Victoria
Victoria is such a diverse state with so much to offer. From the bustling city of Melbourne to the beauty of the coastline along the Great Ocean Road. From the activity in the Victorian snowfields to the history of the old gold mining towns.
You will need to set Victoria as one of your destinations to visit many times to enjoy everything on offer.
You will need to set Victoria as one of your destinations to visit many times to enjoy everything on offer.
Melbourne - The capital city
Multicultural Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia behind Sydney. It is a city of stylish Victorian architecture, trams, fashion, food, theatres, art galleries and leafy gardens. Any night of the week you can be entertained in a splendor of local and international opera, ballet, comedy, live music, plays, performing arts and openings.
It is also a city mad for sports, with more world class facilities than many countries.
Melbourne hosts events such as the Australian Tennis Open, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and the premier horse race that ‘stops a nation,’ the Melbourne Cup. It is also centre of Australia’s own brand of football, Aussie Rules
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It is also a city mad for sports, with more world class facilities than many countries.
Melbourne hosts events such as the Australian Tennis Open, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and the premier horse race that ‘stops a nation,’ the Melbourne Cup. It is also centre of Australia’s own brand of football, Aussie Rules
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The Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is located just 50Km East of Melbourne's CBD and is a popular day trip destination from Melbourne. The Yarra Valley stretches along the Yarra River and is the most beautiful scenery and peaceful environment that you could wish for. Read More
The Great Ocean Road
One of the most spectacular drives in Australia is along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria where you will see “The Twelve Apostles”, a series of massive natural limestone stacks standing just off shore in the Port Campbell National Park.
There are now only eight of the outcrops left because they continue to be eroded by the pounding waves of the southern ocean which comes unabated from the South Pole. While it is a popular tourist attraction and the site of many a marriage proposal, this region of the coast it littered with ship wrecks and on a cold and windy day one can really experience the awesome power of Mother Nature. These outcrops continue to erode and crash into the ocean, to this is a ‘must do’ while there are still some standing.
There are now only eight of the outcrops left because they continue to be eroded by the pounding waves of the southern ocean which comes unabated from the South Pole. While it is a popular tourist attraction and the site of many a marriage proposal, this region of the coast it littered with ship wrecks and on a cold and windy day one can really experience the awesome power of Mother Nature. These outcrops continue to erode and crash into the ocean, to this is a ‘must do’ while there are still some standing.
Voted as one of the best scenic drives in Australia
Great Ocean Road
BITUMEN that snakes its way around cliffs and stunning sea vistas make the heritage-listed Great Ocean Road in Victoria a must-do drive.
Understandably, it's also on every tourist's list - about eight million people visited it last year - which is why there are so many signs reminding drivers that Australians progress on the left side of the road. Not confidence inspiring - and there's a solid police presence to enforce the 80km/h speed limit.
Cyclists insist on masochistic rides here, too, making this the motoring equivalent of a scenic stroll rather than an all-out automotive assault.
That being the case, it pays to reward the passengers by stopping at some of the idyllic coastal towns.
The 243km stretch officially starts at Torquay, the site of the annual Bells Beach surfing contest and the origin of the Billabong and Rip Curl brands synonymous with the surfie subculture.
Aireys Inlet is worth a stop if there are kids in the car. The Split Point Lighthouse is the home of the Round The Twist TV series - and the views from the 70m cliff atop which the white stone beacon is perched are as out of this world.
Back on the road and Lorne beckons, but spare a thought for the returned World War I Diggers who lived up to their nickname by hewing the road from the cliffs with shovels and pickaxes between 1919 and 1932.
It rates as one of the great engineering feats and is the world's longest war memorial.
A 10km detour at Lorne will take visitors to the Erskine Falls, a 30m cascade set amid massive ferns and temperate rainforest.
Apollo Bay is the next destination - and the entrance to the Great Otway National Park, where you can figuratively get lost bushwalking, mountain bike riding or just lying back and indulging in down time. It is also where the road leaves the cliffs overlooking Bass Strait, but the inland run offers some of the best corners of the stretch. Drivers smart enough to give themselves some room from the vehicles ahead can genuinely have fun on this twisty section without breaking the speed limit.
The road returns to the sea at Princetown and passes the Twelve Apostles on the run to Port Campbell. There are only eight left, as the waves erode up to 2cm of the limestone stacks each year, but they still rate as one of Victoria's most popular tourist destinations.
Technically there's still another 55km of the Great Ocean Road to travel before it officially ends at Allansford, just out of Warrnambool.
A better route for Victorian-based drivers is to head inland on the Port Campbell Rd (C164) until it hits the Hamilton Highway. Another route less travelled is to backtrack to Lavers Hill and take the Beech Forest-Lavers Rd (C155) run to the Princess Highway.
Both are tidy, twisty bits of tarmac that run through forests and farms that will have the biggest petrolhead showing some appreciation for nature.
BITUMEN that snakes its way around cliffs and stunning sea vistas make the heritage-listed Great Ocean Road in Victoria a must-do drive.
Understandably, it's also on every tourist's list - about eight million people visited it last year - which is why there are so many signs reminding drivers that Australians progress on the left side of the road. Not confidence inspiring - and there's a solid police presence to enforce the 80km/h speed limit.
Cyclists insist on masochistic rides here, too, making this the motoring equivalent of a scenic stroll rather than an all-out automotive assault.
