Victoria may be Australia’s second smallest state, but it’s packed full of national parks, wineries, wildlife, lakes, mountains, and beaches. Melbourne, Victoria’s fashion and artistic capital, is located on the south coast of the state. Despite the size of the state, Victoria’s population exceeds 4.6 million people, which is pretty large in Australian terms!
REGIONS OF VICTORIA Victoria can be divided into eleven regions: Melbourne; Macedon Ranges & Spa Country; Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, & The Ranges; Mornington Peninsula; Phillip Island; Great Ocean Road; Goldfields; Grampians; Legends, Wine & High Country; Gippsland; The Murray.
Melbourne Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, located on the southern coast of Australia. As the second largest city in Australia, Melbourne has a population of about three million people. Melbourne is renowned for fashion and shopping, as well as its café and bar life. Melbourne is also considered by many as the artistic and cultural hub of Australia because of its wide variety of theatres, art galleries, museums, and cultural festivals.
Macedon Ranges & Spa Country Located just an hour’s drive northwest of Melbourne, the Macedon Ranges & Spa Country is the perfect place to go to revive your mind and your body. The region offers beautiful scenery, natural mineral springs, luxurious accommodation, and excellent food and drink.
Daylesford has the richest concentration of natural mineral springs in Victoria’s Spa Country. The town offers revitalising spas, great accommodation and restaurants, antique shops, and art galleries.
Mount Macedon has the beautiful Macedon Regional Park and some of Victoria’s finest gardens. Mount Macedon is also well known for its wineries and restaurants.
Kyneton is a historic gold rush town with granite streets and bluestone architecture. Kyneton also has a wonderful assortment of bookstores and antique shops.
Woodend is the perfect stop-off for people travelling north-west from Melbourne. The small resort town has many guesthouses and hotels, as well as restaurants, wineries, antiques, and crafts.
Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, & The Ranges Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, and the Ranges have some of Victoria’s best wineries, and some of the most breathtaking scenery. The region is a popular destination for wine aficionados, artists, nature lovers, and couples looking for a romantic weekend away.
The actual town of Yarra Valley is famous for its wine, food, and scenery, and it’s only an hour’s drive from Melbourne! Yarra Valley is actually the place where winegrowing in Victoria started. The region is now the home to over 55 wineries.
The Dandenong Ranges is a popular destination for those wanting to get out of the city and into the fresh mountain air. There are many national parks in the Dandenong Ranges where you can go bushwalking. You can also take Australia’s oldest steam train, Puffing Billy, through the beautiful forests and gullies of the Dandenong Ranges. The area also has bed and breakfast accommodation, romantic cottages, antique shops, and great restaurants.
Marysville was established in 1863 as a stop-over for gold-diggers travelling to the nearby goldfields. Today, Marysville is a sub-alpine village that acts as the gateway to Lake Mountain.
Warburton is one of the most beautiful towns in Yarra Valley, Dandenongs, and the Ranges. Formally a gold rush town, Warburton has stunning natural attractions, health retreats, and rich Aboriginal and European history.
Mornington Peninsula Mornington Peninsula is the tiny peninsula jetting off the southern coast of Victoria. Only about an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is filled with sleepy seaside villages, vineyards, orchards, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and golf courses.
Phillip Island Phillip Island, located only 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, is a great place to visit while in Victoria. The main attraction of Phillip Island is the Phillip Island Nature Park, where you can see the fairy penguins come to shore after their day of fishing. The Park also has displays of koala and wild sea birds in their natural environment. Other attractions of Phillip Island are the many swimming beaches, camping grounds, and restaurants. Another draw of Phillip Island is the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, where you can watch live races and learn about the history of motor racing.
Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road hugs the contours of Victoria’s south west coast. In this region you will find laid-back coastal towns, stunning natural beauty, and rich maritime history. Many people journey down the Great Ocean road to surf at its various beaches. Another allure of the Great Ocean road is the Twelve Apostles, beautiful rock stacks that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean. Other natural attractions include London Bridge, Bay of Islands, Lord Ard Gorge, and a plethora of national parks.
Torquay, Victoria’s surfing capital, is the place where Ripcurl and many of the surfwear shops originated. Torquay has many protected family beaches, but also has some great surfing beaches. Bells Beach, famous for its big swells, is the next beach up from Torquay.
Apollo Bay, like most other towns on the Great Ocean Road, revolves around the beach. Besides swimming and surfing, Apollo Bay is the base to explore Otway National Park and waterfalls.
Port Fairy is a historic seaside township located on the Great Ocean Road. The town is known for its fishing fleets, rich architectural heritage, and natural beauty.
Goldfields The Goldfields contain Victoria’s biggest gold heritage. In this region you will find historic towns filled with sandstone architecture, grand streetscapes, and colonial homesteads and gardens. Goldfields also offers excellent eateries, museums, and art galleries.
Bendigo is a charming regional city that has historic buildings, century-old gardens, and established trees. You can walk down the streets of Bendigo exploring the cafés, art galleries, and antique stores.
Ballarat is Victoria’s second largest inland city. Ballarat was also a prime goldrush town during the nineteenth century. There are many historical sites and museums in Ballarat, as well as art galleries, restaurants, and vineyards. The local wineries specialise in chardonnay and pinot noir.
Grampians The Grampians are a beautiful mountain range that features over 160 kilometres of walking trails, waterfalls, scenic look-outs, wildlife, and seasonal wildflowers. Known for its unique rock formations, the Grampians are an excellent place for adventure sports and the enjoyment of nature. There are many small towns and camping sites situated in and around the Grampians.
Legends, Wine & High Country Legends, Wine, and High Country is best known for its beautiful landscapes, excellent food and wine, and great skiing! In this region, you will find rich history, ski resorts, and country living.
Beechworth is an historic town in the Legends, Wine, & High Country. You can explore some of Australia’s richest goldfields and sample wine at one of the many vineyards. Beechworth is also the town where Ned Kelly stood trial.
The Ski Fields offers some of the best skiing in Australia. The ski resorts in the Ski Fields have steep slopes for down-hill skiing as well as flat terrain for cross-country skiing.
Gippsland Gippsland occupies Victoria’s eastern corner and offers some of the state’s finest landscapes. A lot of people travel to Gippsland to hike through the national parks, explore the beaches, and enjoy a variety of water sports. Gippsland also has fine restaurants, cheesmakers, farmers’ markets, and fruit and dairy farms.
Lakes Entrance, located only 319 kilometres east from Melbourne, has the largest inland network of waterways in Australia. Another feature of Lakes Entrance is the idyllic Ninety Mile Beach.
Paynesville is a charming village located on the Gippsland Lakes. The town offers many boating activities, from fishing to waterskiing, jet boating to dolphin watching.
Wilsons Promontory is one of Victoria’s best known attractions. Located on the southernmost tip of Australia, Wilsons Promontory is renowned for its natural splendour. You will find national parks, secluded beaches, cool fern gullies, great views, spectacular rock formations, and an abundance of wildlife.
The Murray The Murray region of Victoria borders New South Wales and shares the mighty Murray River with its northern neighbour. The Murray offers beautiful wetlands and beaches, great food and drink, and vibrant river life.
Echuca-Moama is one of Victoria’s oldest river towns. Here you can discover the historic port of Echuca, the Murray and Darling Rivers, and much more. Echuca-Moama is a great place for water-skiing, swimming, houseboat holidays, and cruises.
Mildura is another popular destination in the Murray region. Mildura is a watery oasis in the desert outback. In this town you will find citrus groves and vineyards, as well as many award-winning restaurants and bars.
