Victoria

Although the smallest state on mainland Australia, Victoria overflows with unique travel experiences – from its fascinating pioneer past to diverse natural and cultural landmarks throughout. Highlights include the cosmopolitan capital Melbourne and the iconic Great Ocean Road, but Victoria is also home to historic goldfields, superb national parks, famous surf beaches, award-winning wineries, popular regional cities and towns, plus so much more. The southern state awaits your Club with open arms.

MELBOURNE

Welcome to Melbourne, truly one of the world’s most liveable cities and a cultural centrepiece of the nation. In Victoria’s thriving capital, access an unrivalled array of art, architecture, sport, food, public gardens, shopping and entertainment. Explore laneways and street art, discover Victorian-era arcades, watch a sporting contest at the MCG, or spend time enjoying international cuisine at world-class eateries.

Admire the old buildings…

The city of Melbourne is scattered with interesting heritage architecture. Must-see buildings include Parliament House (opened in 1856), the atmospheric Forum Theatre (built in 1929), iconic Flinders Street Station, the State Library of Victoria (established in 1854), the lavish ‘Gothic Bank’ on the corner of Collins and Queen Streets, and the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building (completed in 1880) – the first building in the country to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

The Old Treasury Building on Spring Street – built in 1858-62 as a home for the Treasury Department of the Government of Victoria as well as the Governor In Council – is one of the city’s finest 19th-century buildings (oldtreasurybuilding.org.au). Probians can visit the exciting museum, which showcases the history of Melbourne and Victoria, and take a one-hour tour to view areas of the historic building that are inaccessible to the general public.

…and the new ones

Melbourne’s modern architecture stands out as well, including the impressive National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) building (ngv.vic.gov.au), built in 1968, and Eureka

1. The Old Treasury Building is one of Melbourne’s finest examples of 19th century architecture

2. The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public art gallery

AT A GLANCE

Old Treasury Building

03 9651 2233 oldtreasurybuilding.org.au

National Gallery of Victoria

03 8620 2222 ngv.vic.gov.au

Tower featuring Melbourne Skydeck, the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere (melbourneskydeck.com.au), located on the 88th floor almost 300 metres above the ground. It perhaps goes without saying, but the views from the Skydeck are truly breathtaking.

There are many more eccentric buildings to see as well, from opinion-dividing Federation Square (fedsquare.com) to the optical-illusion exterior of the Port 1010 Building on La Trobe Street and the striking RMIT Design Hub (designhub.rmit.edu.au) – covered in 17,000 automated circular glass panels that rotate according to the weather forecast.

Unlock Chinese history

The Chinese Museum is located in the Melbourne CBD’s Chinatown and aims to preserve Chinese culture throughout Australian history, and to celebrate the identity of Chinese-Australian people. The museum offers special guided tours and programs for groups of 10 or more where you can re-create life on the goldfields in the 1850s, discover three generations of Melbourne’s processional dragons and learn about the diverse histories of Chinese migrants (chinesemuseum.com.au).

See the best of the north-west

If your group fancies getting away from the CBD, a trip to Melbourne’s north-west will help you uncover a few hidden gems. Make your way to Keilor Village for a halfday at Overnewton Castle – built as a functional colonial homestead in 1849 but later transformed into a miniature Scottish Baronial Castle in the Victorian Tudor style (overnewtoncastle.com.au). Members can join a historic tour of the castle before enjoying a delightful high tea experience in its immaculate gardens.

A short drive away you’ll find the 300-acre Organ Pipes National Park – located at the easternmost edge of one of the world’s largest ancient volcanic lava flows – where amazing basalt columns hang on a cliff face over Jacksons Creek. Members can marvel at the unique geological formations from different walking paths and lookouts before relaxing with a picnic.

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AT A GLANCE

1. Watch the sun set over Melbourne from the Eureka Tower Skydeck

2. Overnewton Castle, built in 1849, is truly a sight to behold

3. Organ Pipes National Park awaits on Melbourne’s north-west outskirts

Melbourne Skydeck

03 9693 8888 melbourneskydeck.com.au

RMIT Design Hub

designhub.rmit.edu.au

Federation Square

03 9655 1900 fedsquare.com

Chinese Museum

03 9662 2888 chinesemuseum.com.au

Overnewton Castle

03 9331 6367 overnewtoncastle.com.au

BARWON & GREAT SOUTH COAST

Making your way south-west from Melbourne through Barwon, your Club will love the opportunity to take in Victoria’s celebrated Surf Coast. Further along the Great Ocean Road, soak up stunning views all the way to Port Campbell, then on to the seafaring city of Warrnambool, the charming village of Port Fairy and the lighthouse on Griffiths Island.

