Discover Melbourne & Victoria
Legend Key
- Luxury
- Boutique
- Coastal
- Food & Wine
- Wildlife
- Indigenous
Melbourne & Victoria
Stylish and festive Melbourne, the gateway to the Australian State of Victoria, is one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities with wide boulevards, fine historic buildings and striking contemporary architecture surrounded by numerous parks and gardens. With a lively passion for eating and drinking, a packed festivals and events calendar together with wide range of quality theatres, art galleries, museums and fabulous shopping, Melbourne has all the ingredients for one of the most enlightened and liveable cities in the world.
Within easy and relatively short distances from Melbourne, Victoria's regions are packed with a diversity of natural attractions from beautiful and pristine national parks, to stunning coastal rock formations and magnificent beaches. In just one day's drive you can enjoy the mountains, rainforest, coastline, native animals, heritage, vineyards and indigenous art.
Escape to boutique accommodation in intriguing villages, secluded country locations or wonderful spas, or for the more adventurous or activity minded there is plenty on offer including bushwalking, cycling, golf, rock climbing, horse riding and surfing.
Melbourne
A city with world class events, festivals, shopping, food and wine, and a fabulous arts scene.
Great Ocean Road
Stunning ocean views, beachside activities, laidback coastal towns and maritime villages.
Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges
Victorian fine wine and tall forests under an hour from Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula
Vineyards with sea views, olive groves, fabulous local restaurants and craft markets.
Phillip Island
Get close to nature, a haven for lovers of wildlife and watersports, home to the little penguins.
Grampians
Superb native wildlife and national parks, great adventure activities.
Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
Everything you need for an indulgent few days.
Goldfields
Spectacular historic towns, architecture and gold history.
Gippsland
Coastal wilderness, national parks, mountain streams and spectacular touring routes.
High Country
Nature based activities, food and wine in an alpine landscape.
The Murray
Home to Australia's longest river, deserts and wetlands.
Self drive routes
Great Southern Touring Route
See awesome coastal cliffs, towering rock stacks, rugged mountain ranges, famous surf beaches and underground gold mines.
Melbourne to Sydney
Take in the beauty of the coastline between Melbourne and Sydney. Discover national parks, wildlife, surf beaches and pristine lakes.
Capital & Country
Gold rush and pioneering history and heritage, paddlesteamers, great food and wine linking Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney.
Great Alpine Road
For the nature lover and adventurous traveller. Mountain vistas, valleys, forest and rivers fabulous local food, cycle, climb or ride on horseback.
Yarra Valley, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula
Valleys, Islands and Peninsula. World class wineries, gourmet food, spectacular scenery, forests and gardens, little penguins, seals and koalas.
Backpacker
Check out the night life, the adventure, thrills and spills, the top things to see and do, and a host of information and tips for travelling and working in Victoria.
Adventure
From adrenalin pumping white water rafting, surfing, rock climbing, paragliding, horse-riding and mountain biking to sea kayaking, flat water rafting, swimming with dolphins and hot air ballooning.
Holiday Offers
Melbourne and the state of Victoria is a "Must See" part of any holiday or visit to Australia, and can be booked through the majority of specialist tour operators and travel agents.
Festivals and Events
October/November
- Spring Racing Carnival & the Melbourne Cup
3 Oct - 22 Nov 2007 - Melbourne International Arts Festival - see the cream of Australian and International theatre, dance, visual arts, opera and music.
11 - 27 Oct 2007 - GMC Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix - see the world's best riders in three Grand Prix classes compete on Phillip Island.
12 - 14 Oct 2007 - Wangaratta Festival of Jazz 2 - 5 Nov 07 - catch high profiled performers perform all styles of jazz and blues. Queenscliffe Music Festival
23 - 25 Nov 07 - Queenscliff Music Festival
23 - 25 Nov 07
December
- Melbourne Boxing Day Test at the MCG
26 - 30 Dec 2007
January
- Australian Open Tennis Championships
14 - 27 Jan 2008 - Skandia Geelong Week, Australia's largest sailing regatta
19 - 28 Jan 2008
February
- The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
22 Feb - 5 Mar 2008 - Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival
16 - 17 Feb 2008 - The Age Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock
24 Feb 2008
March
- 2008 FORMULA 1™ Australian Grand Prix
13 - 16 Mar 2008 - Melbourne International Comedy Festival
13 - 16 Mar 2008
April
- Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
2 - 6 Apr 2008 - Rip Curl Pro
3 - 13 Apr 2008
May
- Warrnambool May Racing Carnival
May 2008
Things to see and do
1. Spend a few days in Melbourne. Take the free City Circle Tram, tour on the back of a Harley Davidson, hire a bike or take to your feet and amble around the many laneways and alleys that lead to a wonderful array of shops, bars and restaurants.
2. Explore Federation Square home to major attractions including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (the home of Australian Art), 'Champions': Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, the National Design Centre and the Melbourne Visitor Centre as well as numerous restaurant and bars.
3. Get close to nature on Phillip Island, see the famous little penguins, koalas, seals and much more at Phillip Island Nature Park.
4. Drive the spectacular Great Ocean Road and take a helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles.
5. Hire a car and drive one of the many excellent touring routes. Victoria is a wonderfully compact state with a diverse range of natural attractions and experiences all within reasonable driving distances of Melbourne.
6. Discover the fascinating history of the gold rush era and the early settlers at Sovereign Hill or visit the old authentic gold mining town of Walhalla.
Getting Here & Around
Flights
Melbourne Airport, 22 kilometres from the city centre, is served by more 25 airlines operating a wide range of international and domestic flights. Domestic airline Jetstar flies into nearby Avalon Airport.
Arriving in Melbourne
The airport is open 24-hours a day and has a number of facilities including a shuttle bus service to the city (Sun bus Shuttle A$21 one way), taxi (A$50) and car rental.
Or, take a taxi which costs around $50 one way into the centre of Melbourne.
Getting Around
Trains servicing country Victoria and interstate routes arrive at Southern Cross Station in the city. Buses stop at the Melbourne Transit Centre, near the top of Swanston Street, the city's main artery. If you're travelling from Tasmania by ferry, you'll dock at Station Pier in Port Melbourne, about four kilometres south-west of the city centre.
Transfers
Sunbus operates a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week service to Avalon & Melbourne Airport.
http://www.sunbusaustralia.com.au/
Car Hire
Discover Victoria's secrets at your own style and pace.
Campervan
Travel around with comfort and ease.
Trains
Major cities and tourist centres in Victoria are serviced by V/LINE, who also run a connecting bus service. The Overland train service from Adelaide is operated by Great Southern Railway Limited and takes between 9 and 12 hours depending on the scheduled stops. CountryLink XPT train service from Sydney to Melbourne takes around 10-11 hours
