Another option: hire a car.
It would cost you about $300 for the week that you have between arriving and leaving (I just did a quick search via Thrifty), which is a small fraction of the total cost of your trip. This allows you to maximise your week and avoids the hassle of getting in and out of Melbourne and making other transport connections.
You'd be climbing by mid-afternoon on the day you arrive and have transport to get you into Natimuk/Horsham to visit the cafe, buy food, get a shower, etc.
Well worth the relatively small additional outlay of cash. |