Victoria

Travel the Great Ocean Road and beyond and experience one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. See the towering 12 Apostles, iconic surf breaks, and misty waterfalls. Discover a diverse array of things to see and do in the region, from outdoor activities such as surfing, scuba diving and sea kayaking to arts, cultural and heritage attractions. Admire the stunning coastline of the Great Ocean Walk, get up close to native wildlife at Tower Hill, and explore surf towns and seaside villages. Enjoy fine dining up and down the coast and stock up at local winemakers, dairy farms and fresh proved-ores along the way. The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometer stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. One of Australia's most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road is a magnificent three-day self-drive touring route from surf capital Torquay to the famous 12 Apostles, ending at historic fishing village Port Fairy.

A short one-hour drive from the Melbourne city sits the beautiful Yarra Valley. Best known for producing excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Valley is home to more than the 120 wineries. Whether you take the family, run away for romance with your partner, or round up some friends, the Yarra Valley is the perfect weekend escape. Float high above the Yarra Valley in a hot air balloon for unprecedented views of rolling hills strung with vines, lush greenery, and pastures. With boutique wineries around every bend in the valley, you'll soon be attuned to its charms. Enjoy a meal accompanied by a local wine amid the vines as you travel around. See alternate views of the valley from both inside and outside the curved Tarra Warra Museum of the Modern Art, built to integrate into the landscape. Pick up some winery specials to enjoy a gourmet picnic in the peaceful fern gullies and mountain ash at the Badger Weir Park near Healesville. Venture into the Christmas Hills and Sugarloaf Reservoir. Go bushwalking along the 18-kilometre trail, bird watching, sightseeing, sailing and shoreline fishing. Have a picnic at Ironbark Ridge or Saddle Dam overlooking the reservoir.

The Melbourne Zoo is also known as the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, and it is one of the biggest zoological parks in Australia. Located in the Royal Park premises in the Parkville region of Melbourne, the zoo is about 4 km away from the center of the city. It is the primary serving habitat for many animals in Melbourne and is home to more than 320 species of animals. Some of these animal species are native to Australia, but there are many that are native to other parts of the world as well. The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens are an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association. The gardens are also a part of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, shortly known as the WAZA. A large part of the zoo is inspired by the London Zoo. It was inaugurated in 1862 on the 6th of October. The 55-acre land area for the zoo was donated by the city. Soon after its opening, the zoo became home to many animals that were previously living in the botanical gardens in the city. It is set amidst beautiful gardens and picnic areas and is divided into several bioclimatic zones. The African rainforest zone, for instance, is home to many gorillas, pigmy, hippos, and parrots. On the other hand, the Asian rainforest zone houses animals like otters and tigers.  Some of the most popular exhibits in the zoo are The Trails of Elephants, Butterfly House, Orangutan Sanctuary, Australian Outback, and Predator precinct. For animals’ lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, this is an unmissable destination in Melbourne.

In the lead up to the Centenary of Federation in 2001, the development of Federation Square offered a unique opportunity – the chance to celebrate the ideas of ‘identity’ and ‘place’ through a much needed civic and cultural space. Over the last two hundred years the site had been home to the city morgue, a fish market, corporate offices and rail yards. While planners had long dreamed of linking the CBD to the Yarra River, the divide created by the railway yards had consistently thwarted further development. Given its bold architectural form and large aspiration, the project had it share of changes to the brief, controversy over the design and costs, heated debate, and skepticism. Since opening on 26 October 2002 however, Federation Square has been embraced by locals and visitors alike, with an average of more than 10 million visits each year. Fed Square is made up of a series of interlocking and cascading spaces. Buildings open at all angles in the city, creating unexpected connections and vistas. In response to the brief, the design was heavily influenced by the idea of ‘Federation’, of bringing disparate parts together to form a coherent whole.

All great cities in the world have a great icon. And that icon is a point of recognition for it. And that’s what Eureka Tower is for Melbourne. It is a glistening, urban skyscraper in the modern, cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. It was named after the Eureka Stockade, which was a rebellion during the Victorian gold rush in 1854.The Eureka Tower is more than just a tall building, it is a popular tourist spot. The tower stands tall at 297 meters (975 ft.). The building is gold plated and is next to the Yarra River, in the center of the Southbank precinct. The top 10 floors have 24 carat (99.9%) gold plated glass windows. There is a constant system of pumps moving water between the two 300,000 liter tanks so it can beat the wind-induced oscillations.What makes this a very popular spot for tourists is the amazing view from the Eureka Towers. From the top floors, one can get unrivaled views. This also happens to be the highest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. There are a whole lot of things that you can do here. In fact, the towers also have a range of activities available for everyone from kids to adults. There are interactive games, one can dine here and also do some shopping.These towers are more than just a tourist spot. You get to experience going up at a speed -- quite enthralling. Plus, there’s something very soothing about being at a spectacular height. It still remains to be the third tallest building in Australia, with the Q1 in Queensland and Australia 108 leading the way.

