victoria tourist guide

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Plan a trip with Visit Victoria

Are you planning a trip around Victoria? Victoria is home to a wide range of diverse tourism and event experiences.

As a tourist, you can explore a range of things to see and do, eat and drink, and experience the regional beauty of Victoria. If you’re looking to plan your trip to or around Victoria, Visit Victoria has everything you need.

Whether you’re taking a road trip to the High Country or exploring some of Victoria’s best restaurants , you’ll have an unforgettable time.

On a road trip? Plan out your trip using Visit Victoria’s route planner . Find places to stay , deals and more.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria, their ongoing connection to this land and we pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and future.

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Melbourne, Victoria

Guide to Melbourne

Aboriginal name:  Narrm (pronounced Narr-m)

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• Getting to Melbourne
• When to visit
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Melbourne is Australia's mecca for all things trendy and tasty. With exquisite dining, exhilarating sport and abundantart experiences, there are plenty of brilliant things to do in Melbourne.

A perfect blend of rich cultural history and new age trends is waiting for you in Melbourne. As the sun goes down, the city comes to life with a vibrant dining scene as well as events and exhibitions. Explore its bustling laneways, trendy neighbourhoods and sophisticated foodie scene to get a taste of what Melbourne is all about.

Melbourne stands on the ancient grounds of the Kulin Nation of the Wurundjeri people. For the Kulin Nation, Melbourne has always been an important meeting place for events of social, educational, sporting and cultural significance. Experience the culture through a range of heritage walks, cultural tours and galleries.

• Traditional name of Central Melbourne: Narrm (pronounced Narr-m)
• Indigenous Peoples of Central Melbourne: Wurundjeri people
• Traditional lands of Greater Melbourne: Kulin Nation
• Traditional languages: There are four traditional languages in Narrm. Bunurong (Bun-wurrung), Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung), Wathaurong (Wadha-wurrung) and Dja Dja Wurrung (Jar-Jar-Wur-rung).
• How to say g’day in Wathaurong: Wominjeka

Getting to Melbourne is easy with flights arriving direct to two airports. 

• Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine (MEL) is 22km (14mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
• Avalon Airport (AVV) is 55km (34mi) from the city and services international and domestic flights 
• Hire cars, taxis, rideshares and a shuttle service are available from both airports

Getting around  is just as easy as finding a great cup of coffee in Melbourne. The city offers clean, reliable and affordable public transport services. There is even a free City Circle tram line with historical commentary.

Despite having four distinct seasons,  Melbourne's weather  is known for being a bit unpredictable. Summers are generally warm and winters cold, but just ask a local and they’ll tell you that it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. So whenever you decide to visit, be sure to pack layers and carry an umbrella in your day bag. 

• High season: Spring and summer (November to February)
• Low season: Winter (June to August)
• Don’t miss: Melbourne’s world-class festivals and events

Melbourne is a dynamic city with plenty of accessible options for accommodation, attractions , restaurants , cafés and shopping . 

• Arrival: Disability assistance is available at Melbourne Airport, including for those with hidden disabilities .
• Getting around: Most Melbourne buses and trains have accessible options – check the Public Transport Victoria website  for information on using public transport.
• Accessible experience highlights: Several cultural institutions cater to travellers with accessibility and sensory needs, including the National Gallery of Victoria and Scienceworks .
• Helpful resources: Travellers Aid Australia provides mobility equipment hire and recharge points, while the City of Melbourne’s mobility map makes it easy to locate accessible facilities.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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Victoria Travel Guide

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Australia’s second-smallest state, Victoria is also the most densely populated and industrialized. Although you’re never too far from civilization, there are plenty of opportunities to sample the state’s wilder days when it was a centre for gold prospectors and bushrangers. All routes radiate from Melbourne, and no destination is much more than seven hours’ drive away. Sadly, many visitors see little of Victoria apart from its cultured capital and the Great Ocean Road , a winding 285km drive of spectacular coastal scenery. Others may venture to the idyllic Wilsons Promontory National Park (the “Prom”), a couple of hours away on the coast of the mainly dairy region of Gippsland , or to the Goldfields , where the nineteenth-century goldrush left its mark in the grandiose architecture of old mining towns such as Ballarat and Bendigo.

Central Victoria: the Goldfields

Miner’s right, eureka flag, the golden decade, communities emerge, the great ocean road, the murray region, the northeast, the victorian alps, packages and tours, western victoria.

There is, however, a great deal more to the state. Marking the end of the Great Dividing Range, the massive sandstone ranges of the Grampians , with their Aboriginal rock paintings and dazzling array of springtime flora, rise from the monotonous wheatfields of the Wimmera region and the wool country of the western district. To the north of the Grampians is the wide, flat region of the Mallee – scrub, sand dunes and dry lakes heading to the Murray River , where Mildura is an irrigated oasis supporting orchards and vineyards. In complete contrast, the Victorian Alps in the northeast of the state have several winter ski slopes , high country that provides perfect bushwalking and horseriding territory in summer. In the foothills and plains below, where bushranger Ned Kelly once roamed, are some of Victoria’s finest wineries (wine buffs should pick up a copy of Wine Regions of Victoria , available from the visitor centre in Melbourne and other towns). Beach culture is alive and well on this coastline, with some of the best surfing in Australia.

Brief history

Seminomadic Koories have lived in this region for at least forty thousand years, establishing semipermanent settlements such as those of circular stone houses and fish traps found at Lake Condah in western Victoria. For the colonists, however, Victoria did not get off to an auspicious start: there was an unsuccessful attempt at settlement in the Port Phillip Bay area in 1803, but Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) across Bass Strait was deemed more suitable. It was in fact from Launceston that Port Phillip Bay was eventually settled, in 1834; other Tasmanians soon followed and Melbourne was established.

This occupation was in defiance of a British government edict forbidding settlement in the territory, then part of New South Wales, but squatting had already begun the previous year when Edward Henty arrived with his stock to establish the first white settlement at Portland on the southwest coast. A pattern was created of land-hungry settlers – generally already men of means – responding to Britain’s demand for wool, so that during the 1840s and 1850s what was to become Victoria evolved into a prosperous pastoral community with squatters extending huge grazing runs.

