Victoria, Australia Travel Guide: Melbourne, Great Ocean Road? Where is Victoria's Secret?

Preface

As the home of Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, Victoria has long been a very popular travel destination. However, in addition to the well-known Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, a self-driving mecca, Victoria also has many niche experiences that cannot be missed.

Melbourne

Keyword 1: Modern and Classical

Generally speaking, a city's modernity can be judged by its nightlife and nightscape. Melbourne boasts the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere, the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower, offering panoramic views of Melbourne. Watching the sunset and the lights gradually light up from here is a truly worthwhile experience. For an additional fee, you can experience the thrill of being suspended in a completely transparent glass room and then being launched out of the building.

Eureka Building exterior

Overlooking Melbourne CBD from the Eureka Tower Observation Deck

Overlooking Melbourne at night from the Eureka Tower Observation Deck

Experience the suspended glass house on the Eureka Tower

The modern is counterpointed by the classical and the historical. Rather than saying Melbourne is a city steeped in history, it's better to say it's a city steeped in a profoundly classical ambiance. Honestly, with less than 200 years of history, Melbourne isn't exactly a city of longevity. Compared to a civilization like ours, which boasts a 5,000-year history, it's a relative newcomer. This classical ambiance, for Australia and Melbourne, is actually an import from distant Europe, thanks to the rich legacy of architecture and culture from the British colonial era.

The state of Victoria is named after the Queen of England, so if you've been to the UK before visiting Australia, you might find many places familiar. For example, the State Library of Victoria looks very similar to the National Gallery in London, and the main entrance of the British Museum is also quite similar. Many museums and art galleries in Commonwealth countries follow this style, as does the National Gallery Singapore. Melbourne's Royal Arcade is very similar to various arcades and markets in London.

State Library of Victoria

Melbourne Royal Arcade

Melbourne Central Station

Keyword 2: City of Art

Melbourne is truly Australia's art capital, brimming with artistic flair. The city boasts numerous theaters, museums, and galleries, and visiting art exhibitions and listening to operas in leisure time are part of everyday life for locals. Beyond what we might consider "highbrow" art, Melbourne also boasts a rich tapestry of street art.

When the weather is good, you can often see various street performers performing in places like pedestrian streets and stations. Moreover, street performers in Melbourne are different from those in other places. You can't just do it whenever you want. The Melbourne City Government regards street performers as part of the city's image, so you must pass an assessment and obtain a license before you can perform on the streets.

In addition, graffiti has become an important representative of Melbourne's street art, and Melbourne's graffiti alley [Hossel Street] has now become one of its most famous attractions.

The origin of Graffiti Alley is actually because Melbourne’s city has very strict anti-graffiti policies and regulations. In order not to violate them, graffiti artists all ran to the alleys to create. Therefore, the graffiti alleys in Melbourne are not only in Horsell Street, but the graffiti on Horsell Street is the place where the graffiti changes the fastest in Melbourne. Sometimes you can see the whole alley completely different the next day, and sometimes you can also see some graffiti artists creating on the spot.

Keyword 3: Coffee culture

Melbourne's coffee scene is incredibly important. It's no wonder Melbourne is a city obsessed with coffee. You can look up any number of lists, like the world's top ten coffee cities or the world's top eight coffee cities, and Melbourne is undoubtedly on the list. But strangely, Melbourne's obsession with coffee seems unique to Australia; other cities don't possess such a strong coffee ethos. To exaggerate a bit, you can practically smell the aroma of coffee everywhere in Melbourne's city center. A coffee shop is within a dozen meters of your walk. The city boasts over 5,000 coffee shops, ranging from well-known chains to small, independently-owned establishments. These cafes have become popular destinations for locals to dine, socialize, date, and even work. Melbourne is also the birthplace of the flat white coffee. When visiting Melbourne, be sure to find a nice coffee shop and order a leisurely flat white to while away the hours.

Auction Rooms, the best coffee shop of 2017, selected by The Age Australia

Great Ocean Road

Keyword 1: One of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world

The Great Ocean Road, located along Victoria's southwestern coast, was built by the Australian government in memory of the soldiers who died in World War I. Its rugged terrain and breathtaking scenery make it one of the world's most beautiful coastal drives. The Great Ocean Road begins in Geelong, Victoria's second-largest city, and continues westward along the coast, ending in Warrnambool, a city in southwestern Victoria.

The main scenery of the Great Ocean Road can be divided into three sections.