Luna Park, the oldest amusement park of Melbourne was built in 1912. It is brimming with various brand new thrilling rides to satisfy all the thrill seekers and is a destination for all Melbourne families as well as tourists. With existing for over 100 years, Luna Park in St. Kilda is the most renowned and adored theme park without a doubt.  Roller Coaster is the most cherished attraction of the Park. The spectacular and large wooden coaster takes passengers around the entire park at lightning speed. Luna Park extends a range of attractions and rides for every age from their latest additions, the free revolving mini roller coaster Speedy Beetle and relaxing ferries wheel Moon Balloons, to old classics such as Dodgems and fidgety thrill rides like the Pharaoh’s Curse and Power Surge. You can not miss visiting Luna Park when exploring Melbourne, no matter what your age is. You can also plan a function like kid’s parties, weddings, engagement events and Christmas parties at Luna Park. It also provides free Wi-Fi to all the visitors for smooth connection. As Melbourne’s ultimate destination for fun, Luna Park is the perfect venue for your school’s end of year activity day, school program or the start of the school holidays.

The award-winning natural hot springs and day spa destination is located on the Mornington Peninsula, and is just 90 minutes away from the city of Melbourne. Peninsula Hot Springs features pools and private baths supplied by natural thermal mineral waters. These thermal springs are common on the coastal oasis of the peninsula, and provide a quiet and serene place for visitors to relax and rejuvenate their mind, body and soul.The peninsula offers several options for its guests. The Bath House is a social area where guests can enjoy an exclusive bathing experience. Some of the most popular techniques employed here include, Turkish hammam, reflexology walk, cave pool, and a hilltop pool offering scenic views of the region around. There is also an amphitheater in the Bath House, which includes seven pools. All of these pools are geometric and offer a relaxing bathing experience. Other facilities and attractions in the Bath House are - ice caves, saunas, cafe, a wellness center, and open-air stage. Another popular section of the Peninsula Hot Springs is the Spa Dreaming Center. This sanctuary-like place is a blissful retreat from the rest of the world, as it offers you a place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The center places special importance on tranquil space, and is only allowed for people who are above the age of 16 years. The service offered in the Dreaming Center includes thermal mineral pools, traditional sauna experiences, bamboo showers with massages, cold plunge pools, Moroccan hammams, infrared sauna rooms, Zen Chi massages, and hanging tree pods. You can also enjoy relaxing by the pool at the poolside lounges.The wellness programs at the Peninsula Hot Springs offer a unique combination of healing waters along with mindful activities to calm your body, soul and mind. You will get to experience a wide range of movements, and enjoy the ultimate calming experience here. There are also several other activities you can choose from, like - body clay, fire and ice, yoga, reformer pilates, and aerial yoga.

Before the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne was established by Lieutenant General Charles La Trobe in 1846, the area in which the garden now exists was a mundane stretch of swampland. The area on the South Bank of the Yarra River was filled with craggy rocks, outcrops, marshland and weeds.The first director of the garden- Ferdinand von Mueller- was appointed in 1857. He was also one of the most renowned botanists of the 19th century and was responsible for bringing exotic plants to the Botanical Gardens from all parts of the world.Mueller was succeeded by the second, and most remarkable director of the Botanical Gardens- Willian Guilfoyle- who was responsible for changing the look and structure of the whole area, to turn it into the natural spectacle that it is today. He took the National Herbarium, established by Mueller, and the several plants that he brough, and turned the garden into a sprawling mass of winding paths, lakes, pleasant gardens and walkways. Guilfoyle’s efforts to renovate the garden into a modern tourist attraction and natural retreat were aided by the pleasant and mild weather conditions prevalent in Melbourne.The weather allowed both tropical and temperate plants to flourish, which has led to more than 12,000 plant species thriving in this facility. It has also created a stable, natural ecosystem for local birds and animals to build their homes in, while the people who visit can take advantage of the natural beauty of the trees, as well as interact with indigenous animals, first hand.An expansion effort was undertaken in 1960 when a piece of land adjacent to the Melbourne Botanical Gardens was purchased. This led to the establishment of the Cranbourne Gardens in 1970, which opened to the public in 1985.The “Royal” prefix was added to the name of the garden in 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II. Today, both the Melbourne Garden and the Cranbourne Garden constitute the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne.