Victoria’s towns have character and plenty of culture: outdoor food and wine festivals are almost a weekly event; farmers markets liven up school ovals; and family-friendly music festivals take place in front of stunning natural backdrops. Established walking and cycling routes help people ditch the car and get closer to nature, and where there are waves for surfing, or fields for skiing, or rivers for kayaking, there’s almost always somewhere to rent the gear and someone to lead you in the right direction. During a bustling gold-rush era in the late 1800s, streets in the state capital Melbourne and many of Victoria’s small towns were stamped with architectural wonders. These days many of those grand buildings are luxury hotels or hostels, or theatres bursting with talent, or converted – on the inside – to colourful state-of-the-art galleries. |
Attractions, Activities and Events in Victoria
Great Ocean Road
Winding alongside the Southern Ocean from Geelong to Portland. This diverse region takes in surf beaches, historic ports, breathtaking mountain ranges, rainforests and national parks. Laze on the golden sands of Lorne. Visit an important Aboriginal site near Tower Hill or spot shipwrecks near the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles - craggy limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean.
Highlights include The Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Walk, whale watching, wine regions and Aboriginal culture. The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial.
Source: Australia.com, Wikipedia
Winding alongside the Southern Ocean from Geelong to Portland. This diverse region takes in surf beaches, historic ports, breathtaking mountain ranges, rainforests and national parks. Laze on the golden sands of Lorne. Visit an important Aboriginal site near Tower Hill or spot shipwrecks near the charming fishing village of Port Fairy. Of course, you can’t miss the Twelve Apostles - craggy limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean.
Highlights include The Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Walk, whale watching, wine regions and Aboriginal culture. The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial.
Source: Australia.com, Wikipedia
Melbourne City
Melbourne boasts Australia's largest concentration of live music venues, where local and international bands cover everything from grunge rock and techno, to jazz, blues and avant-garde performance.
Head to the Southbank precinct and experience this hotspot of Melbourne art and culture – the Victorian Arts Centre, the Malthouse Theatre, the Recital Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria's international collection.
Visit Crown Entertainment Complex - home to Australia's largest casino, cinemas, discos and designer stores. Forget you're in a city of four million people and slow down in Melbourne's lavish parks, gardens and waterways.
Take the free shuttle bus to key destinations around the city between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily.
Melbourne Visitor Centre: 2 Swanston Street, Phone 03 9658 9658
Source: Visit Melbourne Tourism Website
Melbourne boasts Australia's largest concentration of live music venues, where local and international bands cover everything from grunge rock and techno, to jazz, blues and avant-garde performance.
Head to the Southbank precinct and experience this hotspot of Melbourne art and culture – the Victorian Arts Centre, the Malthouse Theatre, the Recital Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria's international collection.
Visit Crown Entertainment Complex - home to Australia's largest casino, cinemas, discos and designer stores. Forget you're in a city of four million people and slow down in Melbourne's lavish parks, gardens and waterways.
Take the free shuttle bus to key destinations around the city between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily.
Melbourne Visitor Centre: 2 Swanston Street, Phone 03 9658 9658
Source: Visit Melbourne Tourism Website
Barmah National Park
Forming the largest River Red Gum forest in the world the complex ecology of the forest is closely linked to the Murray River and its flooding regime, creating a diverse natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly waterbirds. Barmah is a great spot for camping. Days can be easily filled with fishing, horse riding, bushwalking, swimming and canoeing. Visit the local visitor information centre for more information on interesting sights and activities run by tour operators nearby.
Barmah National Park lies along the Murray River between the towns of Barmah and Strathmerton, about 225km north of Melbourne.
The most-visited part of Barmah-Millewa wetlands is that section of Barmah Forest which can be accessed via the Sandridge Road from Barmah Town. A small tourist boat, MV Kingfisher, operates from the lake, offering 2 hour cruises. There is a commercial caravan park at Barmah Town. Bush camping is allowed along the Murray River. There is a free camping ground with toilets alongside Barmah Lake.
Source: Bushland Reserves of Northern Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Forming the largest River Red Gum forest in the world the complex ecology of the forest is closely linked to the Murray River and its flooding regime, creating a diverse natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly waterbirds. Barmah is a great spot for camping. Days can be easily filled with fishing, horse riding, bushwalking, swimming and canoeing. Visit the local visitor information centre for more information on interesting sights and activities run by tour operators nearby.
Barmah National Park lies along the Murray River between the towns of Barmah and Strathmerton, about 225km north of Melbourne.
The most-visited part of Barmah-Millewa wetlands is that section of Barmah Forest which can be accessed via the Sandridge Road from Barmah Town. A small tourist boat, MV Kingfisher, operates from the lake, offering 2 hour cruises. There is a commercial caravan park at Barmah Town. Bush camping is allowed along the Murray River. There is a free camping ground with toilets alongside Barmah Lake.
