Victoria Road Trip from Melbourne

Hello everyone,

I was lucky enough to spend my vacation in Australia. I took a short trip and set down my bags in Victoria (on the southeast coast, facing Tasmania), a place I have spectacular memories of and really want to share with you.

Practical information

Administrative formalities

You will need a valid passport. On that note, make sure it’s valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry into Australia; even if it’s not strictly required by the government, some overzealous airlines might refuse to let you board if your passport is set to expire before that window. You will need an Australian visa on your passport. Most importantly, you are required to have an e-Visitor electronic visa, which is for European Union passport holders visiting Australia for tourism or business. Keep this in mind as soon as you book your flight.

If you plan on driving in Australia, you will need your national driver's license along with an international driving permit.

The currency is the Australian dollar. You won't have any issues using Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, or American Express cards for payments or withdrawals. The time difference is between 6 to 8 hours in the summer and 8 to 10 hours in the winter, as Australia spans no fewer than 3 time zones!

Health and natural risks

Regarding health, no specific vaccines are recommended; it’s up to you to ensure your “standard” vaccinations are up to date.

Swimmers and divers should be wary of jellyfish, which can be particularly stinging between December and March, especially around the Great Barrier Reef islands. For your information, the reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site and stretches about 2,600 km. As for sharks, attacks are very rare, and the presence of sharks near swimming areas is often announced by local authorities. That said, be aware that the highest-risk areas are on the east coast, in Queensland and New South Wales, particularly near ports. On the tropical coasts and waterways of northern Australia, keep an eye out for crocodiles, which can be dangerous.

On land, in the desert or the forest, you might run into snakes. They rarely attack humans and will usually flee at the sight of one. However, be aware that some local species are highly venomous. It won't surprise you to learn that it’s recommended to keep your distance from these reptiles. You might also come across scorpions, spiders, and other animals with a bad reputation. Generally, they aren't much of a threat to humans.

Climate

The climate varies greatly from one region to another: you can go from the humidity of the tropical North to the desert dryness of the Red Centre, the temperate mildness of the New South Wales coast, or the oceanic coolness of Tasmania.

The best time to visit Australia is during spring or autumn because the temperatures are most pleasant and the climate is dry. It’s best to avoid the period from December to March in the north, as this is when rains are most frequent and very heavy. Stay vigilant during this season.

Flights to Australia

For luggage, the standard allowance is generally 20 kilos for major airlines. The flight will inevitably be long, and almost certainly include a layover. For those who can, I suggest taking a few days to stop over and enjoy an intermediate destination in Asia or North America. After all, a trip this far is a rare occurrence in a lifetime…

Regardless of your choice, I invite you to compare prices between several airlines. Be careful, however, if you transit through the USA: you will need a biometric passport, which can sometimes take a long time to obtain, and you must apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in advance.

Victoria, a land of diverse landscapes

Located at the southeastern tip of Australia, the Victoria region is best known for its diverse and varied landscapes, and this unique character is its greatest treasure. You'll find rainforests as well as arid deserts, splendid rocky coastlines, and miles of beaches that sit alongside snow-capped mountains. The flora and fauna are incredibly rich and will delight nature lovers. Some animal and plant species are endemic, meaning they can't be seen anywhere else in the world.

If we set aside islands like Tasmania, Victoria is the smallest of the Australian states. However, it has the highest population density, largely due to Melbourne, which makes it the second most populous state, behind New South Wales. Its demographics and economy saw a major boom starting in the 19th century with the discovery and exploitation of gold deposits.

The state of Victoria is divided into regions, territories, and must-see attractions: Daylesford (where you'll see the Macedon Ranges), Yarra Valley (Dandenong Ranges), Mornington Peninsula (olive groves, vineyards), Phillip Island (water sports, exceptional wildlife), Great Ocean Road (sumptuous views), Goldfields (the gold rush), Grampians (nature, nature, and more nature!), High Country (welcome to the Alps!!), Gippsland (forests and dreamy tourist landscapes), Murray River (swamps and desert).

My stay in Victoria

Melbourne

There are countless tour options. I’ll share mine to give you an idea. I started with Melbourne, the cosmopolitan city par excellence!

Melbourne is truly a surprising city with a real mix of old and modern architecture, clean and elegant streets, and superb parks and botanical gardens. The blend of old and new is also found in the transport network, where trams, trains, and buses are sometimes truly futuristic. Certain streets and arcades like the Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade will transport you back to the atmosphere of 19th-century shops and Art Nouveau.

Victorian art can also be observed at the old train station, Flinders Street Station. Its red-brick facade is topped with a magnificent oxidized bronze dome, just as I had imagined it before seeing it in person.