The first section of the blue line runs from Torquay to Apollo Bay, with a total length of about 92 kilometers. This section of the road runs along the coast, passing through small towns such as Angelsea and Lorne. There are many beaches along the way suitable for surfing. The annual World Surfing Championship is also held in Torquay during Easter every year.

The second green route runs from Apollo Bay to Princeton, a total of approximately 80 kilometers. This section leaves the coastline and travels inland through the bush, passing through the Great Otway National Park. We are referring to the light green route below, not the dark green route above, which runs directly from the Great Ocean Road's starting point in Geelong to the highway at the end of the Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool. If you take this route, you won't even see the end of the Great Ocean Road.

The third yellow line is the most representative and essential section of the Great Ocean Road, with a total length of about 30 kilometers from Princeton to Peterborough. This section returns from the inland section to the coastal highway. The most representative attractions of the Great Ocean Road, such as London Arch Bridge and the Twelve Apostles, are all on this section of the road.

Twelve Apostles

London Bridge

Keyword 2: Twelve Apostles

As we just mentioned, the Twelve Apostles are the most representative landscape of the Great Ocean Road and even the entire Victoria. Even many Australian travel promotional videos and documentaries can be seen with the shadow of the Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles were originally connected to the mainland, but due to long-term erosion and weathering, they have become twelve independent rocks and sea pillars in the sea. In the last century, people gave these natural landscapes a religious connotation, associating the 12 rocks with the twelve disciples of Jesus, hence the name "Twelve Apostles", which has greatly increased the popularity of this place.

There is also a saying that there have only been 8 of the 12 Apostles since recorded history, and not 12 at all. They are just religious and artistic embellishments, but we have no way to verify these things. The formation of the Twelve Apostles is due to the magic of nature, but also due to the continuous action of sea water and sea breeze. Currently, there are only 7 of the Twelve Apostles left. The most recent collapse occurred in 2005, and one day all 12 Apostles will disappear. There are many attractions in the world that will eventually disappear like the Twelve Apostles, such as the nearby London Bridge. London Bridge originally looked like this, a very iconic arch bridge shape. In 1990, this London Bridge collapsed and became the London Broken Bridge. So we still need to go and see these attractions early.

The best time to visit the Great Ocean Road is between October and May, when the weather is relatively good. Those who frequently enjoy ocean views will undoubtedly know the importance of weather. On a good day, we enjoy a delightful blue sky and azure sea, while on a bad day, the sea appears gray and lifeless. If the weather is good, I highly recommend spending half a day watching the sunset; the afterglow paints the cliffs and rocks a vibrant red, creating a truly stunning sight.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island, located in the south of Melbourne, is a place famous for its animals and can be called the real-life version of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

Phillip Island Chinese official website: http://www.penguins.org.cn/

Churchill Grange

Australia has long been called "rustic Australia" because, compared to the sophistication of Europe, much of it feels down-home, like a farmer. Even the Australian English accent has been criticized as coming from the countryside. But I believe that rurality is the true essence of Australia. The natural scenery, rural life, and the diverse and fascinating animals are what truly draw me to Australia. Rather than complaining about Australia's cities being less prosperous or its architecture being less sophisticated, I'd rather experience authentic Australian rural life.

Churchill Island Heritage Farm, located at the entrance to Phillip Island, is Victoria's first farm and boasts a distinguished history. Once a purely agricultural and livestock-based farm, it has now shifted its focus towards tourism. However, the farm's facilities remain intact. With its large number of animals, it's a perfect spot for a family outing. Arriving before 2:00 PM is recommended, as there are scheduled performances almost every afternoon, including sheep milking, horseshoeing, sheepdog training, and sheep shearing.

Koala Conservation Center

The Koala Conservation Centre on Phillip Island is also a popular place to see koalas. Compared to zoos, the koalas here are closer to their natural state, and compared to completely wild koalas, most of which sleep on tree trunks at a certain height, the koalas at the conservation centre can be seen at a closer distance. However, you can only see them, as Victorian law prohibits holding koalas. In Australia, only Queensland allows holding koalas.

Besides eating, koalas sleep all the time, and they need to sleep 18-20 hours a day. So in many cases, when we go to see koalas, we end up seeing them sleeping in a trance. If you see a koala that is fully awake, it means you are very lucky.

Penguin Parade

Watching the penguins returning to their nests is the most representative activity on Phillip Island. For this reason, Phillip Island is also called Penguin Island.

