Victoria

Victoria might be the smallest state on mainland Australia, but its 228,000 square kilometres are absolutely packed with interesting destinations and travel experiences. The south-east state is renowned for its rich history, stunning coastal drives and sensational cuisine, but that’s just the beginning. From the capital city Melbourne, the thriving heartbeat of Victorian culture, to the iconic Twelve Apostles and historic goldfields around Bendigo and Ballarat – not to mention all the national parks, mountains, surf beaches, wineries and quaint coastal or inland towns – Victoria abounds with highlights for every tour group.

MELBOURNE

One of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne is unrivalled for its multi-layered culture covering art, sport, food, shopping and entertainment. Locals and visitors alike relish the cosmopolitan capital’s wide array of attractions and experiences. Your tour group might enjoy the street art, architecture and vibrant atmosphere within metropolitan Melbourne’s impressive grid of streets – laid out by surveyor Robert Hoddle in 1837 – or you might decide to cruise Port Phillip, attend a major sporting event, visit the world-class public gardens and galleries, or explore countless other worthwhile sites throughout this remarkable city.

Take a laneway & landmark walking tour

A walking tour is the best way to experience Melbourne’s fascinating laneways, arcades, eateries and other attractions. Start at Federation Square, a key public events space opposite the striking facade of Flinders Street Station, and get lost in the labyrinth of 19th century laneways brought to life by world-class street art. If the weather turns, head indoors to shop until you drop in one of the beautifully designed Victorian-era arcades. Along the way, stop for a specialty coffee or gourmet snack at one of many quality cafes, restaurants or food markets.

If your members would prefer a guided walking tour, Melbourne just happens to be home to some of the best in the world. Guided walking tours let you uncover the hidden stories behind various landmarks, buildings and gardens, as well as famous people and events. Check out I’m Free Tours (imfree.com.au/melbourne), who can take your group on a fun, leisurely, educational and free (a tip of up to $20 per person is recommended) stroll around the most fascinating parts of the city. Or for something indoors, try a one-hour tour at the Old Treasury Building, where you can view areas of the historic building that are inaccessible to the general public (otb.org.au/tours).

1. Melbourne’s laneways provide endless opportunities for exploration

2. Learn more about Melbourne’s rich sporting heritage on an MCG Tour

3. The National Gallery of Victoria is located on Southbank

4. Discover the Bellarine Railway aboard the Q Train

5. The iconic Twelve Apostles are a must-see on the Great Ocean Road

Experience the MCG

No trip to the capital is complete without visiting the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the world’s great venues for sport and entertainment. Join the masses to cheer at an AFL/WAFL game in winter or a BBL/WBBL T20 cricket contest in summer. If you can’t attend a live event, join an MCG Tour to step onto the hallowed turf and peek inside the player change rooms. And while you’re there, check out the award-winning Australian Sports Museum’s cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences of the nation’s sporting history (australiansportsmuseum.org.au).

See the sights in Southbank

Cross the Yarra River to Southbank where more wonderful highlights await. For panoramic views of the city on another level, take the express lift up to Melbourne Skydeck (melbourneskydeck.com.au), the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation deck. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) (ngv.vic.gov.au), home to a broad collection of Australian and international art and artefacts, as well as changing modern exhibits. Walking south-east, relax at the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens and visit the Shrine of Remembrance war memorial (shrine.org.au).

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BARWON & GREAT SOUTH COAST

Travelling south-west from Melbourne through Barwon, your tour will reach Victoria’s celebrated Surf Coast, where coastal towns and pristine beaches are always the catch of the day. Continuing further along the famous Great Ocean Road, members can enjoy glorious views at every twist and turn – all the way to Port Campbell via the Great Otway National Park. Keep going and you’ll eventually get to the seafaring city of Warrnambool and Logans Beach Whale Watching Platform, then the charming village of Port Fairy and the lighthouse on Griffiths Island.

Get down to Geelong

Stop by the lovely coastal city of Geelong. Walking along the curved Art Deco boardwalk at the redeveloped Geelong Waterfront esplanade, you’ll spot a 19th-century carousel, sea bath, and the colourful Baywalk Bollards sculptures. The National Wool Museum and Geelong Gaol Museum are both worth a visit as well. Head south-east and hop aboard the Q Train (theqtrain.com.au), an award-winning restaurant that travels along the historic Bellarine Railway between Drysdale and Queenscliff.