That being the case, it pays to reward the passengers by stopping at some of the idyllic coastal towns.
The 243km stretch officially starts at Torquay, the site of the annual Bells Beach surfing contest and the origin of the Billabong and Rip Curl brands synonymous with the surfie subculture.
Aireys Inlet is worth a stop if there are kids in the car. The Split Point Lighthouse is the home of the Round The Twist TV series - and the views from the 70m cliff atop which the white stone beacon is perched are as out of this world.
Back on the road and Lorne beckons, but spare a thought for the returned World War I Diggers who lived up to their nickname by hewing the road from the cliffs with shovels and pickaxes between 1919 and 1932.
It rates as one of the great engineering feats and is the world's longest war memorial.
A 10km detour at Lorne will take visitors to the Erskine Falls, a 30m cascade set amid massive ferns and temperate rainforest.
Apollo Bay is the next destination - and the entrance to the Great Otway National Park, where you can figuratively get lost bushwalking, mountain bike riding or just lying back and indulging in down time. It is also where the road leaves the cliffs overlooking Bass Strait, but the inland run offers some of the best corners of the stretch. Drivers smart enough to give themselves some room from the vehicles ahead can genuinely have fun on this twisty section without breaking the speed limit.
The road returns to the sea at Princetown and passes the Twelve Apostles on the run to Port Campbell. There are only eight left, as the waves erode up to 2cm of the limestone stacks each year, but they still rate as one of Victoria's most popular tourist destinations.
Technically there's still another 55km of the Great Ocean Road to travel before it officially ends at Allansford, just out of Warrnambool.
A better route for Victorian-based drivers is to head inland on the Port Campbell Rd (C164) until it hits the Hamilton Highway. Another route less travelled is to backtrack to Lavers Hill and take the Beech Forest-Lavers Rd (C155) run to the Princess Highway.
Both are tidy, twisty bits of tarmac that run through forests and farms that will have the biggest petrolhead showing some appreciation for nature.
The Grampians
Spectacular mountain ranges, colourful wildflowers, a huge range of recreational activities, and a display of Aboriginal rock art sites are some of the experiences you will have when you visit The Grampians.
The Grampians National Park rise from the rural plains of the Wimmera in north-west Victoria. Many visitors each year come here for the unspoilt natural beauty and stunning panoramic views. From lookouts scattered along the many walking paths you can see picturesque waterfalls.
Rock climbing and abseiling are popular in the region as well as fishing and canoeing in the lakes and rivers. Discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and an abundance of native wildlife.
Wineries such as Seppelt, Best's, Mt Langi Ghiran and Montara offer tastings and you can sample other local produce from ewe's milk, cheese and olives to locally sourced beef and lamb which appears on menus throughout the region.
Halls Gap is one of the popular destinations in the heart of the Grampians National Park and definitely worth a visit.
Explore historic gold rush towns such as Ararat or Stawell, or visit close by agricultural towns of Horsham and Hamilton, famous for their gardens, galleries and museums.
The Grampians National Park rise from the rural plains of the Wimmera in north-west Victoria. Many visitors each year come here for the unspoilt natural beauty and stunning panoramic views. From lookouts scattered along the many walking paths you can see picturesque waterfalls.
Rock climbing and abseiling are popular in the region as well as fishing and canoeing in the lakes and rivers. Discover ancient Aboriginal rock art and an abundance of native wildlife.
Wineries such as Seppelt, Best's, Mt Langi Ghiran and Montara offer tastings and you can sample other local produce from ewe's milk, cheese and olives to locally sourced beef and lamb which appears on menus throughout the region.
Halls Gap is one of the popular destinations in the heart of the Grampians National Park and definitely worth a visit.
Explore historic gold rush towns such as Ararat or Stawell, or visit close by agricultural towns of Horsham and Hamilton, famous for their gardens, galleries and museums.
Tourist Attractions
Sovereign Hill: Step back in time to the 1850's and experience what it would have been like living in a gold town. Sovereign hill is a re-enactment of what life would be like at this time.
Kryal Castle: A replica of a medieval castle located at Leigh Creek - 8km east of Ballarat. There is a moat, drawbridge, maze, stocks and a full jousting show. It is a very entertaining day out and the kids will love it.
Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges: Escape to the Yarra Valley to indulge in life's great pleasures of food, wine and nature. Get away from the bustle of city life into the Dandenong Ranges' secret fern glades, towering forests and eclectic villages. Read More
Find out more about Melbourne - the Capital of Victoria
Compare prices across lots of sites for flights and accommodation
Write on our BLOG
Other Australian states to visit:
Western Australia Queensland New South Wales
South Australia Tasmania Northern Territory
Kryal Castle: A replica of a medieval castle located at Leigh Creek - 8km east of Ballarat. There is a moat, drawbridge, maze, stocks and a full jousting show. It is a very entertaining day out and the kids will love it.
Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges: Escape to the Yarra Valley to indulge in life's great pleasures of food, wine and nature. Get away from the bustle of city life into the Dandenong Ranges' secret fern glades, towering forests and eclectic villages. Read More
Find out more about Melbourne - the Capital of Victoria
Compare prices across lots of sites for flights and accommodation
Write on our BLOG
Other Australian states to visit:
Western Australia Queensland New South Wales
South Australia Tasmania Northern Territory
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