From the beginning, the Koories fought against the invasion of their land: 1836 saw the start of the Black War , as it has been called, a bloody guerrilla struggle against the settlers. By 1850, however, the Aboriginal people had been decimated – by disease as well as war – and felt defeated, too, by the apparently endless flood of invaders; their population is believed to have declined from around 15,500 to just 2300.

By 1851 the white population of the area was large and confident enough to demand separation from New South Wales, achieved, by a stroke of luck, just nine days before gold was discovered in the new colony. The rich goldfields of Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine brought an influx of hopeful migrants from around the world. More gold came from Victoria over the next thirty years than was extracted during the celebrated California goldrush, transforming Victoria from a pastoral backwater into Australia’s financial capital. Following federation in 1901, Melbourne was even the political capital – a title it retained until Canberra became fully operational in 1927.

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Central Victoria is classic Victoria: a rich pastoral district, chilly in winter and hot in summer. Two grand provincial cities, Ballarat and Bendigo , whose fine buildings were funded by gold, draw large numbers of visitors, while, by contrast, the area’s other charming centres such as Maryborough , Castlemaine and Maldon , once prosperous gold-towns in their own right, now seem too small for their extravagant architecture but attract history buffs, art aficionados and “foodies”.

BALLARAT is a grand provincial city that makes a memorable first impression, especially if approaching from the west, via the Western Freeway, along the Avenue of Honour . Lined on either side with more than 22km of trees and dedicated to the Ballarat soldiers who enlisted in World War I, it is Australia’s longest such avenue. It ends at the massive Arch of Victory , through which you drive to enter Sturt Street and the city. More than a quarter of all gold found in Victoria came from Ballarat’s fantastically rich reef mines before they were exhausted in 1918. Nowadays, in addition to the more obvious tourist attractions and fine architecture , the town is interesting in its own right, with a large student population that gives the city a somewhat vibrant character and reasonably active nightlife.

Sturt and Victoria streets terminate on either side of the Bridge Mall, the central shopping area at the base of quaint Bakery Hill with its old shopfronts. Southeast of the city centre, Eureka Street runs off Main Road towards the site of the Eureka Stockade , with several museums and antique shops along the way. Main Road is crossed by Bradshaw Street, where you’ll find Sovereign Hill , the re-created gold-rush town. Northwest of the centre, approached via Sturt Street, are the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree.

Ballarat’s mining hotels

There are still over forty old hotels in Ballarat – survivors of the hundreds that once watered the thirsty miners. Some of the finest date from the mid-1850s and are on Lydiard Street: Craigs Royal Hotel , located opposite Her Majesty’s Theatre, and the George Hotel at no. 27 are an integral part of Ballarat’s architectural heritage. Sadly, during the 1970s, the council forced many old pubs to pull down verandas deemed unsafe, so very few survive in their original form. One that does is attached to the Golden City Hotel at 427 Sturt St, which took the council to the Supreme Court to save its magnificent wide veranda with original cast-iron decoration.

The Eureka Stockade

The Eureka Stockade is one of the most celebrated and controversial events of Australian history and generally regarded as the only major act of white armed rebellion against a government that the country has seen – however, some historians argue that Aboriginal people were involved in it as well. It was provoked by conditions in the goldfields, where diggers had to pay exorbitantly for their right to prospect for gold (as much as thirty shillings a month), without receiving in return any right to vote or to have any chance of a permanent right to the land they worked. The administration at Ballarat was particularly repressive, and in November 1854 local diggers formed the Ballarat Reform League , demanding full civic rights and the abolition of the licence fee, proclaiming that “the people are the only legitimate source of power”. At the end of the month a group of two hundred diggers gathered inside a stockade of logs, hastily flung together, and determined to resist further arrests for non-possession of a licence. They were attacked at dawn on December 3 by police and troops; 22 died inside, and five members of the government forces also lost their lives.

The movement was not a failure, however: the diggers had aroused widespread sympathy, and in 1855 licences were abolished, to be replaced by an annual Miner’s Right , which carried the right to vote and to enclose land. The leader of the rebellion, Irishman Peter Lalor, eventually became a member of parliament.

With its white cross and five white stars on a blue background, representing the constellation of the Southern Cross, the Eureka Flag has become a symbol of empowerment – and indeed of many Australian protest movements: shearers raised it in strikes during the 1890s; wharfies used it before World War II in their bid to stop pig iron being sent to Japan; and today the flag is flown by a growing number of Australians who support the country’s transformation to a republic. On a deeper level, all sorts of claims are made for the Eureka Rebellion’s pivotal role in forming the Australian nation and psyche. The diggers are held up as a classic example of the Australian (male) ethos of mateship, as well as independence and anti-authoritarianism, while the gold rush in general is credited with overthrowing the hierarchical colonial order, as servants rushed to make their fortunes, leaving their masters and mistresses to fend for themselves. The flag is on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka.

Rich alluvial gold was first discovered in BENDIGO in 1851, and, once the initial fields were exhausted, shafts were sunk into a gold-bearing quartz reef. Bendigo became the greatest goldfield of the time, and had the world’s deepest mine. Mining continued here until 1954, long after the rest of central Victoria’s goldfields were exhausted, so it’s a city that has developed over a prosperous century: the nationwide department store Myer began here, as did Australia’s first building society in 1858. Larger and more magnificent than Ballarat (this is one of Victoria’s largest regional cities with a population of just over 100,000, including a large number of university and other students), Bendigo offers a thriving arts, culture, and food and wine scene. Its most visited sights are legacies of the mining days – the Bendigo Joss House , Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct and the Central Deborah Gold Mine – as well as the acclaimed Bendigo Art Gallery .

At the heart of Bendigo is the vast, leafy Rosalind Park , and three important religious buildings constructed with money from gold-mining – All Saints Church (now View Hill Fellowship), St Paul’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart Cathedral . The lively View Street Arts Precinct , climbing the hill beside Rosalind Park, features elaborate goldrush buildings now housing charming antique and vintage stores, art galleries, an arts centre, The Capital theatre, and stylish wine bars, cafés and restaurants. Further up View Street is the Queen Elizabeth Oval , with its historic redbrick grandstand, where you can watch Aussie Rules football on winter weekends and cricket in summer.

