Saturday night from August to May, with live music in each of its four carriages.
• 59 Hesse Street, +61 3 5258 4600, queenscliffinn.com.au. Doubles from A$130 (£76), but the inn regularly has special offers

Neds Gully campground, Cathedral Range state park

Quality, isolated camping experiences are hard to find within reach of Melbourne. And that’s what makes Cathedral Range so precious. Overrun by the Black Saturday bushfires of early 2009, the state park has since become a stunning example of the Australian bush’s capacity for regeneration. The park is what you make of it: stay close to the river and enjoy the gentle bushwalks, or scramble up the challenging and exposed Wells Cave Track. Getting there is half the fun, the 90-minute drive east from Melbourne taking you through some of Victoria’s most prolific winemaking country.
• +61 3 8627 4700, parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/cathedral-range-state-park. Camping costs A$17.60 (£10) a night for two people. No vehicle access to the campground

Tidal River Cabins, Wilsons Promontory national park

One of the best cabin experiences in Australia, these ultra-modern shacks comfortably sleep six but, considering the park’s isolated location, nearly two hours south-east of Melbourne, you might want to splash out and make it a romantic getaway. Massive sliding glass doors open to join an immaculate living area with the surrounding bush, while the promontory’s beaches are some of the best in the country – rich sand running towards mountainous granite headlands. A perfect match of comfort and isolation.
• +61 3 5680 9555, parks.vic.gov.au. Cabins from £108 a night for two (additional adults£17pp). A summer ballot applies for the five weeks from Christmas to the end of January. Two-night minimum stay at weekends.

• The 2013 Melbourne festival runs from 11-27 October 11-27.

Matt Shea (@mrmatches) is a freelance journalist, based in Brisbane

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