Things to do in Victoria
60 places worth stopping for and 24 places to stay on a road trip through Victoria.
See and do
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Zumsteins
MacKenzie Falls
One of Victoria's biggest waterfalls; the precinct is closed for construction until the end of 2026.
Viewpoint · Halls Gap
The Pinnacle lookout
Rocky climb through Grand Canyon and Silent Street to a view over Lake Bellfield.
History · Ballarat
Sovereign Hill
Open-air gold rush museum with costumed staff and underground mine tours.
Town · Bright
Bright
Alpine-gateway town known for autumn colours and a river beach.
Viewpoint · Port Campbell
Twelve Apostles
Limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Summerland Beach
Penguin Parade
Little penguins waddle ashore at dusk.
Viewpoint · Halls Gap
Boroka Lookout
Easy stroll to a lookout over the Halls Gap valley and the Mount William range.
- Museum
Museum · Halls Gap
Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre
Aboriginal cultural centre telling Gariwerd stories, and the park's visitor centre.
Town · Maldon
Maldon
Well-preserved goldrush town with antique shops and cafes.
Activity · Bendigo
Central Deborah Gold Mine
Underground gold mine tour in the middle of town.
- Hot pool
Hot pool · Hepburn Springs
Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa
Soak in natural mineral springs at Hepburn Springs.
- Walk
Walk · Woodend
Hanging Rock Reserve
Volcanic rock formations known for a novel and film.
Activity · Belgrave
Puffing Billy Railway
Heritage steam train through the Dandenong forest.
Wildlife · Healesville
Healesville Sanctuary
Zoo focused on native animals, including platypus and Tasmanian devils.
- Walk
Walk · Taggerty
Cathedral Range State Park
Knife-edge ridge walk with big views.
Viewpoint · Mount Buffalo
Mount Buffalo - The Horn
Highest point of Mount Buffalo, reached on an 800 metre walk from the picnic area.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · Mount BuffaloHidden gem
Ladies Bath Falls
Easy walk to a granite river pool for cooling off on hot days.
Scenic drive · Mount Hotham
Great Alpine Road over Mount Hotham
Mountain drive linking Bright to Omeo with lookouts and pull-offs.
Town · Beechworth
Beechworth
Gold-era town with honey shops, bakery and brewery.
- Walk
Walk · Lavers HillHidden gem
Melba Gully
Short rainforest walk with glow worms after dark.
- Beach
Beach · Torquay
Bells Beach
Surf-world icon with a clifftop lookout over the break.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Beech ForestHidden gem
Beauchamp Falls
Cool, ferny waterfall reached by an easy bush track.
Wildlife · Kennett River
Kennett River koala walk
Wild koalas and king parrots along Grey River Road.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Port Campbell
Loch Ard Gorge
Sheltered gorge with a beach and shipwreck history.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Warrnambool
Logans Beach whale viewing
Southern right whales calve close to shore each winter.
- Beach
Beach · Wilsons Promontory
Squeaky Beach
White quartz sand that squeaks underfoot.
History · Cape Otway
Cape Otway Lightstation
Australia's oldest surviving mainland lighthouse.
- Walk
Walk · Cape Woolamai
Cape Woolamai
Granite headland loop with big views.
- Walk
Walk · Natimuk
Mount Arapiles summit
Short drive up to a summit picnic area with a fire tower and wide Wimmera views.
- Hot pool
Hot pool · Fingal, Mornington Peninsula
Peninsula Hot Springs
Large geothermal bathing complex on the Mornington Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Melbourne.
- Beach
Beach · Moonlight HeadHidden gem
Wreck Beach
Wild beach reached by 366 steps, with two old shipwreck anchors at low tide.
- Walk
Walk · Macarthur
Lake Surprise Walk, Budj Bim
Volcanic crater lake walk inside Budj Bim, part of a World Heritage cultural landscape.
- History
History · PomonalHidden gem
Gulgurn Manja Aboriginal Rock Art Site
Short walk from Hollow Mountain car park to northern Grampians rock art.
- History
History · PomonalHidden gem
Ngamadjidj Shelter
Easy self-guided walk to an Aboriginal rock art shelter, suitable for prams.