Daylesford and around

The attractive, hilly country around DAYLESFORD and neighbouring Hepburn Springs, just 90 minutes from Melbourne, is a popular weekend retreat for Melburnians and is known as the “spa capital of Australia”, with around seventy mineral springs within a 50km radius, plus more than thirty spas, wellness retreats and healing centres (see spacountrycom.au ). Daylesford grew from the Jim Crow gold diggings of 1851, but the large Swiss–Italian population here quickly realized the value of the water from the mineral springs, which has been bottled since 1850.

Daylesford’s well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian streets rise up the side of Wombat Hill, where you’ll find the Botanical Gardens, between Hill Street and Central Springs Road, whose lookout tower has panoramic views. Not far away, on the corner of Daly and Hill streets, is The Convent ( theconvent.com.au ), a rambling former convent with three levels of galleries selling high-quality arts, crafts and antiques, and a café and a bar. There’s a great Sunday market just nearby, on the main road to Castlemaine. The town also has “healing centres” aplenty, the spectrum of services ranges from natural therapies to tarot readings – enquire at the visitor centre.

Alternative Daylesford

Daylesford – once labelled “the world’s funkiest town” by the British Airways inflight magazine – has a New Age, alternative atmosphere, with a large gay community. The town has several gay-friendly guesthouses, and on the second weekend in March it is the venue for ChillOut , Australia’s largest rural gay and lesbian festival, featuring a street parade, music and cabaret, dance parties and a carnival at Victoria Park ( chilloutfestival.com.au ).

The Goldrushes

The California goldrushes of the 1840s captured the popular imagination around the world with tales of the huge fortunes to be made gold-prospecting, and it wasn’t long before Australia’s first goldrush took place – near Bathurst in New South Wales in 1851. Victoria had been a separate colony for only nine days when gold was found at Clunes on July 10, 1851; the goldrush began in earnest when rich deposits were found in Ballarat nine months later. The richest goldfields ever known soon opened at Bendigo, and thousands poured into Victoria from around the world.

In the golden decade of the 1850s, Victoria’s population increased from eighty thousand to half a million, half of whom remained permanently in the state. The British and Irish made up a large proportion of the new population, but more than forty thousand Chinese came to make their fortune too, along with experienced American gold-seekers and Russians, Finns and Filipinos. Ex-convicts and native-born Australians also poured in, leaving other colonies short of workers; even respectable policemen deserted their posts to become “diggers”, and doctors, lawyers and prostitutes crowded into the haphazard new towns in their wake.

In the beginning, the fortune-seekers panned the creeks and rivers searching for alluvial gold , constantly moving on at the news of another find. But gold was also deep within the earth, where ancient river beds had been buried by volcanoes. In Ballarat in 1852 the first shafts were dug, and because the work was unsafe and arduous, the men joined in bands of eight or ten, usually grouped by nationality, working a common claim. For deep mining, diggers stayed in one place for months or years, and the major workings rapidly became stable communities with banks, shops, hotels, churches and theatres, evolving more gradually, on the back of income from gold, into grandiose towns.

Maldon Folk Festival

During the long weekend before the Melbourne Cup (first weekend of Nov), things get a bit busier than usual as people head to Maldon for the four-day Maldon Folk Festival ( maldonfolkfestival.com ). Since its inception in 1974 the event has steadily grown, and apart from folk, it features blues, bluegrass and world music as well as theatre and dance. The main performance space is at the Tarrangower Reserve at the base of Mount Tarrangower, just out of town, but there are also free events in town.

GIPPSLAND stretches southeast of Melbourne from Western Port Bay to the New South Wales border, between the Great Dividing Range and Bass Strait. Green and well watered, it’s been the centre of Victoria’s dairy industry since the 1880s, although the Latrobe Valley (particularly around Morwell) is home to industrial areas, coal mines and power stations. South Gippsland has Victoria’s most popular national park, Wilsons Promontory , or “The Prom”, a hook-shaped landmass jutting out into the strait, with some superb scenery and fascinating bushwalks. In the east, around the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach , the region is beautifully untouched, and just beyond Orbost–Marlo the unspoilt coastline of the Croajingolong National Park – with its rocky capes, high sand dunes and endless sandy beaches – stretches to the New South Wales border. Mount Baw Baw , an alpine resort off the freeway from Moe (80km west of Sale), presents a very different aspect of the Gippsland region, offering skiing and snowboarding in winter and bushwalking in summer.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Encompassing eleven sites, scattered between Yarram near Wilsons Promontory and Cape Conran in the east, the Bataluk Cultural Trail ( batalukculturaltrail.com.au ) links places of cultural and spiritual significance to the Gunaikurnai people, the original inhabitants of the Gippsland coast who have lived here for more than 30,000 years. The sites include shell middens and scarred trees; a cave, the Den of Nargun in the Mitchell River National Park, 25km northwest of Bairnsdale; and the fascinating Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place in Bairnsdale.

Black Saturday bushfires

February 7, 2009 will be forever etched on most Victorians’ minds as the start of Australia’s worst ever bushfires . “ Black Saturday ”, as it is known, killed more than 170 people and thousands of animals, destroyed more than a million acres of bushland, wiped out townships and left 7500 homeless. Residents in Victoria’s southeast were told to prepare for extreme conditions the day before; temperatures exceeding 47ºC and winds of up to 120km/hr were predicted, combined with tinder-dry land due to the previous week’s heatwave and long-term drought. In the Gippsland region a fire was started deliberately in Churchill and quickly spread to surrounding areas. Fires also destroyed thousands of acres of bushland in Wilsons Promontory.

Always check with Parks Victoria ( parks.vic.gov.au ) before setting out during the summer months and familiarize yourself with bushfire safety tips.

Wilsons Promontory

WILSONS PROMONTORY , or “the Prom”, the most southerly part of the Australian mainland, was once joined by a land bridge to Tasmania. Its barbed hook juts out into Bass Strait, with a rocky coastline interspersed with sheltered sandy bays and coves; the coastal scenery is made even more stunning by the backdrop of granite ranges. It’s understandably Victoria’s most popular national park , and though the main campsite gets totally packed in summer, there are plenty of walking tracks and opportunities for bushcamping, and the park is big enough to allow you to escape the crowds. You can swim at several of the beaches and even surf.

The nearest town is the dairying settlement of Foster on the South Gippsland Highway, a 30-minute drive away and the best place to buy groceries, fuel and other supplies. Situated by a small river on Norman Bay, Tidal River is the national park’s main camping and accommodation centre, with a general store (daily 9am–4pm) including a pricey supermarket and takeaway food.

