Victoria Information

Victoria Information

Victoria’s relatively compact size allows all of it's regions to be experienced not too far from the capital of Melbourne, the hardest part will be deciding where you should go first! There are plenty of choices, Melbourne is culturally rich and highly cosmopolitan but other parts of Victoria are decidedly rural and include world-class wineries around the Yarra Valley, Daylesford's renowned mineral springs, the alpine playgrounds and snowfields of Victoria's High Country as well as the adorable fairy penguins that can be viewed on Phillip Island, Victoria has more than enough options for anyone.

Melbourne
Melbourne is second only to Sydney in population and is the state of Victoria’s stylish and happening capital. Set around the sweeping shores of Port Phillip Bay on the south side of the city, the ordered grid of central streets make it simple to get out and explore Melbournes rather more complex mesh of history, entertainment and culture. Melbourne offers attractions to excite any style of traveller: from the latest chic fashion stores and boutiques to hip and trendy cafes, lively bars, expansive gardens, enormous and well frequented sports venues, graceful Victorian terrace houses, Manhattan-style tower buildings, gourmet food markets, film festivals, art galleries of all descriptions and old world theatres.

Although there is so much excitement on offer, many also enjoy peace and tranquility of Melbourne's impressive and expansive parks and botanic gardens which offer some lovely places to recharge your batteries. There are also plenty of fine walking paths along the Yarra River in the centre of town where a long stroll is a more relaxing way to take in the city sites. There are some new additions to the parklands of Melbourne such as the Birrarung Marr while others have a long history such as the World Heritage listed Carlton Gardens.

Greater Melbourne
Not to far south of the Yarra River are the stylish suburbs of Prahran and South Yarra, premier places for the latest fashions and fine food. Seaside St Kilda is a little further south again and is a vital melting pot of cultures and sensual experiences: the dizzy thrills of Luna Park, the delicious and extravagant cake shops of Acland Street, loud and live music at the famous Esplanade Hotel as well as the taste sensations of dozens of restaurants along Fitzroy Street. North of the Melbourne CBD are the lively communities of Fitzroy and the Italian dominated Carlton, with it's famous italian dining experience along Lygon Street. To the east is Richmond, well known for it's awesome bargain shopping streets and Greek and Vietnamese dining.

The Great Ocean Road
Winding along the rugged coast of the south west of Victoria, the Great Ocean Road is one of the world’s best coastal drives. Start in bayside Geelong, the second largest city in Victoria, and then go south to Torquay, one of Australia's best surfing locations. Along the coastal drive, gorgeous little seaside towns such as Apollo Bay, Anglesea and Lorne inhabit beautiful beachside locations and offer water sports, rainforest walks and some lovely boutique accommodation. A trip along the Great Ocean Road is not complete without exploring some of the Great Otway National Park to sit alongside one of its awe inspiring waterfalls and enjoy the tranquility of nature at it's best.

One of the most popular destinations along the journey is Port Campbell. The coastline has dramatic windswept cliffs, which have been carved over millennia to form striking rock pillars which rise up from the boiling Southern Ocean. The Twelve Apostles, as they are known are among the most nations most well known and spectacular natural attractions.

The maritime history of the Great Ocean Road region can be explored in historic towns such as Port Fairy, Warrnambool, and Portland where you can be involved in seafaring village life, with visits to the wharves, and see maritime museums and beautifully preserved colonial buildings.

Phillip Island
Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island is a very popular getaway. It is the home of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, which hosts an annual motor cycle Grand Prix. It's main claim to fame however is the parade of tiny fairy penguins which head up from the sea to their burrows in the sand dunes each day . The island has a good population of koalas and a colony of fur seals that can be seen at Seal Rocks in the months of October, November and December. Some of the best swimming and surfing beaches in Victoria are found around the island and it also has a reputation for beautiful scenery. It is extremely popular with families who take full advantage of the mix of natural and man made attractions. During the Christmas holiday period from December to March, children’s programs offer the young ones to participation in a range of activities from camping out to bike tours.

Regional retreats
Away from the major towns and the coast the beauty and diversity of regional Victoria, which has attractions ranging from world-class wineries to alpine ski resorts, gourmet food districts through to mineral springs.

The Mornington Peninsula’s which stretches down the eastern side of Port Philip Bay is made up of rolling fertile hills of olive groves and vineyards surrounded by historic seaside villages lending the area a mediterranean feel. There are almost 20 good golf courses here – some which offer views over the water from the fairways and greens.

Along a large part of the eastern coast, Gippsland is a region with some of the best natural landscapes in the state. Hike through national parks, go fishing in clear cool mountain creeks or dine in sumptuous restaurants on fresh produce from the area including fine wine, fruits, cheese and berries. Be sure to see Wilsons Promontory or take to the slopes at Mount Baw Baw, the closest alpine resort and ski area to Melbourne.

North of Melbourne is the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, renowned for good Victorian wine and towering timber. Nestled among quiet glades and native forests are over 50 of Australia's top wineries, boutique accommodation and scores of small restaurants which exist in harmony with the village life of the region.

North west Victoria has historic Goldfields towns that once were the lifeblood of the state in the wild days of the Gold Rush. These days the great cities of Ballarat and Bendigo draw visitors who want to experience the grand architecture from those days as well as the art galleries, gardens, museums and festivals which have sprung up since.

The west of Victoria has the Grampians National Park, home to 200 or so kilometres of walking tracks, dozens of lookouts and native plants and animals, as well as scores of significant Aboriginal rock art locations.

Eastern Victoria in the highlands is the place to head for Australia's best alpine landscapes, once a place where bushrangers roamed free and home of the Man from Snowy River, today is more well known for it's gourmet food and wine. It still attracts plenty of attention for it's outdoor pursuits including mountain biking, hiking and horse riding and of course dozens of ski resorts and Australia's premier winter playground.