Victoria's top attractions
It's not easy to see all that Victoria has to offer, so we've put together a list of the state’s top attractions – striking public spaces, state-of-the-art museums, unique wildlife, heritage sites, glorious examples of goldrush architecture, and more. Because of Victoria's compact size, each attraction is also within easy reach of each other.
All you have to do is choose which one to see first.
Gear up in overalls, a miner's hat and lamp head into underground tunnels in search of gold in a key mine from Bendigo's 19th century gold rush.
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Watch for waking koalas and peek at a joey in a kangaroo's pouch, meet keepers or observe vets in the animal hospital, all in an Aussie bush setting.
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Unearth the critical and quirky contributions of the Chinese miners who came to the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s, through interactive exhibits.
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Enliven your zoo visit with up-close Wild Encounters tours, groove in summer to the 'Zoo Twilights' music performances, or just gawp at new arrivals.
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Sentence yourself to a day of fun or a spooky night at Victoria's oldest prison, which housed tough criminals and the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly.
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Teeter on The Edge, a switchable glass cube that slides you out from the building's 88th floor for unsurpassed views of Melbourne and far beyond.
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See a match or tour the home of Aussie cricket and the Australian Football League, the site of the 1956 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
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Step back in time to Victoria's treacherous southern coast as it was in the 19th century, when 160 ships were lost at sea, in this recreated village.
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Appreciate art and surrounds at the two NGV spaces - the iconic original housing international art and the newer, light-filled home of local works.
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Touch and feel your way through local history; give Phar Lap a nod, explore a rainforest, rest in a rollercoaster car, and discover Koori heritage.
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Smell the roses - all 5000 varieties - in the magnificent grounds of the Victoria's largest private residence, pausing to admire the pastoral style.
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Strike it rich with a day out in 1850s Ballarat and pan for gold, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and relive the Eureka Rebellion with sound and light
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All aboard for a ride on Australia's oldest steam railway, through thick forests and lush fern gullies, or travel first class for olden-times romance.
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Join a wildlife safari, Melbourne style, and spot rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and monkeys as they roam freely through the grounds of the zoo.
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Journey to the stars and beyond at the Melbourne Planetarium, travel through space and time, and have a hair-raising encounter with lighting volts.
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Shop 'til you drop at this celebrated market to see buskers, find souvenirs and to marvel at the fresh produce and the treats in the Dairy Hall.
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In the tradition of the world's busiest public spaces, "Fed Square" buzzes with a daily program of events, restaurants and cafes and bold galleries.
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Enjoy a real bird's eye view and sway with the branches when you take a walk high in the dense rainforest canopy in the heart of the ancient Otways.
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Dive deep to discover life beneath the Southern Ocean; walk under tunnels filled with sharks and rays, or ride a simulated underwater rollercoaster.
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See Phillip Island's little penguins emerge from the sea, peek at life inside a burrow, and spot other Australian animals at this wildlife wonderland
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