- History
History · Halls GapHidden gem
Manja Shelter
Short forest walk to one of Victoria's best sets of Aboriginal hand stencils.
- Walk
Walk · Port Fairy
Griffiths Island
Walk across a causeway to a bluestone lighthouse and a shearwater colony at dusk.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Halls Gap
The Balconies
Gentle walk to rock platforms overhanging Victoria Valley, good for photos.
- Walk
Walk · Halls Gap
Mount Rosea
Strenuous 8.6 km return climb with 360-degree views and the Gate of the East Wind.
- Walk
Walk · Halls Gap
Mount William (Duwul)
Walk to the highest point in the Grampians, best near sunset.
- Walk
Walk · Halls Gap
Wonderland Loop and Grand Canyon
10 km loop over the Wonderland Range with the Pinnacle, Grand Canyon and Venus Baths.
- Walk
Walk · DunkeldHidden gem
Mount Abrupt
Steep climb above Dunkeld with big views across the volcanic plains.
- History
History · ChewtonHidden gem
Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park (Chewton)
Walk gold diggings, Chinese camp ruins and old water races.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · MaldonHidden gem
Mount Tarrengower Lookout
Tower and lookout over Maldon, best with wildflowers in spring.
- History
History · MaldonHidden gem
Carman's Tunnel
Walk through an old gold mine tunnel by torchlight.
- Walk
Walk · KingowerHidden gem
Kooyoora State Park (Melville Caves)
Granite boulders and caves linked to a bushranger's hideout.
Waterfall · TrenthamHidden gem
Trentham Falls
One of Victoria's tallest single-drop falls, easy to reach.
Gallery · Mount DandenongHidden gem
William Ricketts Sanctuary
Clay sculptures set in a fern gully.
- Garden
Garden · OlindaHidden gem
RJ Hamer Arboretum
Quiet arboretum picnic ground off the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · WarburtonHidden gem
Mount Donna Buang
Closest snowfield to Melbourne, with a canopy walkway near the summit.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · MarysvilleHidden gem
Lake Mountain
Alpine plateau with walks in summer and snow in winter.
- Swimming hole
Swimming hole · HarrietvilleHidden gem
Harrietville Dredge Hole
River swimming hole in the upper Ovens.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · BeechworthHidden gem
Woolshed Falls
Falls in the old goldfields near Beechworth.
- Winery
Winery · WhitfieldHidden gem
King Valley Whitfield
Italian-influenced wine valley with long lunches.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · WhitfieldHidden gem
Paradise Falls (King Valley)
Waterfall in the King Valley, reached by short walk.
- Lake
Lake · HattahHidden gem
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Mallee lakes and red gums with walking tracks.
- Walk
Walk · HopetounHidden gem
Wyperfeld National Park
Mallee park with dry lake beds and emus.
Town · Halls Gap
Halls Gap
Base town for the Grampians, with kangaroos on the oval at dusk.
- Garden
Garden · Castlemaine
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens
19th-century gardens around Lake Johanna.
- Activity
Activity · Castlemaine
Victorian Goldfields Railway
Heritage steam train between Castlemaine and Maldon.
Gallery · Bendigo
Bendigo Art Gallery
Regional gallery known for big touring exhibitions.
Food stops
Bakery · Beechworth
Beechworth Bakery
Well known country bakery with pies and bread.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · Milawa
Milawa Gourmet Region
Cluster of cheese, mustard and wine producers.
- Bakery
Bakery · Rutherglen
Parker Pies Rutherglen
Award-winning family pie shop in the Rutherglen wine region.
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Timboon
Timboon Railway Shed Distillery
Whisky distillery in an old railway goods shed with an all-day seasonal menu.
- Ice cream
Ice cream · Timboon
Timboon Fine Ice Cream
Farm-milk ice cream shop beside the Timboon rail trail, with a flavour for dogs too.
- Restaurant
Restaurant · Dunkeld
Royal Mail Restaurant, Dunkeld
Destination fine-dining at the foot of the Grampians, with tasting menus.
Market · Daylesford
Daylesford Sunday Market
Sunday market at the old railway station.
Market · Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay Saturday market
Weekend market by the harbour with local food and craft.