Many short walks begin from Tidal River, including a track accessible to wheelchairs. During summer holidays and on weekends between November and the end of April, the tracks become extremely busy so show up early, and book well in advance if you intend to camp. Although the remote north of the park offers some short well-signposted walks, the longer (overnight) hikes are suitable only for experienced, properly equipped bushwalkers, as there are no facilities and limited fresh water.

One of the best walks is the Squeaky Beach Track (1hr 30min return), which crosses Tidal River, heads uphill and through a tea-tree canopy, finally ending on a beach of pure quartz sand that is indeed squeaky underfoot. The Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk (2hr return) is also very rewarding, as it affords an excellent overview of the diverse vegetation of “the Prom”, from low-growing shrubs to heathland to open eucalypt forest, as well as scenic views. The walk starts at the Lilly Pilly Gully car park near Tidal River.

The tracks in the southern section of the park are well defined and not too difficult; the campsites here have pit toilets and there is fresh water, although this is creek water and it needs to be treated. The most popular walk is the one- to two-day (35.5km) Sealers Cove–Refuge Cove–Waterloo Bay route, beginning and ending at the Telegraph Saddle car park.

The Great Ocean Road ( visitgreatoceanroad.org.au ), Victoria’s famous southwestern coastal route, starts at Torquay, just over 20km south of Geelong, and extends 285km west to Warrnambool. It was built between 1919 and 1932 with the idea of constructing a scenic road of world repute, equalling California’s Pacific Coast Highway – and it certainly lives up to its reputation. The road was to be both a memorial to the soldiers who had died in World War I and an employment scheme for those who returned. More than three thousand ex-servicemen laboured with picks and shovels, carving the road along Australia’s most rugged and densely forested coastline; the task was speeded up with the help of the jobless during the Great Depression.

The road hugs the coastline between Torquay and Apollo Bay and passes through the popular holiday towns of Anglesea and Lorne , set below the Otway Ranges. From Apollo Bay the road heads inland, through the towering forests of the Great Otway National Park , before rejoining the coast at Princetown to wind along the shore for the entire length of the Port Campbell National Park . This stretch from Moonlight Head to Port Fairy, sometimes referred to as the “Shipwreck Coast”, is the most spectacular – there are two hundred known shipwrecks here, victims of the imprecise navigation tools of the mid-nineteenth century, the rough Southern Ocean and dramatic rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles.

From Warrnambool , the small regional centre where the Great Ocean Road ends, the Princes Highway continues along the coast, through quaint seaside Port Fairy and industrial Portland , before turning inland for the final stretch to the South Australian border.

Hiking the Great Ocean Road

Walking and hiking enthusiasts can choose between two magnificent walking tracks along the coast: the Great Ocean Walk ( greatoceanwalk.com.au ), a 104km track from Apollo Bay to Gibson Steps 1km east of the Twelve Apostles, and the long-established Great South West Walk ( greatsouthwestwalk.com ), a superb 250km circuit starting from just outside Portland. Further sources of information include Parks Victoria ( parks.vic.gov.au ) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment Information Centre at 8 Nicholson St, East Melbourne ( dse.vic.gov.au ).

PORTLAND likes to describe itself as the “Birthplace of Victoria”. Indeed, there are quite a few historic buildings, but unlike Port Fairy they don’t add up to form a coherent, captivating townscape. It’s the last stop on the Victoria coast going west on the Princes Highway, but Nelson , a friendly fishing village further west, or Port Fairy make for more atmospheric overnight stops between Melbourne and Adelaide. The rugged coastal scenery to the southwest around Cape Nelson and Cape Bridgewater, however, is not to be missed.

The Portland Cable tram

A restored and modified vintage cable tram ( portlandcabletrams.com.au ) transports sightseers along the foreshore on a round trip of 7.5km, from the depot at Henty Park past the Powerhouse Motor and Car Museum to Fawthrop Lagoon (home to pelicans), then back through the Botanic Gardens.

From its source close to Mount Kosciuszko high in the Australian Alps, the Murray River runs for around 2700km and forms the border between Victoria and New South Wales until it crosses into South Australia (someone got a ruler out for the rest of the border to the coast), and although the actual watercourse is in New South Wales, the Victoria bank is far more interesting and more populous. After the entire length was navigated in 1836, the river became the route along which cattle were driven from New South Wales to the newly established town of Adelaide, and later in the century there was a thriving paddle-steamer trade on the lower reaches of the river, from Wentworth on the New South Wales side and Mildura through to Echuca.

In 1864, Echuca was linked by railway to Melbourne, stimulating the river trade in the upper reaches, and thus became a major inland port, the furthest extent of the navigable river. At the height of the paddle-steamer era, Mildura was still a run-down, rabbit-infested cattle station, but in 1887 the Chaffey brothers, brought over from Canada, instituted irrigation projects that now support dairy farms, vineyards, vegetable farms and citrus orchards throughout northwestern Victoria. Between Mildura and Echuca, Swan Hill marks the transition to sheep, cattle and wheat country; the Pioneer Settlement here explores the extraordinarily hard lives of the early settlers. Above Echuca the Murray flows through more settled regions, but also the Barmah wetlands, an ecosystem of international significance.

Nowadays paddle steamers cruise for leisure, and are the best way to enjoy the river and admire magnificent river red gums lining its banks, as well as the huge array of birds and other wildlife that the Murray sustains. Renting a houseboat is also a relaxing (if expensive) way to travel.

The Hume Freeway , the direct route between Melbourne and Sydney, cuts straight through Victoria’s northeast, known as the “High Country”, passing towns such as Benalla, Glenrowan and Wangaratta, a sizeable place known for its jazz festival. Rutherglen , right up against the state border, is a long-established wine-producing region. Heading east, picturesque Beechworth is rich in history, with beautiful streetscapes, haunting attractions and a famous bakery. The northeast is also home to the Victorian Alps – ideal for skiing in winter and bushwalking and mountain biking at other times of the year.

The Hume Freeway and Kelly Country

Part of this northeast region is known as Kelly Country , after the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly. Benalla and Glenrowan (where he was finally seized after a bloody shoot-out) still bear traces of the masked bushranger’s activities, with Glenrowan wholeheartedly cashing in on his fame.

