Highlights
Great Ocean Road
A drive along Great Ocean Road is, without doubt, absolutely dazzling! Snaking 664 kilometres along Victoria’s rugged southwest coast, a recommended self-drive trip takes three days at a comfortable pace. The official starting point is Torquay – birthplace of surf brands Rip Curl and Quicksilver – ending at the fishing village of Port Fairy. Along the journey, look out for the magnificent Twelve Apostles, white-crested surf, misty waterfalls, lush rainforest and wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and whales. Stop at the lookouts and soak up the views, or stop a little longer for clifftop dining, zip-lining adventures and climbs up volcanic craters.
Melbourne
Sophisticated, stylish and arty, Melbourne is Australia’s sports and cultural capital. Explore its wide avenues and leafy lanes, lined with an eclectic mix of Art Deco towers, World Heritage-listed buildings, gourmet restaurants, concert halls, designer shops and edgy street art. There are lots of characterful neighbourhoods, from glitzy to hipster, with a good sprinkling of ethnic communities bringing the likes of Vietnamese food and Jewish bakeries. Sport is almost a religion here – with football, cricket, horse racing, grand-slam tennis and F1 racing – and the city is filled with sports stadiums. Also on the edge of town are the truly stunning Royal Botanical Gardens, while Melbourne is equally passionate about art and hosts festivals, exhibitions and musical extravaganzas throughout the year.
Yarra Valley
Take a journey into Yarra Valley, laden with scenic delights such as Dandenong Ranges National Park, Yarra Ranges National Park, Kinglake National Park, Bunyip State Park and Cathedral Ranges State Park. Along your travels, step inside one or two of the many wine cellars and meet local producers passionate about their world-class plonk, which comes in a range of styles thanks to perfect climatic conditions. Other things to see and do include hiking and cycling along one of the valley’s waymarked trails, visiting the local artist studios or meeting a platypus at Healesville Sanctuary.
Phillip Island
Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, tiny Phillip Island offers non-stop family fun, amazing wildlife, bone-white beaches, excellent fishing and fast-paced motorsports racing. Adventures include seeing penguins and koalas in their natural habitat at the Philip Island Nature Park, swimming, surfing, sunning and sandcastle-building at one of the island’s sleepy, little bays, exploring the island on foot along a coastal path or enjoying a piece of hi-octane action at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.