Hanging out in Victoria

If you're coming from the US (or NZ, or interstate), then you're probably going to stay for a little while and have a look around. We've put together a few suggestions for things to do while you're visiting.

[If you're looking for places to stay, we have some details listed elsewhere.]

Of course, there is a billion things to do in Melbourne! When we visited last Christmas, we had some wonderful tour guides (you know who you are) who showed us some graffiti, some secret bars, some bilbies, some empty space down at Docklands and lots of people at Southgate. It's the beginning of the footy season, so you may get the chance to check out an AFL game at the MCG (or maybe a local game at Wicky!). If you're less interested in sport and more interested in culture, you could visit any number of galleries - including the National Gallery of Victoria, and Heide. There are also stacks of places to see performing arts - Kristin may have some more suggestions!

Ballarat can be a fun place to visit. You can visit Sovereign Hill (an 'authentic' goldmining village) or Eureka Stockade, site of the Eureka Rebellion, or the fine art gallery and it's also kind of nice to lay around in the gardens (it's so green!).

Hamilton is not such a great tourist destination. You can see the Big Wool Bales, but apparently they're not all that fantastic.

South-ish of Wickliffe is the Great Ocean Road. It's a wonderful drive with beaches or cliffs on one side and the Otway Ranges on the other. We stayed in the very charismatic Princetown Caravan Park and enjoyed exploring lots of hikes, waterfalls, beaches, fish-and-chip shops...

North-ish of Wickliffe is the Grampians (Gariwerd). There's lots of good bush-walking, little towns to visit, wineries to sample, and cute B & B's where you can stay. Find out more information here. The Gateway to the Grampians from our end is Dunkeld, resting in the shadows of Mt Sturgeon. We had a wonderful meal at the pub last year - read some reviews here and here.

To get ahead before arriving in Victoria, you can read The Age to keep up with local news, or an Australian bent on world news.

Victorians - we would love to hear about your favourite places! Give us some more suggestions!!