Fruit-picking in the Goulburn Valley

The rich plains of the Goulburn Valley , running through Seymour, Nagambie and Shepparton, are a popular area for backpackers looking for seasonal work . The small city of Shepparton is the operations centre for canned-fruit companies, with peaches, pears, apples and plums exported worldwide. Ask at the Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre ( visitshepparton.com.au ).

High Country Gourmet Regions

The High Country area of Victoria – including the small town of Milawa, 15km southeast of Wangaratta on the Snow Road – is renowned among foodies for the excellent quality of its locally produced food and wine, so much so that it has been dubbed the Milawa Gourmet Region ( milawagourmet.com ).

Another major wine and gourmet area is the nearby King Valley , around 30km south of Milawa and centred around the small town of Whitfield. There are many cellar doors here, as well as fine Italian-inspired produce and dining – see kingvalleytourism.org.au and winesofthekingvalley.com.au for more information.

Brown Brothers Winery brown-brothers.com.au . If it’s a tipple of something special you’re after, try a tour of the Brown Brothers Winery, situated just outside Milawa and clearly signposted; there are also a casual café and a great restaurant, Patricia’s Table , which specializes in complementing Brown Brothers’ wines with seasonal local foods. Mains, such as a wagyu beef dish.

King River Café kingrivercafe.com.au. A popular spot, specializing in local wines and good food (such as pizzas) – the cakes and coffee are excellent, too.

Milawa Cheese Factory milawacheese.com.au . In Milawa itself, there’s the Milawa Cheese Factory , where you can taste and purchase award-winning cheeses and enjoy breakfast or lunch at an excellent restaurant and bakery.

Milawa Mustards milawamustards.com.au . Milawa Mustards offers eighteen home-made seed varieties, plus other condiments.

The Olive Shop theoliveshop.com.au . Locally grown olives and extra virgin olive oil, plus tapenades and condiments.

The VICTORIAN ALPS , the southern section of the Great Dividing Range, bear little resemblance to their European counterparts; they’re too gentle, too rounded, and above all too low to offer really great skiing , although they remain a popular winter sports destination. In July and August there is usually plenty of snow and the resorts are packed out. Most people come for the downhill skiing, though cross-country skiing is also popular, particularly at Falls Creek, Dinner Plain, Mount Buffalo and Lake Mountain ( lakemountainresort.com.au ), 21km from Marysville (south of the main Alpine region). Snowboarding was first encouraged at Mount Hotham and is now firmly established everywhere. Falls Creek , Mount Hotham and Mount Buller are the largest and most commercial skiing areas, particularly the last, which is within easy reach of Melbourne; smaller resorts such as Mount Baw Baw in Gippsland are more suited to beginners.

The towns of Mansfield , Bright and Mount Beauty are good bases for exploration of the Alps, and are great places to unwind. In summer there are activities such as hiking, horseriding and cycling; fewer facilities are open, but there are often great bargains to be had on rooms. If you’re driving , you’ll need snow chains in winter (they’re compulsory in many parts), and you should heed local advice before venturing off the main roads.

Bushwalking in the Alpine National Park

In summer, when the wild flowers are in bloom, the Alps are ideal bushwalking territory with most of the high mountains (and the ski resorts) contained within the vast Alpine National Park . The most famous of the walks is the 650km Australian Alps Walking Track ( australianalps.environment.gov.au ) that begins at Walhalla, near Baw Baw National Park in Gippsland, and follows the ridges all the way to Mount Kosciuszko in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, then on to Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory. If you are doing any serious bushwalking, you’ll need to be properly equipped. Water can be hard to find, and the weather can change suddenly and unexpectedly: even in summer it can get freezing cold up here, especially at night. After prolonged dry spells, bushfires can also pose a very real threat, as was the case in 2009, when bushland and resorts were burnt.

Skiing in the Victorian Alps

The official start of the ski season is the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, though there is often not enough snow cover until August, lasting through to early October. During the snow season, an entry fee of $37–43.50 per car applies, depending on the resort. As a rough guide to costs , lift tickets range from $50–115/day, while group lessons cost around $60–70. Full equipment rental is about $85/day. For weather and snow conditions go to ski.com.au or snowaustraliareport.com . For accommodation, phone the central reservation hotlines of each mountain resort.

In addition to the resorts detailed here, there is also skiing at Mount Baw Baw in Gippsland.

Day-trip or weekend packages are the best way to go, and are far cheaper than trying to do it yourself. The best-value trips are organized by the Alzburg Resort at Mansfield (1300 885 448, alzburg.com.au ). The day-tours leave Melbourne early in the morning and arrive at Mount Buller about 2.5 hours later, giving the opportunity for a full day’s skiing (from $90, including entrance fees; a one-day lift/lesson ticket is $115 extra). There’s also a “return another day” coach service, costing $185 and including entrance fees but not accommodation.

It’s also worth checking out the area around Hardware Lane in Melbourne, where such companies as Auski at no. 9 ( t 03 9670 1412, w auski.com.au ) and Mountain Designs at 373 Little Bourke St (03 9670 3354, mountaindesigns.com ) can advise on skiing conditions at the resorts, and sell or rent equipment.

Several roads run west from the Goldfields to the South Australia border through the seemingly endless wheatfields of the Wimmera region . To the west of the farming centre of Ararat is the major attraction of the area, the Grampians National Park , the southwestern tail-end of the Great Dividing Range. Stawell and Horsham – the latter regarded as the capital of the Wimmera – are good places to base yourself, but Halls Gap , in a valley and surrounded by national park, is even better. North of Horsham is the wide, flat Mallee with its twisted mallee (a type of eucalyptus) scrub, sand dunes and dry lakes. This region, Victoria’s small “Outback” and with several state and national parks, extends from Wyperfeld National Park in the south, right up to Mildura’s irrigated oasis on the Murray River. South of the Grampians is sheep country; following the Hamilton Highway from Geelong you’ll end up at Hamilton , the major town and wool capital of the western district, also accessible via Dunkeld on the southern edge of the Grampians.

