8 diverse landscapes in Victoria

What Victoria lacks in size it makes up for in diversity. From the city to the coast, the heat of the outback to the humidity of the rainforest, Victoria is home to a world's worth of landscapes, all within a few hours' drive of each other. 

See how every region packs a damn beautiful punch in unique ways. Because that's what makes Victoria. Every bit different. 

1. Lush tropical havens

Wander through vibrant fern gullies and see waterfalls cascading among beech, blackwood or giant eucalypt trees in the Great Otway National Park, or gaze up at ancient mountain ash trees in the Dandenong Ranges. Tarra Bulga National Park in Gippsland is home to the always fun, Corrigan Suspension Bridge, which gives you a birds-eye view of the canopy below, while the serene rainforest gullies and impressive river scenery in Mitchell River National Park will make you believe you're in the world of your favourite fantasy novel. 

2. Expansive arid landscapes

As the outback of Victoria, The Murray is the hottest part of the state, and you guessed it, the most arid. Travel through ancient Indigenous land in Mungo National Park, where the desert-scape feels entirely other-worldly, or wander across sand dunes, jump in a 4WD and camp under the stars in Murray-Sunset National Park. Cactus Country in Strathmore is also a great day trip, with over 10,000 cacti and succulents from around the world lovingly cared for in a five-hectare garden. 

3. Relax by the coast

Float in crystal clear water at Fairy Cove in Wilsons Promontory National Park, or splash through crashing waves in swimming beaches scattered along the iconic Great Ocean Road, from Torquay to Apollo Bay and all the way out to Cape Bridgewater in Portland.

A little closer to the city is the Geelong waterfront, with a cordoned off art-deco swimming area complete with diving boards along Eastern Beach and picture-perfect ocean harbours to wander through in Queenscliff and Portarlington. Clear waters also await along the Mornington Peninsula. With Rye, Sorrento and Portsea all home to popular swimming spots, while the surf out at Phillip Island (or Bells Beach on the Great Ocean Road) are world-renowned. 

4. Native bush & rugged mountains

Escape to the country for expansive bushland, colossal granite mountains and sprawling fields. Hike through native gums and stringybarks in the Grampians, or make the ascent up dozens of epic mountain peaks. Mount Rosea, Mount William and The Pinnacle are some fan favourites.

In the Macedon Ranges, hike through native bush at Lerderderg State Park or Mount Macedon, or make the easier ascent to views that are quintessentially Australian at You Yangs Regional Park. The walk up Hanging Rock is another great beginner option that comes with impressive granite pillars and a spooky backstory thanks to the notorious tale of Picnic at Hanging Rock. 

5. Alpine ranges

Scale to new heights in the High Country, Victoria's breathtaking alpine region. In the summer, hike, cycle or 4WD to scenic points at Mount Feathertop, Mount Hotham, Mount Stirling, Mount Bogong and more. View fields of wildflowers and look out at the surrounding mountain ranges, covered in snow gums.

In winter, see the region transformed by piles of crisp white snow and slip on your skis, snowshoes or grab a snowboard to adventure down epic runs at Victoria's snowfields. Falls Creek and Mount Buller are among some of the best spots in the country to shred up the slopes. 

6. Natural thermal springs

Soak in soothing geothermal waters that rival the steaming pools of Iceland and New Zealand, right here in Victoria. In Gippsland, make wellness a priority in bathing pools overlooking the Gippsland Lakes at Metung Hot Springs. Indulge with a spot of luxury in the rain and botanical pools at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula. Also in Mornington, sink into calming natural springs surrounded by bushland at Peninsula Hot Springs, or head down the coast of the Great Ocean Road to unwind at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool. 

7. A taste of the city

Victoria's landscapes aren't all natural, some are a feat of man and offer a plethora of urban experiences. Melbourne, the home of coffee, the sports capital, a thriving scene of art and culture and built around beautiful green spaces and the flowing Yarra River, is 100 percent the place to be. Here, you can see a mixture of heritage buildings and modern architecture, ride the historic City Circle Tram and join the crowds of people flocking to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to catch a game of footy or cricket. 

8. A splash of gold rush history

Step through time and walk in the shoes of those from a bygone era in Victoria's preserved gold rush towns. Once one of Victoria's richest towns and practically untouched by time, Walhalla is a sleepy mountainside village that's home to only 20 residents. You can walk through the carefully restored gold rush town or ride the historic Walhalla Goldfields Railway. 

Roam paths paved with gold in the 1850's in Beechworth and see over 30 National Trust-listed buildings that have preserved a slice of olde Victoria. Or, pan for gold, head down into the mines or ride in a horse-drawn carriage in a living gold rush museum at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. The broader Goldfields region, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine and more all have permanent reminders of Victoria's rich history scattered throughout their streetscapes with historic buildings, prisons and either working, or abandoned gold mines.