Experience Gunditjmara country

Take a guided cultural tour of Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, one of the largest and oldest aquaculture networks in the world. Covering an estimated 7,000 square kilometres, Gunditjmara Country occupies the south-western corner of Victoria. The site is UNESCO World Heritage listed for its outstanding universal value, with its ancient aquaculture systems first constructed at least 6,600 years ago. The region is renowned for its age-old lava flows and life-filled waterways, as well as the remains of over 300 Aboriginal stone houses. Here you’ll discover a vibrant Indigenous culture through shared stories and see the landscape through Gunditjmara eyes from raised boardwalks designed to highlight and preserve the precious natural environment (budjbim.com.au).

Travel the Shipwreck Coast

Forming part of the Great Ocean Road, the Shipwreck Coast spans around 130km from Moonlight Head – believed to be the headland seen by Captain Matthew Flinders from the Investigator during a break in poor weather in April, 1802 – to the small fishing village of Port

1. The Cape Otway Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia and arguably its most significant

2. Take a guided walk of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape to learn more about the Gunditjmara people, culture and relationship with the land Fairy. Home to the famous limestone formations, the Twelve Apostles, this dramatic and intriguing stretch of coast is thought to have around 700 shipwrecked vessels submerged in its waters. The anchors of two ships that ran aground, Marie Gabrielle and the Fiji, are visible from Wreck Beach. Members may choose to visit the Cape Otway Lighthouse, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Beacon of Hope’ due to its pivotal role guiding ships to land along the treacherous coastline. Your Club can experience the highlights of this remarkable coastline with AAT Kings’ Great Ocean Road & the Twelve Apostles full-day tour (aatkings.com).

AT A GLANCE

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

03 4504 2193 budjbim.com.au

AAT Kings’ Great Ocean Road & the Twelve Apostles full-day tour

1300 300 911 aatkings.com/tours

WIMMERA MALLEE

Widely regarded as the agricultural heart of Victoria, Wimmera Mallee is the state’s very own wild west. The region is home to charming townships, natural wonders and a variety of rural attractions – from the rugged Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park to the increasingly popular Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail between Rupanyup and Goroke, through sheep and wool farming territory. Your Club will experience the best of the Wimmera Mallee Region – including silo murals, salt lakes, homesteads and sunsets – on a 5-day, 4-night coach tour with Trade Travel (tradetravel.com.au).

Visit the pioneer museum in Jeparit

If you love a good museum, the Wimmera-Mallee Pioneer Museum is definitely one to add to the list. Nestled on the banks of the Wimmera River in Jeparit, the four-hectare grounds of the museum are home to authentic early pioneer buildings with an extensive range of heritage collections including domestic items and agricultural equipment. The museum features the Albacutya Homestead, originally built on Albacutya Run, the region’s first sheep station.

Make your way to Murtoa

A quaint country town built around tranquil Lake Marma, Murtoa packs a whole lot of punch for a place with a population of less than 1,000. Here you can visit the Stick Shed, previously Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store and the only remaining grain store built during World War II. Learn the story behind its unique construction – it gets its name from the 560 unmilled, 19-metre-high Mountain Ash poles, or ‘sticks’, that support its structure – and the role it has played in both wartime history and Australian history more generally (thestickshed.com.au). While you’re in Murtoa, arrange a tour of the Murtoa Water Tower Museum or head up the road to Rupanyup to Woods’ Farming & Heritage Museum.

1. The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is renowned for its striking sandstone mountain ranges

2.Admire the unique timber pole construction of Murtoa’s Stick Shed

Fly through the decades in Nhill

Established to capture the town of Nhill’s proud aviation history, the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre pays ongoing tribute to the 10,000-plus young men and women who trained and worked at the Nhill RAAF Base during World War II (nhillaviationheritagecentre.com.au). The site is currently home to five aircraft including an airworthy Tiger Moth and an almost completely rebuilt Avro Anson – a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served in numerous air forces.

Trade Travel 5-day 4-night Wimmera Mallee tour

1800 034 439 tradetravel.com.au

Wimmera-Mallee Pioneer Museum

03 5397 2101

AT A GLANCE

Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre

0490 657 770 nhillaviationheritage centre.com.au

Murtoa Water Tower Museum

0437 920 734

The Stick Shed

0434 227 921 stickshed.com.au

Woods Farming & Heritage Museum

0427 159 154

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS & LODDON CAMPASPE

The Central Highlands and Loddon Campaspe, sitting alongside north-west Melbourne, is home to the historic Victorian Goldfields and the famous story of the Eureka Stockade. Beyond the bustling regional cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, don’t miss out on natural highlights like Lerderderg State Park.

Wander around Kyneton

Situated in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Kyneton is an ideal base from which to explore the region’s diverse landscapes, but the picturesque town is a special destination in its own right. Historic Piper Street is lined with new and vintage clothing boutiques, homewares, art galleries and garden nurseries, while Mollison and High Streets are where you’ll find an assortment of gifts and books. Alternatively, set off for a stroll under the shade of the oak trees on the Campaspe River walk.