The penguins we see here are called Little Blue Penguins. Standing only 30 centimeters tall, they are the smallest penguin species in the world and are unique to Australia. Thousands of years ago, Little Blue Penguins began nesting in the sand dunes of Phillip Island. They leave early in the morning and return late at night, leaving Phillip Island during the day to forage in the deep sea, one to two hundred kilometers offshore. Every evening, after sunset, a group of Little Blue Penguins return to their nests along a fixed route, carrying food to feed their chicks. No matter when they leave during the day, they always return at the same time every night.

Because the little penguins are timid and afraid of bright light, everyone is asked to remain silent during the penguin parade, and no photos or videos are allowed. There are three different seating options for viewing the penguin parade. The first is the general view (in the upper right corner of the picture below), which is a bit further from the penguin disembarkation route. The second is the Penguin Plus upgraded seats (in the lower left corner), which are very close to the penguin parade route. If you grab a front-row seat, you might even see penguins passing right by your feet. The third is the VIP seats, located in the indoor viewing area below the upgraded seats. Through the transparent glass, you can see the little penguins passing directly in front of you.

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula, a peninsula south of Melbourne, has become a popular destination for Melbourne residents due to its beautiful surroundings and location. Holiday living on the Mornington Peninsula isn't about enjoying the luxury of luxury hotels, mansions, and yachts; it's more about enjoying the tranquil countryside and rural scenery.

Sunshine Strawberry Farm

Sunshine Strawberry Farm is a well-known orchard on the Mornington Peninsula. Despite its name, you can pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries at different seasons. Strawberries have the longest season, running from November to April. Blueberries are only available in January and February. Blackberries, similar to mulberries but different in appearance, can be picked here from January to March. Raspberries, also known as bilberries, also have a long season, running from December to June.

The main purpose of this farm is to pick strawberries, so the picking season is from November to April. The farm is open the rest of the year, but you are not allowed to go there to pick the strawberries. The rules of picking are simple: they will give you a plastic box and allow you to take away 500g (1 kilogram) of strawberries. If you exceed the limit, you will need to pay for it. However, you can pick and eat as much as you want.

In addition to picking, this farm also has its own restaurant and shop. The restaurant has a variety of strawberry desserts that taste pretty good. People who like desserts will probably like them very much. The shop also sells various by-products produced by the family, such as strawberry jam, strawberry sparkling wine and the like.

Official website: https://sunnyridge.com.au/

Fruit picking season

Peninsula Hot Springs

Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs is a geothermal spa resort, but it doesn't offer accommodation; instead, it offers a variety of spa and dining packages. They offer a wide variety of spa options, including foot reflexology pools, spas, mountaintop outdoor hot springs, Turkish baths, saunas, and more, as well as private spas perfect for families. However, I'm recommending this place solely for the mountaintop outdoor hot springs, pictured here. The views are expansive and photogenic, making it a popular spot near Melbourne.

If you go, you must plan your time well, because if you go at the wrong time, there may be a lot of people, so it is recommended that you go when there are fewer people, such as taking advantage of sunrise and sunset to soak in the hot springs on the top of the mountain. There will be fewer people at sunrise, or you can soak in the hot springs at night while looking at the stars. The above are all very good experiences.

Official website: https://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/

Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley, located northeast of Melbourne, is where the first grapevines were planted and the first winery established in Victoria. It's here that the region is considered Victoria's wine country. Today, there are over 80 wineries of all sizes in the Yarra Valley, and anyone who enjoys or understands wine should definitely stay a few days here when visiting Victoria.

winery

The Yarra Valley is home to countless wineries, each unique and distinctive. Eling Winery, Victoria's first winery, boasts Yarrabank Sparkling Wine, widely considered one of Australia's finest. The winery also boasts numerous restaurants where you can enjoy wine and fine dining. Locals often choose the area for wedding photos or ceremonies.

Website: https://www.yering.com/

hot air balloon

Even for non-drinkers, the Yarra Valley is a well-deserved destination, boasting stunning natural beauty. Hot air balloon rides are a popular activity, and thanks to the favorable climate and weather, cancellations are relatively rare. Hot air balloon flights typically take place early in the morning, allowing for stunning sunrise views over vast hills and vineyards, with the mountains often shrouded in mist. Aside from those traveling by car or with a tour group, most travelers are picked up early in the morning from Melbourne and taken to the Yarra Valley. After their hot air balloon flight, they enjoy a glass of champagne and breakfast at a winery before returning to Melbourne.