10 Best Places To Visit In Victoria

Although it might be Australia’s second smallest state, Victoria is still overflowing with places to explore and a whole range of diverse landscapes sitting side by side.

With an epic coastline and some of the best drives in the world along the southern coast, to mountain ranges, rainforests, an abundance of native wildlife and Australia’s longest river running along the northern border, each region of Victoria offers something unique and different to anywhere else in Australia.

Victoria is also our home state, so we have spent many years exploring all it’s nooks and crannies and refining a list of our favourite places in the state.

Plan your next visit with our list of the best places to visit in Victoria.

When to visit Victoria

If you’re thinking of that year round summer Australia has a reputation for, you’re not going to find it in Victoria. There is definitely a winter season in Victoria, especially in the bottom half of the state. In fact, Victoria is infamous for offering four seasons in one day, where you can often experience sunshine, wind and rain all on the same day.

In the summer time Victoria offers a dry heat, with temperatures that range between about 25°C and 35°C or above. There are often heatwaves during the summer time, where temperatures can soar to above 40°C for a few days in a row, but cool patches are also just as common.

In winter time the weather can stay under or around 10°C for weeks at a time, with grey skies and super short days. There are some great snowfields around the state, where ski conditions are often pretty good throughout the whole ski season. Always take a jacket with you, you never know what you’re going to get.

The best time to visit Victoria in our opinion would definitely be during the summer months. When the days are longer, nights are warm and ocean swims aren’t going to freeze you to your bones, everything comes to life in Victoria in the summer time.

1. The Great Ocean Road

A favourite of anyone who visits Victoria, the Great Ocean Road is world famous for it’s scenic coastal drives, epic surf beaches and number of natural attractions that you won’t find anywhere else in Australia.

Stretching from the coastal town of Torquay all the way along the coast to Warrnambool, there’s precisely 243 kilometres of coastline to explore, winding you inland through incredible rainforests and then back out to the ocean to find Victoria’s best beaches.

Great Ocean Road Highlights

• The 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge near Port Campbell
• Kennett River Koala Walk 
• Teddy’s Lookout in Lorne
• Memorial Arch Lookout just out of Torquay
• Great Otway National Park
• Waterfall hopping around Lorne
• Rip Curl Pro Surf Competition at Bells Beach
• Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet

Check out the best places to stay along the Great Ocean Road

2. Murray River

Creating the boarder between Victoria and New South Wales, the Murray River runs almost the whole way along the top of Victoria and boasts more sunny days than anywhere else in Australia. No matter what time of the year you visit, you’re likely to get some sunshine at least for a bit of your visit!

This is a great place to take your first camping trip, where you can get out and about in nature, enjoy life at a slower pace and see a completely different side of Australia. There are lots of great places along the Murray River to free camp, so it can also be a super cheap option for a quick getaway.

Murray River Highlights

• The Port of Echuca & Murray River Paddlesteamers
• Koala spotting at Ulupna Island
• Margaritas at Cactus Country in Strathmerton
• Year round sunshine in Mildura

Book now: Experiences along the Murray River

3. Melbourne

The capital city of Victoria, Melbourne is known for being a pretty unique and diverse city in Australia. Full of hidden lane ways, delicious artesian coffee, great entertainment and the home of sport in Australia, there’s so much here to keep you busy.

There are graffiti filled alley ways, unique boutiques on every corner, underground restaurants and an oversupply of rooftop cocktail gardens. Melbourne has perfected the art of Instagrammable locations, hidden secrets and how good it feels to be in the know when you find one of the cities hidden gems.

Melbourne Highlights

• Watch an AFL game at the MCG
• Check out some of the live comedy shows
• Shop the boutiques in as many hidden lane ways as you can find
• Take a walk or a cruise along the Yarra River that winds through the city
• Check out the views from the Eureka Skydeck
• Take a hot air balloon ride over the city
• Visit some of the best markets for unique finds

If you have some extra time make sure you get out of the CBD and explore some of the surrounding suburbs to check out more of a locals view of Melbourne. Just a short train or tram ride from the city South Yarra, Prahran, St Kilda, Richmond and Collingwood all offer their own super unique vibe, with heaps of trendy hot spots to check out.

Book your stay in Melbourne HERE

4. The Grampians

For some of Victoria’s most dramatic landscapes, beautiful hiking trails and incredible lookouts, the Grampians is not to be missed. This stunning mountain range rises out of nowhere in the farmland of Victoria and offers so much to explore.

Base yourself in the close by town of Halls Gap and immerse yourself in the abundance of wildlife, Aboriginal history, tumbling waterfalls and long winding hiking trails that the Grampians has to offer.

Grampians Highlights

• Boroka Lookout
• The Pinnacle Walk & Lookout
• Reeds Lookout & The Balconies
• Mount William Summit
• Mackenzie Falls

Explore more of the best hikes, lookouts and waterfalls around the Grampians.

