Victoria
Victoria Travel Guide
Compact, culture‑rich, and easy to explore. From Melbourne’s laneways and sporting icons to the Great Ocean Road, wine regions, gold‑rush towns, and alpine peaks, use this guide to plan city breaks, regional escapes, accessible experiences, and scenic road trips.
Highlights
- Melbourne: Laneways, cafés, galleries, sport, live music
- Great Ocean Road: Clifftop drive, Twelve Apostles, surf towns
- Yarra Valley: Wineries, hot‑air balloons, wildlife sanctuary
- Mornington Peninsula: Beaches, hot springs, cellar doors
- Grampians (Gariwerd): Rugged ranges, hikes, lookouts, wildlife
- Goldfields: Ballarat and Bendigo heritage streetscapes and museums
- High Country: Alpine towns, cycling trails, snowfields
Major cities and regions
Coast and peninsulas
Getting around
Public transport: Myki card for Melbourne’s trains, trams, and buses. V/Line trains and coaches link regional centres (Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Traralgon, Warrnambool).
Driving: Easy day trips from Melbourne. Road tolls apply on CityLink/EastLink (Linkt). Alpine roads may require chains in winter.
Airports: Melbourne (MEL) Tullamarine; Avalon (AVV) near Geelong for some domestic routes.
Accessibility
Victoria’s major attractions publish detailed access information and many natural sites include accessible paths and lookouts.
- Transport: Level‑access trams on key routes, accessible train stations, low‑floor buses. Regional V/Line services list accessibility features.
- Beaches and trails: Accessible beach matting and wheelchairs in popular spots (St Kilda, Altona, Mornington Peninsula); accessible trails in the Grampians and Yarra Ranges.
- Adult change facilities: Melbourne Airport, major centres, museums, and city precincts. See facilities →
- Parents’ rooms: Major centres and attractions. Melbourne · Geelong
Use the AussieLoo app for real‑time locations, hours, and accessibility filters.
Road trips and scenic drives
- Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles, surf towns, waterfalls
- Great Alpine Road — High Country vistas, Bright, Gippsland
- Yarra Valley & Dandenongs — Wineries, Healesville Sanctuary, mountain ash forests
- Grampians Loop — Lookouts, hikes, and rock art
- Goldfields Circuit — Sovereign Hill, galleries, heritage streets
Events and festivals
- Australian Open — January
- Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix — March/April
- Melbourne Cup Carnival — November
- Moomba Festival — Labour Day weekend
- White Night — Various dates
Sample 5‑day VIC itinerary
- Day 1–2: Melbourne — Laneways, NGV, sports precinct, St Kilda
- Day 3: Yarra Valley — Wineries and Healesville Sanctuary
- Day 4: Mornington Peninsula — Beaches and hot springs
- Day 5: Great Ocean Road — Twelve Apostles and Otways
Practical info
Best time to visit: Spring (Sep–Nov) and autumn (Mar–May) for mild weather. Summer is beach and events season; winter suits alpine trips.
Weather: “Four seasons in a day” in Melbourne — pack layers.
Facilities: For on‑the‑go facilities (accessible toilets, showers, parents’ rooms), use the AussieLoo app.