The city also boasts a large number of famous buildings. Among them, the Melbourne Museum, located in the northeast of the city center in Carlton, houses the remains of a famous 1920s racehorse named Phar Lap. And while we French have the Minitel, the Australians have preserved the CSIRAC in this museum, the fifth electronic computer built in the world, and it’s still in working order.

You can also visit the immense reading room of the State Library of Victoria, which is shaped like a dome. The atmosphere is a bit like something out of Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons. Parisian tourists visiting Melbourne won't feel too out of place if they visit the Victorian Arts Center. Indeed, this museum is topped with a small Eiffel Tower. But, perhaps ironically, the locals call it “the upside-down ice cream cone”…. Another iconic building worth a look is the National Gallery of Victoria. Don't forget to photograph the impressive water wall at the entrance.

For fans of gaming and shopping, you can find a mini Las Vegas at the Crown Casino: it’s a gigantic complex with a casino, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, cinemas, and luxury boutiques where you’ll find plenty of excuses to spend money.

If you're hungry and want to treat yourself, extend your journey to the docklands and toward Port Phillip to enjoy a delicious meal. To get there, play the tourist and use the old wooden tram cars painted green and yellow, which are still kept in service on a few lines.

If you're a sports fan, you can't pass through without seeing Melbourne Park. This is the stadium that hosts the Australian Open in January, one of the famous Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

In all these aspects, I think the city resembles American cities built on a grid: the streets are perpendicular to one another. It is undoubtedly this specificity that allows for different atmospheres between neighborhoods, a bit like exotic enclaves within the city: Chinatown, Bourke Street Mall, the Greek Quarter, city laneways and arcades… The walks the city offers are always exotic, charming, and full of surprises.

The city's animation and cultural richness are highly touted, and indeed, it’s not an exaggeration: there are always festivals, exhibitions, or cultural and artistic events shaping daily life, even at night when Melbourne remains very lively (check out Federation Square and its shows in the Yarra Precinct, the Melbourne neighborhood that represents the cultural heart of the city).

Road trip in Victoria

But there is more to Victoria than just Melbourne. As long as you remember to rent a car locally, you can treat yourself to getaways in the areas surrounding the city.

The most common routes (which will undoubtedly be recommended by guidebooks and/or locals) pass through Phillip Island, famous for its penguins, seals, and koalas. You’ll run into as many families as surfers, and you can enjoy the tranquility and charm of the place. The bravest and most patient will wait until dusk to go to the observation points to admire the colonies of little penguins that come to colonize the beach and take shelter from predators in their burrows: this is the famous “Penguin Parade.” Be warned, you won't be the only ones watching this live spectacle, as the “attraction” is well-known.

Don't miss Wilsons Promontory National Park (or “The Prom” or “Wilsons Prom” if you want to sound in the know :-)), in Gippsland, a wild region known for its spectacular panorama. You will discover the Australian bush there. You might also meet wombats, kangaroos, and emus on a guided walking tour where a guide will point out the species you are bound to encounter. Very rich in wildlife, this park is actually quite small, as it only encompasses the Cape Wellington peninsula.

By car, don't miss out on the approximately 300 km of the Great Ocean Road, which will take you from Torquay to Warrnambool, a town famous for the whales that can be spotted there in winter when they come to give birth to their calves. I am referring to the austral winter, that is to say between June and September. On this road, among other superb sites to see, you will discover the Twelve Apostles, which are actually 8 (not 12!) rock formations that formed arches before they collapsed, surrounded by the sea. They are unfortunately destined to disappear due to erosion: 4 seem to have already succumbed… I think you know the photographs of them, taken especially at sunrise or sunset, which offer incredible colors on the limestone rocks. Seeing this natural spectacle is a magical moment.

I then drove on to the High Country, a land of legends that are still alive (many shows feature outlaws like Ned Kelly)… You can also find drovers' huts; these were shepherds or cattle drivers who gave their name to a breed of dog descended from dingoes, the wild dogs that populate the region and were domesticated to guide and protect herds. You go from the Bush to alpine lands with the highest peaks in Victoria, snow-capped in winter. Australians have fun on the slopes: off-road driving, mountain biking, rock climbing, etc. Others, perhaps a bit calmer, enjoy great fishing in the lakes and rivers, while others go horseback riding or hiking to feast their eyes. That’s what I did, actually… Bring good shoes because the ground rocks are quite sharp.

In winter, ski enthusiasts don't necessarily come here: they prefer the slopes of Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort, located in Gippsland. This territory also offers magnificent landscapes and magical moments: sitting on the terrace of a pub, pint in hand, you can admire the sun reflecting in one of the many local lakes.

For those who want additional information on the parks, here is the official website published by the Victorian tourism office.

As I wrote in the title, this was only a “mini” road trip, as Australia deserves even more time to discover all of its landscapes. But I think Victoria has the merit of offering you a wide range of almost everything that exists on this continent.