5.  Mornington Peninsula

A coastline full of beautiful bays, the Mornington Peninsula differs from the Great Ocean Road because it still lies inside Port Phillip Bay. Because of this there are no epic surf breaks or tumbling waves, but there are a row of because offering pristine calm water, that is truly a beautiful shade of blue.

Mornington Peninsula is also home to all those cute little colourful bathing boxes that you can find along most of the beaches in the area. Make sure to visit beaches on both the bay and ocean side of the Mornington Peninsula for the best look at the area, with the ocean beaches offering plenty of rock pools to explore.

There’s also a whole bunch of inland experiences to check out in the Mornington Peninsula, with everything from hot springs to wineries in the region that will keep you coming back for more.

Mornington Peninsula Highlights

• Sorrento Back Beach
• Cliff jumping at Mount Martha
• Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs
• Safety Beach Bay Trail
• Diamond Bay & Number 16 Beach
• Check out the tip of the bay at Point Nepean

Book now: Where to stay along the Mornington Peninsula 

6. Yarra Valley

Known around the world for it’s magnificent wineries, the Yarra Valley is sure to keep you entertained, and a little bit buzzed for your whole visit. There are so many beautiful places to explore in this little area, it’s really incredible.

Each winery is more impressive than the last with beautiful decor, delicious wines to taste and sweeping views over the vineyards. The region also offers a range of delicious local produce, with everything on offer here from cheese to chocolate.

YUM.

Yarra Valley Highlights

• Winery hopping around the valley – some of our favourites include Zonzo, Stones of the Yarra Valley and Domain Chandon
• Alowyn Gardens
• Healesville Sanctuary
• Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice-creamery
• Yarra Valley Dairy

Check out the best places to stay in the Yarra Valley

7. Wilsons Promontory

Located at the southernmost tip of Australia’s mainland, Wilsons Promontory offers visitors a little bit of everything you might be looking for in Victoria. Surrounded by stunning coastlines, full of white sand beaches, Wilsons Prom is also home to thick bushland, huge granite mountains and lots of native Aussie wildlife.

Wilsons Promontory is a great place to disconnect from the world for a few days – take a multi day hike to the untouched side of the island, where you can sleep in little camp spots along the way before reaching the most beautiful and deserted beaches in the park.

Wilsons Promontory Highlights

• Squeaky Beach & Squeaky Beach Track
• Picnic Bay & Whiskey Bay
• Prom Wildlife Walk
• The Complete Southern Prom Hike
• Little Waterloo Bay
• Overnight Camp in Wilsons Prom

8. Mount Hotham

There are a few different snowfields in Victoria, but Mount Hotham is arguably the biggest and the best. Offering stunning views over the snow capped mountains, Hotham sits high above the rest of the mountain ranges in the area, giving you incredible views as you ski down the mountains.

Top off your experience with a sleep over in the snow at Alpine Nature Experience, where you can sleep in the snow in your very own super cute teepee after a delicious cheese fondue and wine evening. It’s the perfect winter escape.

Other snowfields to visit in Victoria

• Mount Buller
• Falls Creek
• Mount Buffalo
• Mount Baw Baw
• Lake Mountain

Book now: Best accommodation deals in Mount Hotham

9. The High Country

In the north-east of Victoria you will find the High Country, a great little pocket of Victoria that’s full of national parks, Victoria’s highest mountains, lakes, snow resorts, vineyards and wineries and a rich history including gold discovery, cattlemen and bushrangers.

There are heaps of different places to explore in the High Country, from the snowfields in the winter time, to country towns surrounded by waterfalls, hidden rock pools, crystal clear rivers and incredible scenic drives.

If you have the chance, make sure you visit the High Country in both summer and winter. The region is extremely different in each season, although both are just as magical as each other, offering vastly different experiences.

Some of the top towns to visit in the High Country include Bright, Eildon, Myrtleford and Harrietville.

10. Phillip Island

Offering everything from stunning white sand surf beaches to adrenaline sports and an abundance of wildlife, including the world famous little penguins, Phillip Island has a lot more than meets the eye.

This little Victorian island is full of secret hot spots that get you out and about in nature. There are incredible nature hikes, deserted beaches, animal sanctuaries and even a whole bunch of different festivals during the holidays.

Phillip Island Highlights

• Watch the Penguin Parade
• Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
• Visit the Koala Conservation Centre
• Explore Cape Woolamai
• Check out the Nobbies Ocean Discovery

Check out the best places to stay on Phillip Island

No matter where you decide to visit, you’re sure to have a great time exploring a little more of Victoria. It might be Australia’s second smallest state, but it’s still bigger than all of the United Kingdom, so there’s still plenty to see.

If you have a favourite place in Victoria that we haven’t mentioned in this post we’d love to check it out. Make sure you drop us a comment or send us a DM or email with the details!

Explore more of our adventures around Victoria

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Happy travels,



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