Australia Tourist AttractionsVictoria
The state of Victoria has so much diversity and beauty. From mountain ranges to spectacular coastlines and beaches to vast bushlands, there is something for every traveler. There are a number of places to see and things to experience.
Don’t miss the following places of interest:
1. The Great Ocean Road
2. The Murray River
3. The Grampians
4. Gippsland
5. Mount Buller
6. Goldfields
For information on traveling in Victoria visit www1.visitvictoria.com.
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a breathtaking roadway along the coast and is the most scenic route to take between Melbourne and Adelaide. The famous Surf Coast is the first stop on the road. Torquay is home to the Rip Curl Surf Pro amongst other national and international surfing events. Torquay is the best place to find deals of surfing gear as most of the big name surf labels are headquartered here and have discount warehouses. Torquay is a great place to base yourself if you plan on spending a lot of time surfing in the area. Bells Beach and Jan Juc Beach are only a short drive away. These are the most famous surf beaches on the coast. Driving west along the coast will take travelers through the small towns of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne, the remaining three towns of the Surf Coast which also boast great surfing beaches.
Apollo Bay is next on the drive west just before the majestic Otway Ranges, an untouched rainforest with long, scenic hiking trails. This is the perfect place to get out of the car to stretch your legs.
Continuing the drive west, the next place to stop is the Twelve Apostles, one of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, in Port Campbell National Park. After the Twelve Apostles, be sure to stop at Loch Ard to learn about one of Australia’s great shipwreck stories. The scenery at Loch Ard is also not to be missed. The Bay of Islands and London Bridge are also excellent scenic stops in the park. The town of Port Campbell is a great place to stop for a bite to eat or even to spend the night.
Warrnambool is one of the larger cities on the coast and has a train station with regular services to Melbourne and Geelong. The historic Port Fairy is notable small town worth stopping in to visit the charming cafes and shops. There is a popular folk festival held here yearly during the Labour Day long weekend.
Portland is the last stop worthwhile stop on the Great Ocean Road. It is the oldest town in Victoria and was once a bustling whaling port. Maritime history is abundant in this small town.
An excellent travel guide to the Great Ocean Road is at www.greatoceanroad.org.
Accommodation on the Great Ocean Road:
Surf Coast
Bells Beach Lodge
51-53 Surf Coast Highway, Torquay
Tel: 03 5261 7070
Anglesea Backpackers
40 Noble Street, Anglesea
Tel: 03 5263 2664
Great Ocean Road Backpackers YHA
10 Erskine Avenue, Lorne
Tel: 03 5289 1809
Apollo Bay to Port Campbell
Apollo Bay Backpackers
47 Montrose Street, Apollo Bay
Tel: 03 5237 7360
Ocean House Backpackers
32 Cairns Street, Port Campbell
Tel: 03 5598 6223
Warrnambool to Portland
Warrnambool Beach Backpackers
17 Stanley Street, Warrnambool
Tel: 03 5562 4874
Eumeralla Backpackers
High Street, Yambuk (near Port Fairy)
Tel: 03 5568 4204
Portland Backpackers Inn
14 Gawler Street, Portland
Tel: 03 5523 6390
Murray River
The Murray River is one of Australia’s longest rivers and follows most of the NSW and Victoria border. The areas around the river are popular camping grounds and summer holiday spots, many visitors rent houseboats to tour the river on. The river holds many events around the year including various kayak and canoe races.
Echuca is the largest city on the river and was once Australia’s largest inland port. There are historic paddleboats to see and old prominent buildings in the town centre. Wander down to the celebrated port to get a taste of what life used to be like decades ago.
Echuca Accommodation
Echuca Gardens Hostel YHA
103 Mitchell Street
Tel: 03 5480 6522
Nomads Oasis Backpackers
410-424 High Street
Tel: 03 5480 7866
Echuca Visitor Information
www.echucamoama.com
www.portofechuca.org.au
Swan Hill has an authentic, recreated pioneer settlement which is the only reason to visit the small town between Echuca and Mildura. For more information visit www.swanhill.vic.gov.au .
Mildura is one of the more isolated towns in Victoria located in the Victorian outback but the vibrant culture in this town makes a visit worthwhile. There is also a surprisingly large airport in the city where flights to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney are offered. Mildura is known for its abundance of fruit picking work and backpackers flock here during harvest time.
Mildura Accommodation
Riverboat Bungalow Backpackers
27 Chaffey Avenue
Tel: 03 5021 5315
Mildura International Backpackers
5 Cedar Avenue
Tel: 03 5021 0133
For more information on Mildura visit www.visitmildura.com.au .
Grampians
The Grampians are situated just north of the Great Ocean Road and are a must see for any trip to Victoria. The mountain range has some of the best views in Australia and is popular with rock climbers and hikers. In addition to physical activities there is a great culture to be found in the Grampians; ancient aboriginal rock art is just one of the drawing attractions. Halls Gap is the main town in the Grampians and the best place for travelers to base themselves.