Drive the Great Ocean Road

Starting in the town of Torquay – a premier surfing destination and the birthplace of iconic brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver – the winding Great Ocean Road takes you on perhaps the most scenic route of unspoilt beauty in

AT A GLANCE

I’m Free Tours (walking tours)

0436 018 633 imfree.com.au/melbourne

Old Treasury Building

03 9651 2233 otb.org.au/tours

National Gallery of Victoria

03 8620 2222 ngv.vic.gov.au

Australian Sports Museum & MCG Tours

03 9657 8879 australiansportsmuseum. org.au

Melbourne Skydeck

03 9693 8888 melbourneskydeck.com.au

Shrine of Remembrance

03 9661 8100 shrine.org.au

The Q Train

03 4238 3930 theqtrain.com.au

Australia. Stop to gaze down at renowned Bells Beach before travelling onwards to Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Johanna Beach.

Admire the Twelve Apostles

Members of your Club will be wowed by the imposing Twelve Apostles, magnificent rock formations rising majestically from the Southern Ocean. For any avid photographers in the group, this is undoubtedly a destination not to be missed. But there’s plenty more to see along this incredible stretch of coastline, including Loch Ard Gorge and Castle Rock.

WIMMERA MALLEE

Go to the Grampians

The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, with its rugged sandstone mountain range about a three-hour drive west of Melbourne, offers some of the best bushwalking terrain in Victoria. From the rich Indigenous history featuring caves with ancient rock art, to the wide array of native Australian plants and animals, there’s so much to see at the Grampians. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch a truly special sunrise or sunset (or both!) at The Balconies, a relatively easy walk to a memorable lookout. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the burgeoning food scene in local towns like Halls Gap and Ararat.

Travel the Silo Art Trail

Make a day (or two) of travelling the Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail – a contemporary route taking you to a growing number of massive murals painted by various artists on traditional silos (siloarttrail.com/home). The trail’s eastern route takes you from Rupanyup to Goroke via Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery, Lascelles, Patchewollock, Albacutya and Kaniva. Your Club would love the 6-day, 5-night Trade Travel (tradetravel.com.au) tour exploring the Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail along with the region’s sheep and wool farming history, salt lakes, river ports and orchards. Members can even go cruising on a paddle steamer.

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS & LODDON CAMPASPE

Situated adjacent to north-west Melbourne is the Central Highlands and Loddon Campaspe, where the fascinating story of the Victorian Goldfields and Eureka Stockade unfolds before your eyes in and around the popular hubs of Ballarat and Bendigo. There’s also natural beauty to enjoy, with rugged Lerderderg State Park offering dramatic views of grassland, forest and the spectacular Lerderderg River Gorge.

1. Get in touch with native wildlife on a visit to the Grampians

2. The Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail is a popular tour destination for Probians

AT A GLANCE

Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail

03 5398 0100 siloarttrail.com/home

Trade Travel 6-day, 5-night Wimmera Mallee Silo Art Trail tour

1800 034 439 tradetravel.com.au

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Join the Gold Rush at Ballarat

Situated about 90 minutes from Melbourne, Ballarat’s mid-19th-century architecture and superbly preserved streetscapes showcase its origins from the Gold Rush era. While Ballarat boomed in the 1850s thanks to the discovery of gold, the city remains an enchanting place to visit to this day. From here you can spend a day at Sovereign Hill, a 25-hectare, immersive open-air museum depicting Ballarat’s first 10 years (sovereignhill.com.au). Visitors can even try panning for real gold. And if that’s not enough to fill your itinerary, there’s also the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park, the site considered the birthplace of Australian democracy.

Day trip to Daylesford

An easy day trip from Ballarat, Daylesford sits on top of an extinct volcano at the foot of the Great Dividing Range. The peaceful spa town is popular for its large concentration of mineral springs, giving members a fine opportunity to put their feet up, relax and recuperate in style. At nearby resort town Hepburn Springs, you can treat yourselves to traditional wellness bathing at a historic bathhouse.

Stay in bustling Bendigo

Bendigo is known for its heritage attractions, goldfieldsera architecture, potteries, Chinese culture, gastronomic delights and more. Embark on a central goldfields discovery with Trade Travel’s 5-day, 4-night tour of Ballarat and Bendigo, which features vintage tram rides, botanical gardens, art galleries, convents, and the largest Buddhist stupa in the Western world.

GIPPSLAND

Extending from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs to the New South Wales border, Gippsland is a diverse region filled with natural wonder including mountains, lakes and more. Here your Club members can make the most of the outdoors with a walk along Ninety Mile Beach or a

1. An old-fashioned grocery store in the re-created mining town of Sovereign Hill

2. Unwind in the geothermal waters of the Mornington’s Peninsula Hot Springs

3. Little Penguins are the star attraction on Phillip Island

4. Picturesque and serene Lake Daylesford bushwalk amongst the delightful dairy-farm country. The southernmost point, Wilsons Promontory National Park, is a standout destination admired for its beaches, bushland and wildlife, while the Mornington Peninsula provides a natural paradise for leisure activities and lookouts.

