Province guides
Australia
Attractions
Victoria is chock full of tourist attractions, with Melbourne providing a slew of worthy urban sightseeing opportunities, and the state's scores of national parks promising a varied playground for outdoor enthusiasts.
Within Melbourne, top tourist attractions include Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, the lofty Eureka Tower, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and a wealth of museums and galleries.
There are about 45 protected wilderness areas in Victoria, encompassing glorious rainforests, high mountains, and pristine stretches of coastline. The most popular national parks in Victoria include Dandenong Ranges National Park, Grampians National Park, Wilson's Promontory National Park, Mornington Peninsula National Park, Alpine National Park, and Tarra Bulga National Park.
Victoria is celebrated as an agricultural gem, with some splendid wineries and great local produce. This rich farming heritage contributes to the gourmet culture, and foodies should be sure to experience the vineyards, restaurants and farms of the state. History buffs will also enjoy exploring the Gold Rush towns of Victoria, with the chance to take some underground tours of the old mines.
Old Melbourne Gaol
Victoria's oldest surviving remand prison gives visitors a chilling insight into prison life in a model 19th-century gaol. Behind the thick and forbidding walls, Ned Kelly, the inf…
Old Melbourne Gaol
Victoria's oldest surviving remand prison gives visitors a chilling insight into prison life in a model 19th-century gaol. Behind the thick and forbidding walls, Ned Kelly, the infamous bushranger, was one of 135 men and women who were hanged on the gaol's scaffold.
Visitors can view the Hangman's Box, the Particulars of Execution book, and other exhibits relating to this grim period of Victoria's history, as well as the death masks used in the study of phrenology to predict criminal behaviour. The Women in Prison exhibition reveals the fascinating stories of the crimes committed by the female inmates.
There are free performances every Saturday of The Real Ned Kelly Story - Such is Life, and night performances on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with hangman 'Michael Gately' as he recounts stories of the gaol by candlelight (not for the faint hearted or children under 12 years of age).
Website www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au
Eureka Tower
The Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne, standing at just over 984ft (300m) tall, and offering 360-degree views over the city. There is a public observation deck on l…
Eureka Tower
The Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne, standing at just over 984ft (300m) tall, and offering 360-degree views over the city. There is a public observation deck on level 88, the Skydeck, which affords visitors with a head for heights a testing experience: a chance to be suspended above the city in a glass cube (The Edge) that juts out from the building by 10ft (3m) to hang out over the city far below. On entry into the cube, the glass is frosted and moves out over the edge of the building but, as soon as the cube is in place, the glass unfrosts to the sound of smashing glass, revealing the city far below. The Edge is not included in the Skydeck Experience and requires an additional payment, but it is definitely worth it for those wanting extreme views.
Website www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
Federation Square
Occupying a whole city block, Federation Square is one of Melbourne's major attractions. A remarkable cultural nucleus, the square hosts more than 2,000 events a year in its outdoo…
Federation Square
Occupying a whole city block, Federation Square is one of Melbourne's major attractions. A remarkable cultural nucleus, the square hosts more than 2,000 events a year in its outdoor public spaces, St Paul's Court and The Square, and vibrant covered space, the Atrium. Renowned for its unique design, the triangular shapes that characterise Federation Square actually create an abstract map of the Australian Federation. Affording spectacular views of the city, Southbank and the Yarra River, visitors can not only explore the peculiar design of this cultural precinct, but also visit the many galleries, cinemas, museums, restaurants and shops that surround it, most notably the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
Website www.federationsquare.com.au