The Grampians

Rising from the flat plains of western Victoria’s wheat and grazing districts, the sandstone ranges of the GRAMPIANS , with their weirdly formed rocky outcrops and stark ridges, seem doubly spectacular. In addition to their scenic splendour, in the Grampians National Park ( Gariwerd ) you’ll find a dazzling array of flora , with a spring and early summer bonanza of wild flowers; a wealth of Aboriginal rock art ; an impressive Aboriginal Cultural Centre ; waterfalls and lakes; and more than fifty bushwalks along nearly 200km of tracks. There are also several hundred kilometres of road, from sealed highway to unsealed and 4WD tracks, on which you can take scenic drives and 4WD tours.

The best times to come are in autumn, spring and early summer when the waterfalls are in full flow and the wild flowers are blooming (although there’ll always be something in flower no matter when you come). Between June and August it can be cold and wet, while summers can be very hot, with the potential of bushfires in extreme weather conditions. If you’re undertaking extended walks in summer, carry a portable radio to get the latest information on the fire risk: on total fire ban days no exposed flames – not even that from a portable gas stove – are allowed. Tracks and campsites may be off limits due to events such as fire, storms or maintenance – and the park can be closed on a day of extreme weather conditions – so always check at the Brambuk Centre in Halls Gap.

Rock art in the Grampians

It’s estimated that the indigenous Koori people lived in the area known to them as Gariwerd up to twenty thousand years ago. The area offered such rich food sources that the Kooris didn’t have to spend all their time hunting and food-gathering, and could therefore devote themselves to religious and cultural activities. Evidence of this survives in rock paintings , which are executed in a linear style, usually in a single colour (either red or white), but sometimes done by handprints or stencils. You can visit some of the rock shelters where Aboriginal people camped and painted on the sandstone walls, although many more are off limits for cultural reasons. In the northern Grampians one of the best is Gulgurn Manja , 5km south of the Western Highway. Starting at the Hollow Mountain car park, the signposted fifteen-minute walk will take you to this important site. The name means “hands of young people”, as many of the handprints here were done by children. In the southern Grampians is Billimina , a fifteen-minute walk above the Buandik campsite; it’s an impressive rock overhang with clearly discernible, quite animated, red stick figures.

The Wimmera

The Wimmera , flat, dry and hot in summer, relies heavily on irrigation water from the Grampians for its vast wheat and barley fields; before irrigation and the invention of the stump jump plough, the area was little more than mallee scrub.

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Victoria encompasses the lower section of mainland Australia south-east.

In size Victoria is Australia’s second-smallest state in area. However, the best part of being small in size is many of Victoria’s unique and varied regions are easily reached as day trips from Melbourne .

When you travel Victoria , consider it as being a jigsaw and each piece is a Region. These Regions offers several diverse and enticing destinations with their own unique attractions and things to do.

Regions, like the Great Ocean Road ,  Mornington Peninsula , Gippsland, Bellarine Peninsula, Phillip Island. With destinations that can consist of sweeping coastlines, pristine beaches, surfing, rainforests and national parks.

Or the Grampians, Yarra Valley , Dandenong Ranges, Macedon Ranges, Daylesford, High Country and The Murray. With destinations that offer, spas, golf, fishing, National Parks and forests teeming with wildlife, plus wineries , rivers and lakes and mountains offering skiing, climbing and hiking.

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A Great Destination to visit in Victoria Melbourne Victoria Australia Visit Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, sits on the banks of the Yarra River which flows into Port Phillip Bay.  Renowned for its lifestyle, a passionate love of sports, boasting an

A Great Destination to visit in Victoria The Murray Visit Victoria Visit The Murray The Murray is a region in Victoria Australia.  Visit The Murray Region The Murray Region of Victoria is renowned holiday destination due to its warm stable climate

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Victoria

Quick navigation, about victoria, how to get to victoria, best time to visit victoria, how to get around victoria, where to stay in victoria, where to eat in victoria, things to do in victoria, dangers in victoria, frequently asked questions about travelling in victoria, fun facts about victoria.

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The salty seaboard, lively harbour, and array of hiking and biking routes and trails etched along the shoreline, and surrounding mountainous region makes Victoria the ultimate Canadian island-getaway destination for families, outdoor lovers, and anyone and everyone. In this ultimate guide for planning a trip to Victoria, you’ll learn all about British Columbia’s capital city: how to get there, what to do, and the necessary information before you kickstart your exciting adventure.

Take a moment to think of England, Holland, and tropical island getaways. Got it? Okay, now blend these three images together and add a sprinkle of Canadian vibes. What do you get? Victoria. You’ll find a glimpse of Holland via the avid road cyclists twisting through the English-styled architecture. And when you head to the harbour or walk along the sea-scented shoreline, the laid-back, chilled-out island atmosphere will remind you of a tropical island. But gusts of cold air will highlight that you’re still in Canada (and the occasional “eh”).

Outside of the architecture, gardens, and cultural influences and nods, you’ll find an array of activities suitable for all types of adventurers, personalities, and age groups. Opt to go on hiking, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding adventures, and top off your outdoor experiences with a cold craft beer at one of the many trendy restaurants peppering downtown.

If you’re looking to immerse in nature totally, you can easily go on day trips to the surrounding parks: Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, East Sooke Park, Goldstream Provincial Park, Mount Work Regional Park, and more. But keep in mind that nature cloaks the city, so even when you’re away from these parks, you’ll still experience the soothing calmness that often accompanies being outdoors—with a quaint, welcoming city twist. Victoria has around 70 parks!

Ready to plan your trip to Victoria? Continue reading for tips on how to get there, what to do, where to eat and stay!

Marina at Victoria British Columbia Canada

Victoria sits along the southern side of Vancouver Island, but it’s still relatively easy to access the city despite its island location. If you’re driving, you’ll have to hop on a ferry, but the ocean views will keep you entertained as you travel across the Pacific Ocean. It’s super windy on the deck, but makes for some good photos. Or you can fly into Victoria International Airport, which sits around 25 minutes outside of the city.

Flying to Victoria

If you’re flying to Victoria, it’s best to book a flight that takes you right to Victoria International Airport. Hopping off a plane in Vancouver will force you to either rent a car and travel by ferry to the island or purchase a walk-on ticket for the boat ride over.

There are a few options to take once you reach the airport:

• Walk 2.0 km towards East Saanich at McTavish, where you’ll take the Line 72 bus. This bus costs $3 and takes around 35 minutes to reach Douglas at Hillside in Victoria. You can also walk 2.1 km towards McTavish Exchange Bay G, where you can hop on Line 70, 71, or 72 bus for $3. It will take around 35 minutes to reach Douglas at Finlayson in Victoria.
• You can also drive or take a taxi. The 26.0 km drive can take around 25 minutes.

