Victoria is a beautiful state with a varying climate and geography. With everything from forests to mountains to vast beaches, it’s all there. Here are some of the highlights that everyone should experience in this gorgeous state. There are also plenty of things to see and do that run throughout the year, from horseracing to arts and film festivals to sporting events.
The Grampians National Park
The Grampians is one of the oldest locations in Victoria. It is known for its vast array of flora and fauna and has some of the oldest vines in the world. The Park features impressive sandstone mountains and ridges, lush hiking trails and beautiful waterfalls. You can see all sorts of wildlife from Echidnas to Wallabies as well. Take yourself on a scenic drive to enjoy the serenity of this breathtaking location. There are many streams and creeks you can go fishing at or you can take a canoe or kayak out for the day and explore the park by the river. This location is more than a day trip, you could spend weeks exploring all that it has to offer.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival
This world-famous event occurs in November in Melbourne at the Flemington Racecourse. The main days occur throughout the first week of the month. The first race of the Carnival is Victoria Derby Day which is held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. The main day, of course, is Melbourne Cup Day itself, which is always held on the second Tuesday of November every year. Oaks Day, also known as Ladies Day, occurs on Thursday with the Mackinnon Stakes concluding the carnival on Saturday. Odds for the Mackinnon Stakes depend on how successful the horses have been in their previous races during the carnival.
Ninety-Mile Beach
Ninety-Mile Beach is located on the south-eastern coast of Victoria in the East Gippsland region. The beach runs for 151 kilometers which equates to approximately 94 miles. It has an immense, uninterrupted beach and dunes, with no rocky platforms to speak of. The sea is often choppy with riptides so anyone wishing to swim should do so in areas that have life-saving beach patrols, such as Lakes Entrance. There is a surprising number of things to do there including whale watching, picnicking and camping. A lot of coastal towns are dotted throughout the area and are popular tourist locations.
The AFL Grand Final
September is a great time to be in Melbourne. The weather is light and fresh as it can only be in the springtime. You can take nice long walks along the Yarra River and view the sights of the CBD. There are plenty of parks and gardens to visit, most notably the Royal Botanic Gardens. However, the main event in September is the Australian Rules Football Grand Final which is a culmination of the year’s football season. No matter what team you barrack for, there is an ambiance and buzz in the town when the event is going on. The roar of the crowd at the MCG is something to behold and should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
These are but a few of the many wonderful experiences that Victoria has to offer. No matter what sort of person you are, there will be something in Victoria that you can enjoy.
Main Photo by Kate Trifo.
