My sources had nothing but good things to say about Victoria so I had to do it justice. I rented a car for two weeks and made my way across the beautiful state. The mixture of farmland, mountains, and cute towns offered plenty to keep me entertained.
Murray-Sunset National Park
My guidebook made only a side-note of this park but I had my mind set on it. Murray-Sunset is known for its pink lakes, something I had always wanted to see. There is a long dirt road at the south end of the park leading to the lakes; Lake Crosbie, Lake Kenyon, and Lake Hardy. I drove down the road and was surprised to see only two other people at the campground. I set up camp, made dinner, and watched a wonderful sunset over Lake Crosbie.
I woke up the next morning ready to hike. The obvious choice was Kline Loop Walk because it runs next to both Lake Crosbie and Lake Kenyon. It’s a great walk with lots of wildlife and all the pink lakes your heart desires. Murray-Sunset is a bit out of the way but should be at the top of everyone’s list. The lakes are beautiful.
Grampians National Park
The first stop heading in from the north entrance is MacKenzie Falls. This is a welcome spot to stretch your legs. There are three lookouts to walk to and all of them are beautiful. Unfortunately access to the bottom of MacKenzie Falls was blocked due to flooding.
I drove through to Halls Gap, the expensive little boutique town that Grampians National Park revolves around. The town isn’t big but it has a stroll-worthy downtown and some great restaurants. The information center has a ton of info on lodging if you are looking for a place to stay. The highlight of Halls Gap is the cultural center, which takes you through the complex geology of the Grampians and the history of the aboriginal people.
Mt Abrupt was my hike of choice and I woke up at 6am the next morning to get an early start. Though it had rained all night, the sky cleared up and I got a spectacular view over the park. Thankfully I brought a jacket because the wind was strong at the top and it was quite cold.
After hiking Mt Abrupt I drove back into the park and hiked Mt. William. It’s a steep 1.8 km, but if you can only do one thing I would recommend this hike. It offered full 360 views of Grampians National Park.
Bendigo
I needed a rest-stop on my road trip and randomly picked Bendigo. I only spent two days here, but if time would have permitted, I would have stayed longer. It’s just big enough for entertainment and small enough to be charming. Tasty cafes, friendly people, and cute shops are what Bendigo is all about.
Milawa
If you’re a foodie like me then you will love the tiny town of Milawa. There are wineries, a cheese shop, and a mustard shop (among other things). I had lunch and a glass of wine at Brown Brother’s Vineyard. Although the experience was very commercialized the wine was enjoyable. The highlight for me was Milawa Cheese Company. I was given a generous sampling upon entry and walked out with two delicious cheeses.
Side Trip: Maldon
The drive through the Victorian Highlands gives great views of rolling green hills and farmlands. If you are looking for a birds-eye view of the entire area then go to Tarrengower Lookout Tower in Maldon. The town itself is cute but if you get there too early the residents stare at you suspiciously like you’re in a spaghetti western (creepy). Needless to say, I didn’t stay in the town long.
Mt Buffalo National Park
This park was much smaller than I expected and my two day itinerary became a half day itinerary. Driving through the entire park takes an hour. It’s a skii destination in the winter, but since it was a ghost town at the time, it may not be the most popular summer destination.
I walked the Cathedral-Hump Track, a 2km trail that gives you some of the well-known views of Mt Buffalo National Park. Even though it was a short visit, I would recommend driving into Mt Buffalo if you have a couple hours. The Cathedral-Hump Track is beautiful.
Parks Entrance
This little spot to the East of Melbourne is a picturesque beach town. There is bridge access over the river which goes to an awesome beach hiding behind the dunes. It was a cold day but as I looked out over the sand I could picture it jam-packed in the summertime. Also, be sure to take a stroll downtown and buy some silly things you don’t need because there are a ton of cute shops on the main drag.
Wilson’s Promontory
I had been watching the weather for Wilson’s Prom with dedication. My goal was to do an overnight hike of some sort but the weather simply wasn’t cooperating. Suddenly there were two sunny days on the forecast and I decided it was time to go. Every stop on the park map is beautiful so don’t miss out on anything. All the beaches took my breath away.
If you’re up for it spend a night or two out on the trail. I started my overnight hike at Telegraph Saddle, spent the night at Refuge Cove, and hiked out the next day. The coastline is stunning and it’s easy to spend a day lounging on a quiet beach with a couple other backpackers.
Phillip Island
This island is known for the penguin march. After spending the day at sea, little penguins waddle onto the beach to sleep. You can purchase a ticket to see the march, although it was a bit too expensive for my taste. I did not go to the penguin march but went instead to St Kilda beach where I saw penguins for free. Although the show isn’t as exciting as on Phillip Island.
Even if penguins are not your thing I wouldn’t skip Phillip Island. I grabbed some fish and chips, plopped myself on the beach, and watched the surfers until the sun went down.
Mornington Peninsula
When I was in Bendigo I met someone from Mornington Peninsula. “You have to spend a few days there,” he said. I took his advice and I’m glad I didn’t miss out. It’s incredibly charming.
The first day I explored the adorable town of Mornington, enjoyed a great lunch at The Winey Cow, and walked along the beach. I must say the day was pretty perfect.
On the second day I drove to the tip of the peninsula, Point Nepean National Park. Along the way I passed a dozen adorable seaside towns and I wish I could have visited all of them. Point Nepean isn’t just a pretty coastline either, it’s an entire history lesson. Nepean National Park was formerly used by the military and as a quarantine station for incoming ships. The grounds are extremely interesting and though I’m not generally a history buff I spent several hours here
Great Ocean Road
Aside from Melbourne this is the most popular destination in Victoria. The coastline is extraordinary and this is coming from someone who grew up in California. When it comes to the ocean I’m hard to impress, but impress me it did.
Though the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s icons, I knew simply driving it wouldn’t satisfy me. I had my heart set on the Great Ocean Walk, a 100km trek from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell. The weather wasn’t cooperating enough for the whole trek but it forecast three days of sunshine and I went for it.
I did a 2 night/3 day walk from Johanna Beach to 12 Apostles. The trail is well taken care of and the sights are to die for. The best part are the campsites. My camps at Ryan’s Den and Devil’s Kitchen both gave views to die for.
Even though I only did 3 days of the Great Ocean Walk I feel like I saw many things the average visitor would never see. If you get a chance you must do some of the walk!
Interested in Visiting Victoria?
Melbourne is a great city but don’t miss out on the surrounding area in Victoria. There are many wonderful National Parks to choose from, tons of hiking, and lots of great towns. Car rentals are cheap so I would recommend driving yourself. There are tours that go to these places but from what I could see none of them cover much area. There are a million tours offered to the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians, and Phillip Island, however the other places are trickier to get to.
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