Travel Victoria Australia with B&B Accommodation
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Victoria has predominantly a temperate climate with no dry season but varying between mild to hot summers. The north west of Victoria is warm grassland with summer drought.
Representing only 3% of the Australian land mass, Victoria is the second most populace (population 4,900,000) state of Australia with exciting mountain, coastal/beach and desert regions all within easy driving distance.
Whether it be the cosmopolitan capital city Melbourne, the famous Great Ocean Road, the grandeur of the Grampians, the history of the High Country and the Goldfields or the open stretches of the Murray Outback, Victoria offers the traveller a range of holiday, short break and drive experiences.
Across Victoria a diverse range of bed and breakfasts, farmstays, guesthouses, retreats, cottages, apartments and cabins cater for the needs of the traveller whether couples, families, groups, internationals, pet owners, retirees, professionals, golfers, bush walkers, artists, garden lovers, artists etc.
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Lookout over Lake Bellfield Grampians Victoria Australia
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Melbourne - Capital City of Victoria (Vic) Australia
Established in 1835, Melbourne with a population of 3,500,000 is the second largest Australian city and is located around the shore of the world's largest bay, Port Phillip Bay. Judged in recent global surveys as the world's most livable city Melbourne is a
vibrant and multicultural city, with exciting night life and world class sporting facilities.
Melbourne Victoria is a centre for theatre and the arts, possesses many grand Victorian era buildings, has magnificent boulevards, parks and gardens and Australia's only extensive tramway system.
Culture, People, Sport of Victoria (Vic) Australia
Melbourne is Australia's centre for major sporting and cultural events, hosting the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Australian Tennis Open, Australia's most famous horse race the Melbourne Cup, Australian Football Grand Final and Test Cricket. Also Melbourne is home to the world's finest sand belt golf courses.
The multiculturalism of Melbourne is reflected in its restaurants, bistros and cafes catering to the many ethnic groupings as well as all lovers of good food - from Vietnamese in Abbotsford and Footscray, Italian in Carlton, Greek in Collingwood, Chinese in Little Bourke Street and Turkish in Sydney Road to name but a few.
Theatres have a proud history in Melbourne, none more so than the Victorian era Princess and Her Majesty's Theatres. Then there is the more recent Victorian Arts Centre with three theatres and a magnificent concert hall. Close by is the home of the Australian Ballet.
Galleries and museums abound in Melbourne with the world renowned National Gallery of Victoria adjacent to the Victorian Arts Centre, and its Ian Potter Centre, featuring only Australian art, is in the newly opened Federation Square. At Heidi in suburban Melbourne is the Museum of Modern Art whilst the Museum of Victoria is to be found in Carlton's Exhibition Gardens adjacent to the famed Royal Exhibition Building erected in 1880 for Melbourne's first International Exhibition and home to the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament in 1901.
Major events in Melbourne besides sporting include the Melbourne Moomba Festival, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Outside of Melbourne there are wonderful art galleries throughout Victoria at Geelong, Ballarat, Castlemaine and Bendigo. Major events are the Australian Motor Cycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, Australia's richest professional sprint race the Stawell Gift, the Rip Curl and Sun Smart Surfing Classics at Torquay, the World Aerials at Mt. Buller and the biannual International Air Show at Lara. There are innumerable high quality festivals held throughout country Victoria with the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields being but a few.
Regions, Towns & Attractions of Victoria (Vic) Australia
Every region of Victoria has its own unique atmosphere, landscape and range of experiences:
Yarra Valley, Dandenong & the Ranges Victoria Australia
This region is richly endowed with some of the most beautiful countryside in Victoria. Towering trees, verdant valleys, vineyards and gardens are just a slice of the spectacular scenery on offer.
Ride on Puffing Billy (Australia's oldest steam train), take to the skies in a hot air balloon, visit the Healesville Sanctuary native wildlife park and discover the many fine wineries, some of which have restaurants serving gourmet food and fine local produce.
Melbourne's Bays and Peninsulas Victoria Australia
The City of Melbourne is the crown of this region with the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas enclosing Port Phillip Bay.
Synonymous with fun and relaxation this region features beguiling
beaches, fine food, chic beachfront towns and a variety of family
attractions. Boutique wineries are scattered throughout both peninsulas
which are noted for their markets, artist workshops and fresh
produce.
Macedon Ranges and Spa Country Victoria Australia
Due to the discovery of gold, this region saw fortune seekers from far and wide flock to the area. But now it is mineral springs, scenic surroundings, thriving arts and craft communities and award-winning food and wine that attracts visitors to this region.
Since the Victorian era people have been drawn to the health-giving qualities of the natural mineral springs in Daylesford, Hepburn and surrounding environs, where over 80% of Australia's mineral waters are located. Natural attractions include Hanging Rock (the haunting background to the book and film The Picnic at Hanging Rock), and the sumptuous heritage gardens of Mt. Macedon.
Goulburn Murray Waters Victoria Australia
This region borders New South Wales in Victoria's northeast and is flanked by the Goulburn, Murray and Broken Rivers. The region has much of its focus on the water - you can relax on a house boat, fish, sail, waterski or enjoy numerous other aquatic activities.
The small and characterful town of Echuca provides an insight into the regions rich riverboat history and is home to the largest paddlesteamer fleet in Australia. Distinctive regional wines and fine local produce are an added attraction to visitors.