Mackenzie Falls is one of the great wonders in the Grampians. A beautiful place to take a picnic although can get crowded during peak seasons. The Balconies is another scenic location in the Grampians not to be missed.
Halls Gap Accommodation
Tim’s Place Backpackers
Grampians Road
Tel: 03 5356 4288
Brambuck Backpackers
Dunkeld Road
Tel: 03 5356 4250
Visitor Information
www.thegrampians.com.au
www.visitgrampians.com.au
Gippsland
Gippsland the large area between Melbourne and New South Wales located in Eastern Victoria. It is comprised of stunning coastlines, rugged mountain ranges and beautiful national parkland.
Wilsons Promontory National Park is the main attraction of this area. It is the southern most point of the Australian mainland and is the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria. The Prom, as affectionately termed by locals, has a long aboriginal history and was used thousands of years ago as a starting point to reach Tasmania over the ‘land bridge’ during past Ice Ages. For information on park activities visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au . The only accommodation available in the park is in the form of camping, the main campsite being at Tidal River. Foster is the closest town Wilsons Promontory to find accommodation.
Foster Backpackers
17 Pioneer Street
Tel: 03 5682 2614
Another great attraction in Gippsland is the Gippsland Lakes. There are three spectacular lakes covering a distance of 60km each with their own little islands. Bird life is abundant at the lakes and bird watching is a popular activity for visitors. The best place to stay near the lakes is either at Lakes Entrance or Bairnsdale.
Lakes Main Caravan Park and Hostel
7 Willis Street, Lakes Entrance
Tel: 03 5155 2365
For more information on what Gippsland has to offer visit one of the tourism websites below.
gippsland.com
www.gippslandtourism.com.au
Mount Buller
Mt. Buller is where all avid snowboarders and skiers visit from Melbourne during the winter months, early June to late September. Even during the summer, it is a refreshing break from the bustling city. Mt. Buller has won the “Best Year Round Resort” in Australia for the past two years. The Alpine Resort is 250km north east of Melbourne and can easily be reached by car, bus or, for the high rollers, by helicopter.
There are plenty of activities at Mt. Buller for non-snow enthusiasts as well as for those who can’t wait to hit the slopes. There is the National Alpine Museum of Australia which showcases the history of alpine areas and resorts in Australia from the Aboriginal days to the lumberjacks to present day. There are also boutiques, a cinema, restaurants and spas.
Activities during the summer months include chairlift rides, ballooning, 4WD adventures, tennis, mountain biking, horseriding, climbing and many more.
There is plenty of accommodation to choose from both on and off the mountain.
Mount Buller Accommodation
YHA Lodge
The Avenue, Mt. Buller
Tel: 03 5777 6181
Mansfield Backpackers Inn
112 High Street, Mansfield
Tel: 03 5775 1800
For more information on Mt. Buller activities, facilities, accommodation and everything else visit www.mtbuller.com.au .
The Goldfields
Gold fever hit Victoria more than 150 years ago in the Bendigo and Ballarat area 90 minutes north west of Melbourne. The grand historic buildings in both towns have been well preserved and look as they did at the height of the gold rush.
Ballarat is the largest inland city of Victoria and was where the rush hit the hardest. The best way to take advantage of all of the attractions in Ballarat is to purchase the Eureka pass which allows unlimited entry to Sovereign Hill, Gold Museum, Eureka Centre and Ballarat Fine Art Gallery. Sovereign Hill is the most popular attraction in this town. It is an excellent recreation of a mining town in the 1800’s complete with authentic characters in period costume.
Ballarat Accommodation
Sovereign Hill YHA Hostel
Magpie Street
Tel: 03 5333 3409
Jack’s Place
121 Lydiard Street
Tel: 03 5332 1660
For more information on Ballarat visit the following websites:
www.ballarat.com
www3.visitvictoria.com
www.visitballarat.com.au
Bendigo was home to the richest goldfields in the world in the 1880’s. Today, Bendigo has a bustling local economy with restaurants, shops, museums, wineries and parks. The restored Victorian era buildings in the heart of the city add to the experience in Bendigo. Visit the Bendigo Art Gallery to see a collection of Australian art dating back to the 1850’s, go to the Central Deborah Goldmine and descend underground to explore the old shaft, or browse through one of the numerous antique stores Bendigo has to offer.
Bendigo Accommodation
Buzza’s Bendigo Backpackers YHA
33 Creek Street South
Tel: 03 5443 7680
Nomads Ironbark Bush Cabins
Watson Street
Tel: 03 5448 3344
For more information on Bendigo visit the following websites:
www.bendigovictoria.com.au
www.bendigotourism.com
www3.visitvictoria.com
www.bendigo.vic.gov.au