The Essential Places to Visit in Victoria

Victoria is a state that grabs you by the senses, drags you down its lanes, holds your face up to amazing art and landscapes then doesn't apologise for what its red wines or triple-shot cold drip coffee will do to you.

While the state capital may be known around the world as arty, edgy, and unapologetically alive, the city's just a gateway. Beyond the tram clatter and cut-throat culinary culture lies a state that's as wild as it is refined. Whether you're here for the wine, the waves, or the wide open spaces, these are the best places to go in Victoria.

A guide to Melbourne's greatest hits would be impossible to package into a compilation. But if you're pressed for time and have never been to the city before, start with a pic at the iconic Flinders Street Station before wandering over the road to Federation Square. The plaza will more than likely have something on, from free live music to punters battling at Mario Kart on the big screen.

From there you can turn south and cross the Yarra river to the National Gallery of Victoria and its exceptional permanent collection (Picasso, Dalí, Renoir, just to name drop a few), or you can head to ACMI - Australia's National Museum of Screen Culture - right there at Fed Square. From there, pop up to Hosier Lane's technicolour hallway of graffiti art, but not before grabbing some glorious tapas and sangria at MoVida at the base of the laneway.

The more time you have in Melbourne the further out you can venture, and it's so worth it. The city's frenetic pulse is anchored by eclectic neighborhoods, each offering something unique.

For a premium stay or a romantic getaway in Victoria, the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins offers luxury with breathtaking views of the city skyline. Do we have a budget? ibis Melbourne in the CBD is a brilliant option for anyone on a budget, who still wants to be close to the action. If boutique chic is more your style, The Como Melbourne in South Yarra is just steps from Chapel Street's chic shops and cafes.

Pro Tip: Make time for Melbourne’s rooftop bars. At sunset, the view from Naked Upstairs in Fitzroy will show you the city at its finest.

Address: Naked For Satan, 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

A perfect day trip from Melbourne, this windswept two hour drive draws you in with its rugged coastline, moody marshlands, and one of the most charming nightly spectacles you'll ever see in your life. It's called the Penguin Parade because, as the sun sinks, hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore, their tiny feet slapping the sand as they walk home. It's ridiculously adorable.

Beyond penguins, the wetlands at Rhyll Inlet hum with birdlife and serenity, a stark contrast to the island's dramatic cliffs and crashing waves. It's an important ecological site for the birds that fly thousands of kilometres to feed at Phillip Island through the warmer months.

Pro Tip: For the speed-demon in the family, visit the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and try your hand at go-karting on a replica of the world-famous track.

Address: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, 381 Back Beach Rd, Ventnor VIC 3922

For Victorians, the Great Ocean Road isn't just a road trip, it's a rite of passage. Sure, every Aussie guidebook will mention the Twelve Apostles, and yeah, they're a spectacle. But this drive is so much more than those seven (just to manage your expectations) towering rock stacks. It's a 243 kilometre drama where jagged cliffs meet raging surf. This isn't a road for rushing, it's for pulling over at coastal lookouts, gorging on fish and chips, and letting the salt wind mess with your hair.

Stay a night in Lorne for white-sand beaches, surfers that slice through waves like they own the sea and just inland, a waterfall that plunges 30 meters into a fern-filled gorge. Erskine Falls roars like applause and because, frankly, this spot deserves it.

Pro Tip: As the only beachfrontproperty in town, Mantra Lorne has exclusive access to the main beach and has a range of different accommodation in a sprawling, Hamptons-style estate. Croquet on the lawn, anyone?

Address: Mantra Lorne, Mountjoy Parade, Lorne VIC 3232

This riverside treasure on the Murray doesn't fish for attention, it lures you in with laid-back charm and shimmering Lake Mulwala that feels like a cut'n'paste job from a surrealist painting. The lake was formed by damming part of the Murray River and flooding the countryside, including the tall trees that then died.

Cast a line and feel the tug of a Murray cod, or glide across the glassy surface on a paddleboard, as pelicans thump overhead. When the sun dips, hop aboard a sunset cruise and let the golden hour wash over you. The reservoir straddles the border between Victoria and NSW, so you can drift between states.

On dry land Yarrawonga also has Cactus Country, a desert wonderland that's pure Instagram gold. Imagine wandering through a sprawling landscape of towering cacti, spiky silhouettes casting shadows that could belong to a Clint Eastwood film.

Pro Tip: Stay at the gorgeous The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods on the banks of Lake Mulwala and see those eerie skeletal, submerged trees as the morning mist burns off over the lake.

Address: The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods, 40 Silverwoods Boulevard, Yarrawonga VIC 3730

Bendigo is where Australia's gold rush boomed, fortunes were forged and lost, and a city rose to glory. But Bendigo isn't stuck in its past; the university town is now a seamless blend of Victorian elegance and contemporary swagger.

Start your visit at the Bendigo Art Gallery, and before you assume this is some sleepy regional gallery you should know this place punches well above its weight. The space holds world-class exhibitions like the recent Mary Quant showcase and Marilyn Monroe retrospective.

Take the vintage tram for a narrated tour through streets lined with gold-rush era grandeur, or go underground at the Central Deborah Gold Mine. Descending into those pitch-black tunnels, you'll feel the grit and grind ofthe miners who shaped not only this city but the entire state of Victoria.

Pro Tip: Named after renowned artist Mark Schaller, the art-inspired Mercure Bendigo Schaller hotel is a distinctive experience and is close to everything you'll want to visit in the city.

Address: Mercure Bendigo Schaller, 60 Lucan Street, Bendigo VIC 3550

The Victorian High Country forces you to breathe deeper, climb higher, and live harder. In winter, Mount Buller is a snow-covered playground where powder-fiends carve through slopes while the rest of us huddle by roaring fires. When the snow melts, the mountains don't sleep, they kaleidoscope into shades of green and gold, luring hikers and cyclists.

The town of Bright is the crown jewel of this alpine kingdom, so picturesque that it feels like stepping into the picture on the front of a biscuit tin. Start your day with a good coffee and a flaky croissant from The Riverdeck cafe, then head out to one of the ten walking trails on the outskirts of town.

Pro Tip: Really get a sense of the region by staying at The Sebel Pinnacle Valley. Super picturesque, with rolling grounds and a private lake, heated outdoor swimming pool, and on-site bar, lounge, and restaurant.

Address: The Sebel Pinnacle Valley, 1 Mimosa Drive, Merrijig VIC 3724

Victoria's bucolic landscapes and eclectic towns offer up endless avenues of exploration. Each destination, from the coastal charm of Lorne to the rugged beauty of Phillip Island, is a unique glimpse into what makes Australia great.