You can also take a floatplane from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour.

Ferry to Victoria

Whether you’re driving, walking, cycling, motorbiking, or taking public transport, you’ll need to take a ferry to get to Victoria.

One option is—depending on where you are coming from—to take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay and get off in Nanaimo, another island town. It takes around 1.5 hours to drive from Nanaimo to Victoria. You can also take the IslandLink Bus or the Vancouver Island Connector . It’ll take you two hours to reach Victoria via public transport.

If you’re leaving from Vancouver, you can ferry from Tsawwassen. This trip takes around 1.5 hours. Feel free to check out the schedule on BC Ferries !

Are you coming from Seattle? No problem. Take the ferry from Port Angeles.

Public transport to Victoria

You can also hop on a bus for your ferry trip from Vancouver to Victoria. You can use the BC Ferries Connector to get from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria, and back!

Warm weather seekers will enjoy the temperatures between June and September. However, tourist avoiders who don’t mind a temperature drop will likely tolerate the weather in May and October. The trails will be less crowded during these months as well!

While snow cloaks most of Canada during the winter, Victoria instead receives buckets and buckets of rain, so you probably won’t enjoy visiting between November and March, unless you really love rain.

From cars to public transportation to walking to cycling to horse carriage rides, Victoria makes it easy for you to choose a mode of transportation that suits you or your desired activities. But if you were to choose anything, just know that the city boasts of excellent cycling opportunities as well, and it’s incredibly walkable.

Hiker looking at rugged shores near Victoria BC

Are you looking for the best spots to stay in Victoria? Take a look at these neighbourhoods: James Bay (waterfront location), Oak Bay (trendy), and downtown (hello, nightlife).

Hotels in James Bay

Enjoy the coastline views and taste the smell of fish and chips smell swirling off the nearby seafood restaurants as you meander the Fisherman’s Wharf. If you’re looking for an elegant option, you may consider booking The Hotel Grand Pacific or The Oswego Hotel . Budgeters will appreciate the quaint, cozy James Bay Inn !

Hotels in Oak Bay

Lined with soaring oak trees, trendy boutiques, delis, and cafes, Oak Bay knows how to please its visitors. To top it off, the nearby Willows Beach grants kayakers and paddle boarders with a relaxing paddle. Those willing to amp up the swank will like the waterfront views at Oak Bay Beach Hotel . The Oak Bay Guest House Bed and Breakfast also offers a slice of upscale, a sprinkle of relaxation, and a lot of character.

Hotels downtown

Revel in the nightlife spanning Wharf Street and Bastion Square by night, and explore the museums, galleries, and bask in the harbour views by day. Rest your head at the ever-so classy Magnolia Hotel and Spa or start your evening of fun on the rooftop at the Strathcona Hotel—this building harks back to the gold rush era in Victoria. Or you can enjoy a budget-friendly stay at HI Hostel .

Other great options to stay in Victoria

Not into staying in a hotel? Why not consider camping? The following campgrounds may be a little outside Victoria, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wander into the city on a non-adventure day.

Consider setting up your tent at Goldstream Provincial Park. And be sure to go on the short, but fascinating Goldstream Trestle Hike while you’re here.

Or you can try the Spring Salmon Places Campground in Sooke Potholes Regional Park. Admire the fairytale-like waterfalls here! These wild campsites run on a first-come, first-serve basis only.

Looking for a beachfront spot? Look into the Island View Beach Regional Park Campground. It’s not super private, but hey, at least you’ll fall asleep to the bliss of ocean waves flirting with the shore.

Beautiful architecture seen at Victoria British Columbia

Victoria boasts of a smorgasbord of trendy cafes and bakeries. But since there are many options, we’ve decided to share some of the best spots for you to help alleviate the stress that often accompanies food-related decisions:

Best seafood spot: Finn’s or The Fish Store at Fisherman’s Wharf . Expect Finn’s to take seafood to the next level. You can also go for quick, tasty bites at the floating Fish Store at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Best cafe: Blue Fox Cafe . Beware! If you eat here in the morning, you won’t want to eat for the rest of the day: the portions are big. It could be an excellent breakfast or lunch spot before an adventure day.

Best bakery: La Roux Patisserie . Feel like you’re in Paris in this elegant, cozy bakery! Consider stopping by here for a tasty treat after a hiking or biking or kayaking excursion.

Best restaurant: John’s Place Restaurant . Grab a hearty breakfast or lunch at this local hotspot! Try to stop by during Happy Hour, which is between 2-5 from Monday to Friday.

Outdoor lovers will appreciate the natural playground in and around Victoria. Spend hours hiking, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Outside of active ventures, you’ll also find other remarkable options that abide by Victoria’s quirky, chilled-out vibes.

Hiking in Victoria

Expect to find a myriad of hikes surrounding Victoria . You may not associate British Columbia’s capital with hiking, thanks to its prime oceanfront location, but the mountainscapes painting the backdrop have several unique trails. While most hikes in Victoria are on the shorter side, they do not cheap out on views.

For the best hikes, locals and visitors alike tend to flock to Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, East Sooke Park, Goldstream Provincial Park, and Mount Work Regional Park. Families will enjoy the mild elevation and gentle trail along the Witty’s Lagoon with Tower Point Hike . If you’re looking for a long, challenging hike with stunning views, try out the East Sooke Coast Trail Hike . Or enjoy a picturesque blend of mountain and water views on the 10 km Jocelyn Hill from Caleb Pike Hike .

Cycling in Victoria

Victoria really is a biker’s paradise. With a network of easy to moderate loops twisting along and by the seascape, waterways, vineyards, parks, and more. Get ready for a picturesque ride, no matter which route you decide to take. One of our favourites? The Seaside Loop. This lovely 40.8 km ride takes you by harbours, parks, and cafes.

Families will really enjoy the 10.3 km Colquitz River Trail bike ride! Pedal by the Panama Flats and end your journey at the Red Barn Market. For a more challenging excursion, give the 62.0 km , out-and-back Lochside Trail to Sidney a try. Pedal by lush farmland and quiet inlets before returning to Victoria.

Mountain bikers can find fantastic trails in Bear Mountain Resort or Mount Work Regional Park.