At the Kyneton Museum – housed in a Heritage Victoria listed building that was built in 1856 as a bank – members can see an excellent mix of collections and changing exhibitions in the original banking chamber, while outdoor exhibits include original bluestone stables.

In September each year, the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival is a highlight of the region’s exciting annual events calendar for locals and visitors alike. The festival program includes the popular One Act Plays, art and photography exhibitions, crafts, antiques and the always-fun Dog Dash (kynetondaffodilarts.org.au).

Escape to Hepburn Springs

Ready to put your feet up and relax in style? It’s time for a trip to the ‘spa capital’ of Australia. In the resort town of Hepburn Springs – situated in the middle of the country’s largest concentration of mineral springs – members can truly unwind as they soak up health-giving minerals at one of many popular bathhouses. There are a number of leisurely walks to enjoy at Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, the Mount Franklin Loop, and The Blowhole – a small, circular tunnel cut by gold miners through the side of the hill on Sailors Creek that blows hard when the river rises.

Step back in time in Ballarat

History abounds in Ballarat. Pan for gold at Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum that brings to life the gold rush of the 1850s (sovereignhill.com.au). Visit the Eureka Centre, located on the site of the Eureka Stockade, the famous miners’ rebellion that occurred in 1854. It features the Eureka Flag, one of Australia’s most compelling historical artefacts (eurekacentreballarat.com.au). Or go even further back in history at Kryal Castle, a replica medieval castle with knights, live shows and even jousting (kryalcastle.com.au).

1. Old-time musicians perform on the side of the streets at Sovereign Hill, an open-air museum depicting life during the 1850s Gold Rush

2. Enjoy the colourful sights and sounds of the annual Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival

3. The famous Eureka Flag on display at Ballarat’s Eureka Centre

AT A GLANCE

Kyneton Musem

03 5422 1228

Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival

kynetondaffodilarts.org.au

Sovereign Hill

03 5337 1199 sovereignhill.com.au

Eureka Centre

03 5333 0333 eurekacentreballarat.com.au

Kryal Castle

03 5334 8500 kryalcastle.com.au

GIPPSLAND

The diverse region of Gippsland, which extends from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs all the way to the New South Wales border, welcomes nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and those with an interest in heritage architecture or fine wine. Highlights include the Mornington Peninsula, Wilsons Promontory National Park and fabulous Phillip Island, but there’s so much to see beyond the well-known destinations.

Discover heritage towns

Gippsland is home to wonderful old towns and original goldmining communities. Visit Walhalla, a lovingly restored town at the base of the Great Dividing Range, where some of the world’s richest gold mines once welcomed over 4,000 gold seekers. Soak in the scenery on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway as you weave your way through picturesque Stringers Gorge (walhallarail.com.au). Elsewhere, check out Port Albert, a major port in the early days of settlement carrying supplies shipped in for the goldfields, and the open-air Coal Creek Community Park and Museum at the recreated coal mining village of Coal Creek (coalcreekcommunityparkandmuseum.com).

Tour the Tarra Valley

The Tarra Valley is a magical rainforest in the Strzelecki Ranges, a set of low mountain ridges located in the West Gippsland and South Gippsland regions. In Tarra-Bulga National Park, visitors can wander many beautiful walking paths through giant mountain ash trees and ancient myrtle beeches. Make sure you get as far as Corrigan Suspension Bridge, which stretches through the rainforest canopy, affording incredible views of the lush fern gully on the forest floor below.

Sample South Gippsland

There are more than 20 cool climate wineries to visit in the wine regions of South and Central Gippsland. At awardwinning Toms Cap Vineyard (tomscapvineyard.com.au), nestled high in the Strzelecki Ranges, members can absorb sublime views of Ninety Mile Beach while tasting one of the region’s finest drops. If you have time to explore, add an afternoon at cascading Agnes Falls or hop aboard a boat to cruise the man-made canal from the Port of Sale to the iconic La Trobe Swing Bridge, built in 1883 by the Victorian Government and the oldest surviving swing bridge in Australia.

See all that Phillip Island has to offer

It may be known for its Penguin Parade, but there’s so much more to Phillip Island. Immerse yourself in nature as you wander the wetlands of Rhyll Inlet and spot wading birds that have flown in from thousands of miles away. Remember, interpret and understand the experience of veterans of Australia’s longest war at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum (vietnamvetsmuseum.org). Or, to see it all from above, absorb the beautiful landscape and majestic Victorian coastline on a flight with Phillip Island Helicopters (pih.com.au).