Unwind on the Mornington Peninsula

Travel one hour south from Melbourne to a splendid corner of Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula. If relaxation is on the agenda, members can spend a day by the beach at Rosebud, Rye, Sorrento or Portsea. Some could opt for a refreshing beverage at the Portsea Hotel overlooking the water. Alternatively, others might relish the chance to soothe their joints at the Peninsula Hot Springs, a day spa oasis flowing with natural geothermal mineral waters (peninsulahotsprings.com). Point Nepean National Park is the perfect place for a laid-back picnic. And at the tip of the peninsula, step into Australian history at Fort Nepean, an important and well-preserved 18th-century fortress with a network of tunnels and World War II battlements.

Visit Phillip Island

People tend to make a beeline from Melbourne to Phillip Island for one special reason – the Penguin Parade. There’s no doubt Club members will fall in love with the adorable Little Penguins as they emerge from the water at dusk and waddle across the sand to find their nightly homes at Summerland Beach (penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade). But there’s more to see and do here for those with time to spend. Car racing enthusiasts will be thrilled to check out the Grand Prix Circuit, while attractions like Forrest Caves, Pyramid Rock Lookout, Red Rock Beach, Cowes Jetty and Phillip Island Wildlife Park offer something for everyone.

AT A GLANCE

Sovereign Hill

03 5337 1199 sovereignhill.com.au

Peninsula Hot Springs

03 5950 8777 peninsulahotsprings.com

Trade Travel 5-day, 4-night Ballarat & Bendigo Central Goldfields Discovery tour

1800 034 439 tradetravel.com.au

Penguin Parade – Phillip Island Nature Parks

03 5951 2830 penguins.org.au/ attractions/ penguin-parade

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YARRA VALLEY & DANDENONG RANGES

AT A GLANCE

Puffing Billy Railway

03 9757 0700 puffingbilly.com.au

Ned Kelly Interpretive Centre

03 5766 2367 glenrowantourist centre.com.au

Sample excellent varieties of wine, food and other fresh local produce in the Yarra Valley, home to some of the finest wineries and vineyards in the state. Drive through the Dandenong Ranges for pleasant walking tracks and stunning mountain landscapes. Your members won’t want to miss Australia’s premier preserved steam railway, Puffing Billy Railway, a splendid open-air vintage train journey built in 1900 to serve the local communities (puffingbilly.com.au).

Look around Lakes Entrance

The coastal town of Lakes Entrance is best known for its connection to the Gippsland Lakes, a vast system of inland waterways. Stretching along the Tasman Sea shoreline, Ninety Mile Beach can be accessed via a pedestrian bridge. Local wildlife to keep an eye out for includes kangaroos, pelicans and, for lucky visitors, dolphins. Your group might also enjoy a trip to Griffiths Sea Shell Museum, which features marine life and coral reef exhibits.

Head to Wilsons Prom

Make your way down to the southernmost point on the Australian mainland to explore Gippsland’s biggest drawcard, Wilsons Promontory – a craggy coastal national park. The peninsular site is known for its hiking tracks, viewpoints and wildlife spotting. Popular natural attractions include Squeaky Beach, Whisky Bay and Tidal River Overlook.

1. Puffing Billy chugs its way through the Dandenong Ranges

2. A six-metre statue of Ned Kelly welcomes (so to speak) visitors to the town of Glenrowan

GOULBURN & OVENS MURRAY

In the north-east of the state, the Goulburn and Ovens Murray region offers a great getaway for any Club keen on a change of pace in small towns surrounded by scenic mountain peaks. Staying in Bright, you can use the town as a base for exploring nearby towns like Beechworth and Glenrowan – home of the Ned Kelly Interpretive Centre (glenrowantouristcentre.com.au) as well as local wineries, breweries and plenty more.

Spend a few nights in Bright

Bright is one of the most charming regional destinations in eastern Victoria, with a rich food and hospitality scene you’ll find hard to leave behind. At the Bright Museum, situated in the town’s former train station, members will learn all about the region’s rail and Gold Rush history. For walkers and cyclists, Bright is also a starting point for the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

Explore the Victorian Alpine Region

From Bright you can explore the rest of the Victorian Alpine Region including Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Mount Beauty. Set aside a day for Mount Buffalo National Park, where you’ll want to see The Horn Lookout, Ladies Baths Falls and Sinclair’s Waterhole. ■