Victoria Holidays

Victoria has an abundance of things to do. You can see gorgeous beaches and snow-capped mountains, visit zoos and aquariums, see historic sites and theatre shows, and discover wildlife sanctuaries and wineries. Or, take a road trip along Victoria's awesome coastline.

Victoria is host to a number of theatres, including The Mildura Arts Centre, Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Ballaratt’s Her Majesty’s Theatre and Albury Entertainment Centre. The Arts Centre and Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne's arts precinct offer a night of international hits and bold new works.

Victoria, the Garden State, is aptly named due to its abundance of parks and gardens. Venture through the 15-hectare Australian Garden within the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, just a 45-minute drive from Melbourne. The Gardens come alive during the summer months, with theatrical shows and the popular Moonlight Cinema.

As the food and wine capital of Australia, Victoria has a bountiful collection of local and global cuisine. With 21 wine regions, you’ll have lots of opportunities to go on wine-tasting trips.

Melbourne is renowned for its eclectic bars and restaurants, including sushi at Minamishima, European dining at Grossi Florentino, an Aussie breakfast at Coco and Joe’s, or sumptuous cocktails at The Everleigh.

Outside of the city, there are world-renowned options such as Brae. Located in Birregurra, a small town 90 minutes’ west of Melbourne, this restaurant gives you the option to stay overnight and offers a culinary experience using ingredients from its own working organic farm.

Provenance, in northeast Victoria, is an acclaimed restaurant – you’ll find it on the list of Gourmet Traveller Top 100 Australian Restaurants. It’s housed inside the old Bank of Australasia building, built at the height of the gold rush in 1856.

Victoria has more than 100 parks and reserves, which make it a great destination for bushwalking and hiking. Wilson's Promontory National Park is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, with awe-inspiring, remote bush walks and secluded pristine beaches including Cotters Beach, Whisky Bay and Fairy Cove.

The Great Otway National Park, with emerald-green ferns, ancient trees and beautiful waterfalls is a real jungle experience. And keen-eyed travellers can often spot local residents including wombats, kangaroos and emus.

Grampians National Park, meanwhile, has striking rocky outcrops and one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in southeastern Australia. Motifs are painted in numerous caves, including depictions of humans, human hands, animal tracks and birds. And the 160-kilometre Grampians Peaks Trail – designed to take 13 days to walk and crossing the length of the park – is due to be completed in 2020.

Victoria's climate is as diverse as the state itself. It ranges from hot and semi-arid in the northwest, to cooler, fresher weather along the coast. Like the UK, Victoria has four seasons, and the weather here is far less extreme than other Australian states. The varied seasons means the best time to travel depends on what you want to see and do.

The summer months of December, January and February see temperatures hover in the early-twenties – so you can soak up some sun, but still explore in comfort. Spring and autumn are cooler, with day temperatures between 13°C and 17°C. May and October tend to be the wettest months so remember to pack a brolly.

Alternatively, you could go to Victoria in winter. Between June and August, temperatures hover around 10°C, with the odd frosty night. While you won’t get a tan at this time of year, it’s the perfect time to see Victoria without the crowds. Winter is also peak time for whale migration along Victoria’s coastline, so you’re likely to spot humpbacks and orcas.