Top 21 Attractions in Victoria

Opened in 2002 to commemorate 100 years of the federation in Australia, Federation Square lies in Melbourne's very heart, adjacent to the Flinders Street railway station and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Its ultra-modern design stands juxtaposed against Victorian architecture and comprises open spaces, museums, and cultural institutions. Regular events and concerts are held here throughout the year, with a giant screen that broadcasts major sporting events and public announcements ...

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Established in 1846, the Royal Botanic Gardens sprawl across 40 hectares to the south of the Yarra River and are considered one of the finest of their kind in the world. The gardens include more than 10,000 different species, including many rare varieties of both native and exotic species. The Royal Botanic Gardens is divided into numerous themed sections, including a Herb Garden, Arid Garden, Fern Gully and Rose Garden, as well as numerous different lawned areas ...

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Known to locals simply as “The G”, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is considered Australia’s most legendary sports stadium and the country’s largest. It was here that the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games were showcased and it is considered the spiritual home of Test Cricket and Australian Rules Football. The MCG was built in 1853 and hosted the first cricket Test match to be played between Australia and England in 1877 ...

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Stretching along the Yarra River just a short stroll from the city center, Southbank is a vibrant area of restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions and shops. It is a major hub of live entertainment, with venues such as Hamer Hall, the State Theatre and the Playhouse situated within the Arts Centre, as well as being home to the famous Crown Casino. Southbank was once a largely dilapidated industrial area that was reinvigorated to become one of Melbourne’s cultural hot spots ...

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Australia’s oldest public art museum is the National Gallery of Victoria, which is set across two locations in Melbourne. It was founded in 1861 and has grown to become one of Australia’s largest institutions dedicated to art, with the NGV International collection on St. Kilda Road and its Australian works in Federation Square’s Ian Pottery Centre. The NGV International first opened in 1968 and was later redeveloped by Mario Bellini, now being listed on the Victorian Heritage Register ...

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Named after the 1854 Eureka Stockade rebellion of Victorian goldfield prospectors, the Eureka Tower has become one of Melbourne’s most recognizable landmarks. Its gold-plated windows and crown glisten in the sun’s light as it soars 297 meters over the Southbank entertainment precinct. The Eureka Tower’s 88th floor Skydeck is the highest public viewing area in the Southern Hemisphere, with a glass cube known as The Edge sliding out from the building for a vertigo-inducing experience ...

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If you want to gain a more comprehensive insight into the history of Melbourne, make the short tram ride from the CBD to the Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building. It follows the development of society and cultures in the city from its indigenous Aboriginal communities to modern-day settlements and has recently been awarded the title of “Best Tourist Attraction”. Don’t miss a visit to the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre and the dedicated children’s museum, with plenty of hands-on activities to keep young visitors entertained ...

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Officially known as the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, the Melbourne Zoo is located a short tram ride north of the city center and survives as Australia’s oldest zoo. It was modeled on the London Zoo and first opened to the public on 6 October 1862 on a 55-acre parcel of land at Royal Park. While its initial function was to help animals acclimatize after being transported to Australia, it developed into a zoo in its own right with animals acquired for public display ...

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Brought all the way from Yorkshire, England to Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens, Captain Cook’s Cottage is the former home of one of the most influential explorers to enter Australian waters. It provides a unique insight into the life and times of this British captain who made the first European contact with Australia’s east coast, as well as being the first recorded as having circumnavigated New Zealand. The cottage was originally constructed in the village of Great Ayton in 1755 by the parents of Captain James Cook and there remains disagreement as to whether he actually lived for any extensive period in the house ...

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If you want to pick up fresh produce and artisan goods in Melbourne, there’s no better place than at the historic Queen Victoria Market. It’s the only surviving 19th-century market left in Melbourne’s CBD and is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. It has been serving consumers since 1878 and is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The market isn’t actually named after Queen Victoria, but rather due to its location at the corner of Queen and Victoria streets ...

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Stretching for more than 240 kilometers between Torquay and Allansford, the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most scenic drives. It takes in spectacular beaches, charismatic surf towns and the iconic rock formations of the Twelve Apostles. The Great Ocean Road was built by returned World War I soldiers and stands as the world’s largest war memorial. Today it is a recreational paradise, with legendary surf, beautiful coastal walking trails and snorkeling in the offshore reefs ...

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Jutting into Bass Strait to the southeast of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is a popular getaway destination for locals. It features idyllic stretches of beach and an enticing gastronomy scene, as well as picturesque walking trails within the Mornington Peninsula National Park. Wander around the seaside town of Mornington that overlooks the waters of Port Phillip Bay ...

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Featuring rugged sandstone mountains that rise spectacularly from the Western Plains, the Grampians National Park is one of Victoria’s most popular wilderness destinations. It’s traversed by bushwalking trails and scenic drives that explore its cascading waterfalls and panoramic lookouts while being dotted with campsites and climbing routes. Stop in at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre near Halls Gap to discover the local indigenous history and rock art sites within the national park ...

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Sprawling between Torquay, Princetown and up into the Otways hinterland, the Great Otway National Park protects rugged coastlines and pristine beaches, as well as tall forests and cascading waterfalls. Windswept tracts of heathland support magnificent spring wildflowers while lush fern gullies provide a habitat for a diverse array of species. Follow the boardwalks that lead through the temperate rainforest of Maits Rest where giant tree ferns grow and witness thousands of glowing worms at Melba Gully ...

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Traversing the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, the Puffing Billy Railway is a heritage, narrow gauge railway that stretches between Belgrave and Gembrook Stations. It was built at the turn of the 20th century in a bid to develop the rural areas on the outskirts of Melbourne, with the Victorian capital situated just 40 kilometers away. The Puffing Billy Railway takes passengers through lush fern gullies and towering Mountain Ash trees, as well as over the historic Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge ...

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Jutting into Bass Strait to the southeast of Melbourne, Wilsons Promontory National Park is Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area. It’s a land of rugged granite mountains and white sandy beaches and renowned for its abundant wildlife that can be spotted along the extensive walking trails. The national park was designated back in 1898 and today covers more than 50,000 hectares that includes a cluster of offshore islands ...

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Nestled in the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, Mount Hotham is home to Victoria’s highest ski resort and a favorite winter getaway for locals. The summit of Mount Hotham rises to more than 1,800 meters, with Hotham Alpine Resort offering 320 hectares of skiable terrain. Thirteen lifts access the trails of Hotham Alpine Resort, with around 20% of the terrain dedicated to beginners and 40% each to intermediate and advanced snow hounds ...

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Lake Daylesford sprawls to the south of the town, with the “peace mile” walking trail hugging its perimeter. The elegant Lake House nestles on its eastern shore, with its fine-dining restaurant and country house accommodation one of Victoria’s most exclusive. Also of note is the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa that has been in operation since 1895 and is today one of Daylesford’s most state-of-the-art spa facilities ...

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Art enthusiasts should make a point of visiting the Convent Gallery that includes works by local and international artists within what was once the Gold Commissioner’s residence. ...

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