The Goldfields Victoria Australia
This region is a witness to the rich and lasting legacy left by the discovery of gold over 150 years ago, with imposing traces of Victorian architecture and a fine cultural heritage derived from the melting pot of people drawn to this region.
Grand nineteenth century buildings grace the streetscapes of Ballarat and Bendigo, while townships like Maldon, Castlemaine and Stawell are thick with quaint shopfronts and miners'cottages.
Sovereign Hill at Ballarat recreates a goldmining town and the life of its people in 1850s. Also in Ballarat the Eureka Stockade close to the sight of the original Eureka rebellion, the only uprising to occur in Australia, provides further reminders of the region's heyday.
The Grampians Victoria Australia
This is an area of natural beauty which is highlighted by the mountain ranges of the Grampians National Park. The Park features walking trails, waterfalls, scenic lookouts, wildlife and seasonal wildflowers and is also Victoria's main centre for rock climbing and abseiling.
National parks in the region, including the Little Desert and Wyperfeld, are havens for wildlife especially birds with over 45% of all bird species found in Victoria having been identified here. This region is synonymous with great wines and fine eating at traditional country pubs, smart cafes and restaurants.
The Great Ocean Road Victoria Australia
This region winds westward from Victoria's second largest city, Geelong,
to the South Australian border. Along with striking ocean views, the region contains laid back coastal towns and maritime villages, and there are plenty of opportunities for bushwalking, swimming, surfing, fishing and whale watching.
The Port Campbell National Park has significant areas of native bushland and fauna and the coastline has striking natural features such as the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge. If you are craving for freshly caught seafood or a latte fix, a myriad of restaurants and cafes are to be found in the many picturesque coastal villages.
Legends, Wine and High Country Victoria Australia
This is a place for mountain streams, vineyards and inspired stories of high drama and folklore. During the winter months the region is home to Victoria's premier snowfield and when the snow disappears there are bushwalks, breathtaking scenery and a sea of alpine wildflowers.
The region is also renowned for its great wineries and local produce such as cheese. Some of Australia's most endearing legends have been born and nurtured in this region. Here "Banjo" Patterson penned his immortal work The Man From Snowy River while the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang roamed the foothills of the high country. The historic towns of Glenrowan and Beechworth are centres for Kelly-related attractions.
Phillip Island & Gippsland Discovery Victoria Australia
This region is famed for its natural attractions and abundant wildlife. It stretches from Melbourne's suburban fringes east to the Gippsland Lakes and inland from Mt Baw Baw to Wilsons Promontory, containing a variety of landscapes from snow capped mountains to lush rolling hills and wide sandy beaches.
Phillip Island has a reputation as a coastal getaway with a bent for family fun and is famed for its Fairy penguins, which can be viewed nightly, as well as seals and koalas in their natural habitat. Once a year it is home to the Australia's 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Gippsland is a gourmet area filled with wineries, cheese makers, markets and fruit and berry farms. Wilsons Promontory affectionately known as "The Prom" is a mecca for tourists with its incomparable bush and coastal scenery and acclaimed tracks and trails.
Mildura and Murray Outback Victoria Australia
This region is dominated by striking landscape contrasts and is bordered by New South Wales and South Australia in the far northwest corner of Victoria. The region is characterized by lush, irrigated orchards and vineyards set against the arid red soil and shifting sand dunes of the surrounding desert.
Mildura, the regions largest city, is located on the banks of the Murray River and is renowned for its multicultural population, fresh local produce and an array of wineries. Steeped in ancient history is the Mungo National Park and it is here that the worlds oldest homo sapiens remains were discovered.
Lakes and Wilderness Victoria Australia
This region occupies the far eastern corner of Victoria and covers a diverse landscape from unspoilt beaches to towering gums and mountain ranges. Fed by the waters of five major rivers and fringed by Ninety-Mile Beach, the Gippsland Lakes and river system provides ample opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating and sailing.
You can dine al fresco at lakeside restaurants or pubs, picnic by rivers or stroll through waterfront villages. The region's jewel is the Croajingolong national Park recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve with 1000 kilometres of pristine coastline and hinterland.
More State Information for Victoria (Vic) Australia
 The state floral emblem for Victoria Australia is the Common or Pink Heath, (Epacris impressa Labill), first identified by the French Explorer Labillardiere in 1793.
Victoria has two Faunal emblems, the Leadbeater's Possum and the Helmeted Honeyeater.
The Great Dividing Range cuts through central Victoria petering out in the Grampians in the south west, and is a haven for both summer and winter activities with excellent skiing at Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Falls Creek in the north east of the state.
Victoria has 35 National Parks and 13 Marine National Parks, with such National Parks as Wilson's Promontory (mainland Australia's most southerly point,) Little Desert, Ocean Road and the Grampians highlighting the diversity of Victoria's landscape. Excellent beaches are found around the quieter waters of Port Phillip Bay whilst major surf beaches include Point Leo and Torquay.
With such varying topograghy Victoria has a diversity of flora and fauna some of which are unique to the state. Large forests of Mountain Ash, the world's largest flowering tree growing to over 100 metres, are found in the east of the state and are home to the state's fauna emblem Leadbeaters possum while in the north west of the state can be found the rare Mallee fowl.
Kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, wombats, platypus, lyrebirds, reed warblers, whales, dolphins, seals and penguins are just some of the fauna to be found in Victoria. There are 22 botanic gardens spread across Victoria highlighting both native and overseas flora with the largest being the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
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