If you're keen to immerse yourself in the wilderness — and go for a dip — without going more than an hour out of the city, Werribee Gorge should be top of your list. To reach the water, you'll need to follow the Werribee Gorge Circuit Track — it's a a steep, rocky 8.5-kilometre walk, which is challenging and dangerous at times, but comes with rather breathtaking scenery. Have a dip at Needles Beach or keep going until you reach the biggest rock pool, Blackwood.

Polly McQuinns — a deep pool on the Seven Creeks just east of Euroa — isn't just a swimming hole. It's a part of Australian folklore.

Even though the Yarra River isn't swimmable in the city, there are cleaner spots upstream. Among them is Pound Bend Reserve in Warrandyte State Park, which is only around 30 kilometres northeast of the CBD — making it the closest swimming spot to the city.

The 40-kilometre-long Lerderderg River begins in the Great Dividing Range, before winding its way southeast to join the Werribee River. Its most spectacular feature is the Lerderderg Gorge, a 300-metre-deep gorge, whose sandstone and slate reveal 500 million years of geological history.

Only 45 minutes out of the city, hidden by rambling native bushland, this section of the Yarra River is perfect for lilo-drifting – where one lies on an inflatable and lets the gentle current move you along the deep river banks — and kayaking or canoeing.