Victoria Car Hire

Things to do in Victoria

Whether you love sunbathing on the beaches, adventuring in jungles, or hiking up mountains, Victoria has got you covered. To explore everything in this tiny state, you need a solid few weeks.

Visit Grampians National Park

For a window into the land's exotic flora and fauna, visit Grampians National Park, one of Australia's most iconic attractions. From towering sandstone ridges to vividly bright wildflowers and magnificent waterfalls, you might have to fight the itch to 'gram it all. This park also holds immense cultural significance to the Aboriginal people because the national park area used to be called Gariwerd, and houses a notable collection of ancient indigenous rock art paintings and shelters. To learn more about the significance of these, do visit the park's Cultural Center, Brambuk. The park is also home to native Australian marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, etc. If you happen to stay till late evening, the sunsets here are famed to be particularly surreal.

Take a tour of local wineries

Ararat is just a short trip from the national park, and it's a charming little town that became extremely affluent during the gold rush. Ararat is surrounded by wineries and is, therefore, the perfect pitstop to or from any one of the national parks nearby, including Mount Buangor State Park, Ghiran State Park and, of course, Grampians National Park. However, drinking and driving is a no-go in Australia. Perhaps pick up a bottle or two for when you've reached your destination.

See the penguins on Phillip Island

Another popular destination is Phillip Island, home to a famous penguin colony. Penguins return to the shore during sunset, so that is the perfect time to visit. If you want to get super close to these lovable birds, you will have to take a special tour. Besides the penguin colony, there is also an animal park, a century-old Warrook Farm, and a Koala conservation centre to keep you busy all day. If you're travelling with kids, consider visiting the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory.

Beautiful Victorian architecture in Bendigo

Bendigo should be your next destination if you are a history buff. Another town that originally became rich due to its gold rushing past, it's worth seeing their beautiful Victorian architecture, and well-preserved heritage buildings. During their glory days, nearly 700,000 kilograms of gold were mined over 100 years. If you're curious to learn more about the gold mining history of Bendigo, consider taking a Central Deborah Goldmine tour. Other notable sites in town include the Joss House Temple, Golden Dragon Museum, and Victorian Heritage sites like the Sacred Heart Cathedral and Bendigo Town Hall. However, there is more than just history and heritage going for this little town. Overlooking Lake Weeroona is the Bendigo Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest botanic gardens in Victoria.

Take a drive to Mornington Peninsula

If a quiet time spent in nature is your calling for the day, the Mornington Peninsula is just an hour's drive away from Melbourne. Mornington Peninsula is famous for its wineries and impressive walking trails along the coastline. Swing by for lunch at some of the town's finest wineries and eateries, such as Yarra Valley Winery and Manhattan in Mornington Restaurant. As you head south towards the Mornington Peninsula, you'll reach the Bass Strait, which has a coastline made up of calciferous dunes. You could spend an entire morning walking along this remarkable coastline, and if you're lucky, you might stumble upon a beach with black sand. After you're all tired out, head back over to the Peninsula Hot Springs to soak yourself in one of the hilltop pools with spectacular views of the Bass Strait or hydrotherapy pools to ease your body and mind.

Eating out in Victoria

A diverse culinary city

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, there’s so many options when it comes to the Melbourne food scene. Take a stroll along Union Lane or Hosier Lane for a range of restaurants options. Visit Di Stasio Citta with a loved one for scrumptious Italian food set in an incredibly cosy ambience. Check out Anchovy for fantastic Asian-Australian-American fusion food. If you're craving Japanese food and want to try the best sushi in Melbourne, look no further than Minamishima, an underrated sushi joint. If you're hungry at 2 a.m, swing by the Butchers Diner, which is open 24/7 and offers excellent diner-style Japanese, Chinese, American and European cuisine.

Eating out in greater Victoria

If you're riding along the Great Ocean Road, visit The Bottle of Milk located in Lorne. Ideal for brunch, they have healthy options like coconut porridge and smashed avo on toast to more filling breakfast burgers. If you're vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, don't worry, they've got you covered as well. While you are at Lorne, you can't miss Ipsos, a slightly more upscale option offering a modern take on traditional Greek delicacies. The place also has an impressive cocktail list for you to choose from.

While you are visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out Forage on the Foreshore. They grow all their food locally, and their business model supports local farmers this way. They’re definitely worth checking out, not only for a homely meal made with extremely fresh ingredients, but also to support small businesses. The most highly rated items on their menu are the slow-cooked duck leg with shiitake mushrooms, cavolo nero, and orange glaze; and baked filo pastry with passionfruit curd, labne, and rosemary honey. Merrijig Inn, located in Port Fairy, is Victoria's oldest inn open only for dinner. This is another place that supports the local farmers by using local products. The menu here changes depending on what is fresh for the day, but do try and get your hands on the Milawa free-range duck if you can.

Local wine and craft brews

At the historic city of Bendigo, swing by the Flight Bar for the best crispy fried chicken and chicken burger in town, and wash that down with a beer. Their craft beer selections are particularly eyebrow-raising. If you have a car and can travel slightly out of town, the Balgownie Estate is worth a visit. If you happen to go around sundown, just follow the hundreds of fairy lights in the courtyard. Order a glass of wine from their extensive list and enjoy the sunset.

Check out the food scene on Phillip Island

The food scene on Phillip Island holds its own despite being surrounded by culinary giants. Visit Ban's Kitchen for delicately flavoured appetisers that would entice vegans and non-vegans alike. For the main dish, try their slow-cooked lamb and vegan bowls - separately or together - for a flavour explosion of fresh herbs. If you are up for some pizza along with craft beer or unique seafood dishes, then swing by Saltwater, where both sumptuous foods, as well as fantastic views, await you.

Transport in Victoria

Airports in Victoria

Victoria has around 20 airports, but some of the more famous ones include Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport, and Essendon Airport. The Melbourne Airport (MEL) is the leading international airport in the Melbourne Metropolitan area, located 23 km from the city. The airlines serving this airport include Emirates, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Australia, etc.

Victoria & Melbourne public transport

Bus services are available in Melbourne and throughout Victoria. Other public transportation includes tram and rail services. You need myki cards to travel in the trams, buses or trains.

Driving in Victoria

Car hire is also a really popular option as Victoria is a large state with plenty of attractions, and public transportation is limited to the major cities. Enjoy Travel is available for pre-booking to ensure that your trip is seamless. Some of the top-rated car hire agencies include Hertz, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty and Firefly.

There’s some of the best road trips in Australia here, including the famed Great Ocean Drive to see the 12 Apostles rock formations. Whichever direction you point your steering wheel, there’s an unforgettable drive to enjoy in Victoria.