Source: Bushland Reserves of Northern Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Tour
Discover the secrets and hidden treasures of Melbourne’s lanes and arcades on this small-group walking tour. Immerse yourself in the heritage and culture of this cosmopolitan city, visit local artisans and up and coming fashion designers. Join the cafe society and soak up the atmosphere of old world charm. This three-hour tour will highlight the best that Melbourne has to offer, showcasing local designers whilst acquainting you with the arcades and lanes. Don't forget to make time to return to those you like best in the afternoon,
Departs from Federation Square at 10am, concluding at Caboose Restaurant, City Square. Adult AUD$95. Receive a complimentary goodie bag with a map and special offers. Tour includes gourmet lunch with wine, chocolate tasting, morning tea and local guide.
Source: Lonely Planet, Melbourne Activities
Discover the secrets and hidden treasures of Melbourne’s lanes and arcades on this small-group walking tour. Immerse yourself in the heritage and culture of this cosmopolitan city, visit local artisans and up and coming fashion designers. Join the cafe society and soak up the atmosphere of old world charm. This three-hour tour will highlight the best that Melbourne has to offer, showcasing local designers whilst acquainting you with the arcades and lanes. Don't forget to make time to return to those you like best in the afternoon,
Departs from Federation Square at 10am, concluding at Caboose Restaurant, City Square. Adult AUD$95. Receive a complimentary goodie bag with a map and special offers. Tour includes gourmet lunch with wine, chocolate tasting, morning tea and local guide.
Source: Lonely Planet, Melbourne Activities
Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Day Tour
The Yarra Valley wine tour takes you through Melbourne on Puffing Billy, Australia's oldest steam train, to the scenic Dandenong Ranges, with spectacular views of Melbourne's skyline en route. You'll travel in comfort through the beautiful Yarra Valley to visit the region's premium wineries. Your atmospheric ride takes you through the mountain ash rainforests of Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges.
Tour departs at 8.20am from selected Melbourne hotels or Federation Square. (Hotel pickups must be pre-arranged, selected hotels only). Tour concludes approx 5.30pm. Adult AUD$151.
Lunch at Rochford's Winery and Wine tasting at Dominique Portet and Domaine Chandon Wineries. Air conditioned coach with live commentary on board. Stop to feed the colorful native parrots, rosellas and cockatoos along the way!
Source: Lonely Planet, Melbourne Activities
The Yarra Valley wine tour takes you through Melbourne on Puffing Billy, Australia's oldest steam train, to the scenic Dandenong Ranges, with spectacular views of Melbourne's skyline en route. You'll travel in comfort through the beautiful Yarra Valley to visit the region's premium wineries. Your atmospheric ride takes you through the mountain ash rainforests of Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges.
Tour departs at 8.20am from selected Melbourne hotels or Federation Square. (Hotel pickups must be pre-arranged, selected hotels only). Tour concludes approx 5.30pm. Adult AUD$151.
Lunch at Rochford's Winery and Wine tasting at Dominique Portet and Domaine Chandon Wineries. Air conditioned coach with live commentary on board. Stop to feed the colorful native parrots, rosellas and cockatoos along the way!
Source: Lonely Planet, Melbourne Activities
Lorne Pier to Pub - 10 Jan 2014 - 11 Jan 2014
Dive in with 5,000 other swimmers in the world's largest organised swim!
Each year thousands of swimmers dive in and race the 1.2 kilometre course of the Lorne Pier to Pub. An action-packed weekend attracting people from near and far to both participate in the race and soak up the carnival atmosphere. Over the past 33 years the event has grown in size and stature and now claims centre stage of a two day program that includes the Mountain to Surf Fun Run and Surf Boat Race Classic.
Races run from 12:30 until mid afternoon
Organised and run by volunteers from Lorne Surf Life Saving Club.
The course is 1.2km from the Lorne Pier to the foreshore in front of the LSLS clubhouse. Lorne is approximately 2 hours south of Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road.
Source: GMHBA Website
Dive in with 5,000 other swimmers in the world's largest organised swim!
Each year thousands of swimmers dive in and race the 1.2 kilometre course of the Lorne Pier to Pub. An action-packed weekend attracting people from near and far to both participate in the race and soak up the carnival atmosphere. Over the past 33 years the event has grown in size and stature and now claims centre stage of a two day program that includes the Mountain to Surf Fun Run and Surf Boat Race Classic.
Races run from 12:30 until mid afternoon
Organised and run by volunteers from Lorne Surf Life Saving Club.
The course is 1.2km from the Lorne Pier to the foreshore in front of the LSLS clubhouse. Lorne is approximately 2 hours south of Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road.
Source: GMHBA Website