Bakery · Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay Bakery
Scallop pies and scrolls on the main street.
- Market
Market · Red Hill
Red Hill Market
First Saturday of the month craft and food market.
- Café
Café · Allansford
Allansford Cheese World
Dairy-heritage museum and cafe in the old Warrnambool cheese factory on the Great Ocean Road.
- Roadhouse
Roadhouse · Lavers Hill
Lavers Hill Roadhouse
Roadhouse and tavern opposite the police station on the Great Ocean Road.
Places to stay
Campground · Wilsons Promontory
Tidal River Campground
Huge national park camp by a river and beach.
- Campground
Campground · Wilsons Promontory
Tidal River campground, Wilsons Promontory
Big beachside camp on the southern tip of mainland Australia.
- Campground
Campground · Cape OtwayHidden gem
Blanket Bay campground
Sheltered bush camp near a quiet bay, bookable via Parks Victoria.
- Campground
Campground · Great Otway National ParkHidden gem
Johanna Beach campground
Cliff-top camp above a long surf beach on the Great Ocean Road.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Mallacoota
Mallacoota foreshore holiday park
Lake-edge park at the end of the line in far East Gippsland.
- Campground
Campground · KhancobanHidden gem
Tom Groggin campground, Kosciuszko National Park
Open riverside valley camp on the upper Murray, mild and wildlife-rich, with no camping fee.
Campground · MallacootaHidden gem
Shipwreck Creek campground, Croajingolong National Park
Quiet bush camp among tall eucalypts, a short walk from where the Schah wrecked.
- Campground
Campground · ForrestHidden gem
Lake Elizabeth campground, Great Otway National Park
River camp near Lake Elizabeth, with platypus at dusk and links to the Forrest trails.
- Campground
Campground · Pomonal
Stapylton campground, Grampians National Park
Open woodland camp under Mount Stapylton, close to day walks and rock art shelters.
- Campground
Campground · Glenaire
Aire River Campgrounds (East and West)
Riverside campgrounds beside the Aire River with kayak ramp, closed in winter.
- Campground
Campground · Halls GapHidden gem
Plantation Campground
Bush camp among old pine plantation on the eastern edge of the Mount Difficult Range.
- Campground
Campground · DunkeldHidden gem
Wannon Crossing campground
Small bush campground beside the Wannon River in the Grampians.
Campground · Mount Buffalo
Lake Catani Campground
Lakeside campground on the Mount Buffalo plateau with hot showers.
- Campground
Campground · LorneHidden gem
Cumberland River campground
Riverside bush camping beside a calm beach mouth.
- Campground
Campground · Croajingolong National ParkHidden gem
Wingan Inlet campground, Croajingolong
Remote inlet camp in East Gippsland with a short walk to a quiet beach.
- Campground
Campground · Cape OtwayHidden gem
Blanket Bay campground, Great Otway
Sheltered bay camp among manna gums with koalas overhead, near Cape Otway.
- Campground
Campground · Cape Conran Coastal Park
Banksia Bluff campground, Cape Conran
Estuary camp with an easy walk to rock pools and beaches on the Gippsland coast.
- Campground
Campground · Alpine National ParkHidden gem
Wonnangatta Station campground
High-country 4WD camp at a historic station site, with wild river flats.
- Campground
Campground · Mount Buffalo National Park
Lake Catani campground, Mount Buffalo
Alpine lake camp amid granite boulders and snow gums.
Campground · Grampians National Park
Borough Huts campground, Grampians
Bush camp near Halls Gap with walks to waterfalls and lookouts.
- Freedom camping
Freedom camping · Howqua River, MansfieldHidden gem
Howqua Hills free camping
Free riverside bush camps in Victoria's high country, with swimming holes and trout.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Kennett River
Kennett River holiday park
Beachside park on the Great Ocean Road, wild koalas and parrots right at the gate.
- Campground
Campground · Natimuk
Centenary Park Pines camping area (Mount Arapiles)
Tent camping under pines at the foot of the Arapiles cliffs.
Campground · BarmahHidden gem
Barmah Lakes camping area
Camping in Barmah National Park's river red gum forest, currently affected by flood closures.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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