AT A GLANCE

1. All aboard the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, which departs historic Walhalla for an unforgettable Gippsland rail journey

2. The National Vietnam Veterans Museum on Phillip Island is an independent museum dedicated to the heritage and legacy of our Vietnam War veterans

3. A beautiful sulphurcrested cockatoo with its keeper at Healesville Sanctuary

Walhalla Goldfields Railway

03 5165 6280 walhallarail.com.au

Coal Creek Community Park and Musem

03 5655 1811 coalcreekcommunity parkandmuseum.com

Toms Cap Vineyard

03 5194 2215 tomscapvineyard.com.au

National Vietnam Veterans Museum

03 5956 6400 vietnamvetsmuseum.org

Phillip Island Helicopters

03 5956 7316 pih.com.au

Healesville Sanctuary

1300 966 784 zoo.org.au/healesville

Blue Lotus Water Garden

03 5967 2061 bluelotusfarm.com.au

YARRA VALLEY & DANDENONG RANGES

For fine wine, gourmet produce, lovely mountain vistas and tranquil forest walks, look no further than the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges – located less than an hour’s drive east of Melbourne. Discover the magic of the Dandenongs on a scenic drive along the region’s winding roads, stopping for relaxation and refreshment at award-winning wineries and boutique eateries.

Head to Healesville Sanctuary

Explore a bushland haven for Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary, where an expert ranger will be waiting to share stories of unique and unusual native wildlife. The sanctuary is nestled near Coranderrk Bushland Reserve, a restricted area of native vegetation that protects 250+ species of birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs and fish (zoo.org.au/healesville).

See splendid seasonal gardens

One of Australia’s premier seasonal gardens awaits Club members at the Blue Lotus Water Garden, Yarra Junction, open from 26 December to mid-April each year. Spanning 14 acres, the tropical-themed gardens are home to more than 40 different ponds, lakes and water features – producing the largest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. The grounds also contain an impressive array of exotic plants, garden exhibits, floral sculptures, fountains, scenic walks and more (bluelotusfarm.com.au).

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GOULBURN & OVENS MURRAY

There’s plenty to savour on a glorious getaway to the Goulburn and Ovens Murray region in north-east Victoria. From your base in Bright or Beechworth, explore other nearby towns, visit local wineries, or simply enjoy the fresh air and lovely vistas as you take it easy in the highlands.

Spend time in Beechworth

Charming Beechworth is a jewel in the crown of eastern Victoria. The well-preserved historic town is known for its significant growth during the gold rush days of the mid1850s, but these days Beechworth is also worth visiting for its acclaimed food and wine scene as well the welcoming hospitality at its cafes, pubs, restaurants and breweries. On a walking tour, members can visit the Beechworth Historic Precinct featuring the Burke Museum, Courthouse, Telegraph Station and more – each with its own unique stories to share. Or put the ‘bee’ in Beechworth with a visit to the Beechworth Honey Shop, which hosts over 40 Australian single varietal honeys to taste (beechworthhoney.com.au).

1. Probians enjoy a tour of the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail, stopping here at Devenish

2. Have a sweet time at Beechworth Honey Shop trying over 40 varietals of Australian honey

3. Don’t miss the historic Beechworth Courthouse

Roll along to Ovens Valley

In north-east Victoria’s alpine region, a journey through Ovens Valley will not disappoint. The Ovens River, flanked by sandy beaches, is popular for swimming, canoeing and fishing. From farm gate to restaurant, the seasonal produce here is also truly mouth-watering. For a taste of what the area has to offer, visit Pepo Farms, home of the Australian Pumpkin Seed Company – the country’s first and only pumpkin seed growers and producers of fine artisan oils (pepofarms.com.au).

AT A GLANCE

Burke Museum Beechworth

03 5728 8067

Beechworth Courthouse

03 5728 8066

Beechworth Telegraph Station

03 5728 8065

Beechworth Honey Shop

02 6033 2322 beechworthhoney.com.au

Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre

03 5750 1660 brightartgallery.org.au

North East Victoria Silo Art Trail

bit.ly/3fjaAmh

Pepo Farms (Australian Pumpkin Seed Company)

03 5752 1199 pepofarms.com.au

Hara House (formerly Ovens Valley Motor Inn)

03 5755 2022 harahouse.com.au

For a longer stay, keep an eye out for Hara House, formerly the Ovens Valley Motor Inn, a recently redeveloped and reimagined boutique accommodation that’s reopening in 2023 (ovensvalleymotorinn.com.au). It’s only a few kilometres from the Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre (brightartgallery.org.au).

Follow the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail

Silo art displays have emerged all over Australia, and northeast Victoria has some of the best. Starting in Benalla, this self-driven trip heads north through Goorambat, Devenish, St James and Tungamah before looping back down for a sixth stop in Winton Wetlands. Visit bit.ly/3fjaAmh to download the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail map. ■

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