Victoria Travel Guide

Surfing

Surfing in Australia has become more of a culture than a sport, the long coastline providing countless beaches with a diverse spread of wave scapes, from giant storm to perfect point breaks at Kirra and Ragland in Western Australia, and fun beach breaks. No matter what time of year, there will be good waves somewhere in Oz, whether it be on the big-city beaches of Sydney, a seaside town in Victoria, along the Queensland Gold Coast or somewhere more remote like in the north west.

Vintage train

The 'Puffing Billy Railway' is Australia's Oldest Steam Railway. A century old, the train still follows its original mountain track in the scenic Dandenong Ranges, offering spectacular mountain views and winding through cool fern gullies between Belgrave, Emerald Lake and Gembrook. The whole trip takes two hours in each direction. Tickets can be bought before boarding the train, which departs several times a day, but bookings are essential for the special luncheon or dinner trips, which include a meal in the first class carriage.

Skiing

June is wintertime in Australia, and the start of the ski season. While New South Wales is usually considered the ski capital of the country, Victoria comes a close second in the ski stakes with some great resorts spread out northeast of Melbourne, most within easy reach of the city. Some of the country's best cross-country skiing can be found at Falls Creek, while the village resort of Mount Baw Baw near the town of Noojee is great for beginners. Closest resort to Melbourne is Lake Mountain, about 75 miles (120km) from the capital, a top cross-country ski destination that is rated as the third most visited alpine resort in the world. Mt Hotham in the northeast of Victoria offers Alpine skiing, off-piste with narrow valleys.

Wine tasting

Despite humble beginnings, Australia's Victoria wine region now produces some of the finest wines in the world. Located at the southernmost part of the main continent, Victoria plays off a favorable coastal and subtropical climate to host three principle wine growing regions, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and the Macedon Ranges Shire.

Mornington Peninsula features secluded beaches and golf opportunities, as side activities to the wine tasting of course. Yarra Valley, with the Yarra River running through it, is a slightly colder but very green and picturesque region which produces exceptional chardonnays. Yarra Valley also boasts Australia's most prolific wineries, the De Bortoli and Domaine Chandon. Australia's most prolific and favored wineries, while the Macedon Ranges Shire boasts vast uninhabited rolling fields of green and a family-oriented culture of wine-making. The shire currently holds the highest quality of life standards in Australia.

Victoria's strength may lie in her relative anonymity as this currently regarded as the place to find one-of-a-kind wines at a reasonable price. The thriving heart of Victoria is Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city and a good base from which to head into the five main wine regions.

Hot Air Ballooning

Either from the incredible valley scenery or a touch of fear, nothing makes one more appreciative of being alive like an early morning hot air balloon ride across the Yarra Valley. Gentle early morning winds are the most suitable for ballooning and also give passengers an amazing sunrise view. Rides usually last for an hour with between 6 and 16 people in a basket although both of these are determined by weather factors and air pressure changes. Passengers touch down, with their newly heightened senses, to a gourmet breakfast at a wine estate. Balloons cannot fly in bad weather so make flexible travel plans. Tickets information can be found at any tourist office in the Yarra Valley or many wine estates.