Turquose water and rugged shores at Victoria BC

Water sports in Victoria

Spend relaxing mornings, afternoons, or evenings paddle boarding or kayaking around Victoria. Grab your paddles and meander around the following spots:

• Thetis Lake
• Gorge Waterway
• Esquimalt Lagoon
• Langford Lake
• Matheson Lake
• Inner Harbour
• Gonzales Beach
• Willows Beach
• Cadboro Bay

Other can’t-miss activities in Victoria

Victoria has several quirky activities worth taking advantage of! Whether you’re looking for something chill or fascinating or nature-centric, British Columbia’s capital has you covered.

• Visit Butchart Gardens! Revel in the palette of colours and lush fields of green as you wind through this stunning garden.
• Go to Miniature World! Marvel at the miniature depictions of historical moments and fictional realms. This museum is also home to the world’s largest dollhouses and model railways.
• Check out Hatley Park National Historic Site! Let’s face it: Canada boasts of natural beauty, but it lacks architectural wonders. This castle is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in Canada! You can also get your steps in by strolling around the gardens surrounding this monumental building.
• Shop along Lower Johnson Street! Enjoy the number of independent shops and boutiques lining this vibrant street.
• Go on a carriage tour! Bask in luxury (and relaxation) in a horse-drawn carriage. Enjoy the layers of attractions spanning Victoria.
• Walk around Fisherman’s Wharf! Check out the 33 floating houses dotting this postcard-painted harbour. Whenever you get hungry, stop by one of the seafood restaurants in this area.
• Stroll through Chinatown! Quick fact: Victoria’s Chinatown is the second oldest in North America and the oldest in Canada.
• Hop on a pickle boat! Embark on a sightseeing tour via a boat shaped like a pickle.
• Relax at the beach! Want a break from all of your adventures? Spend some time relaxing at Willow Beach, but don’t expect to swim. The water is super cold; if you want warmer water, head to Thetis Lake.
• Go whale watching! Most whale watching tours in Victoria will allow you to go on another tour for free if no whales pop up on your boat ride.

Poodle looking down on the beautiful lake near Victoria BC

Overall, Victoria is a very safe city! Most dangers derive from the environment, such as flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes. But only earthquakes fall under the “High Risk” category . In general, the crime rate is relatively low.

Is Victoria expensive?

Victoria is considered to be one of the most expensive places to live in Canada. In 2019, PadMapper shared that Victoria sits in the top 5 of the most costly places to reside in the True North. But when it comes to food and drink, expect similar prices to the rest of Canada. On average, a basic dinner for two at a pub costs around $48. Do note that you can easily walk everywhere, so that should help lower transportation costs.

Is Victoria safe at night?

Yes! Most people consider Victoria to be safe when the sun lowers into the horizon. However, it’s still smart to keep your wits about you during the night.

Does it snow in Victoria?

Compared to the rest of Canada, Victoria doesn’t see much snow. And even when it does fall, it doesn’t stick to the ground for very long—the charming city averages around 26 cm of snow a year. However, there have been several snowless winters. It will get rainy, though! So bring warm clothes if you plan on coming during the colder months.

Charm locals with some of these random fun facts about Victoria when you go!

• Victoria is named after Queen Victoria.
• This city receives around 608 mm of rain annually.
• Get ready to eat here! Victoria boasts of the second most restaurants per capita in North America. San Francisco holds the top spot.
• Victoria has over 70 parks!
• British Columbia’s capital is considered the Cycling Capital of Canada.
• Five species of whales float in the waters flanking Victoria.

You’re now ready to plan your trip to Victoria in British Columbia, Canada! Grab your calendar and start choosing which date to book your flight, ferry, or whatever mode of transportation you decide to use to reach this lovely city, which boasts of several activities, stunning architecture, and a lot of restaurants. Before you go, be sure to look at our adventure guides for Victoria —find specific routes tailor-made for you.

Articles about Trip Planning to the Canada's West Coast

If you have a big task on your hands to plan a trip to the West Coast of Canada, look no further! Check out the list below to find all the information that you might need.

Planning your West Coast Trip

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A Little About Victoria, Australia

Offering a diversity of regions, Victoria encompasses the lower section of mainland Australia south-east. In size Victoria is Australia's second-smallest state, covering 227,010 square kilometres, a comparison of its size would be that of the British Isles, however, the best part of being small in size, is many of Victoria's unique and varied regions are easily reached as day trips from Melbourne.

Travel Victoria

When you travel Victoria, consider Victoria as being a jigsaw and each piece is a Region. These Regions offers several diverse and enticing destinations with their own unique attractions and things to do. Regions, like the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula , Gippsland, Bellarine Peninsula, Phillip Island with destinations that can consist of sweeping coastlines, pristine beaches, surfing, rainforests and national parks or the Grampians, Yarra Valley , Dandenong Ranges, Macedon Ranges, Daylesford, High Country and The Murray with destinations that offer, spas, golf, fishing, National Parks and forests teeming with wildlife, plus wineries, rivers and lakes and mountains offering skiing, climbing and hiking.

Seasons and Climate

Victoria's climate varies across the state, with the weather in the north much drier and warmer than the south. The state's climate is warm to hot in summer (December to February), mild in autumn (March to May), crisp in winter (June to August) and cool in spring (September to November).

One of our favourite winter activities at the @ngvmelbourne - until October 8, the NGV is hosting more than 200 works from @themuseumofmodernart plus a lineup of local and international artists. Tix are $25 each.

Victoria travel guide

Victoria tourism | victoria guide, you're going to love victoria.

Settled by the British in 1843, Victoria is still steeped in its colonial past, with many examples of ornate historic architecture to enjoy along with almost too many floral gardens and green spaces to count.

It is the capital of the province of British Columbia, with legislative buildings that date from 1897, and home to several universities, colleges, and a lively nightlife scene. From whale watching to fishing to cycling, it's a place where you can enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and activities whether you're a beginner or expert.

Victoria is also a creative city with a thriving arts and culture scene, and plays host to outdoor events like the Rifflandia Music Festival, along with regular performances of live music, theater, and performing arts. With a famously laid-back West Coast vibe, Victoria is like a breath of fresh air.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Victoria

1. the gardens.

Victoria is called the "Garden City" with good reason: flowers bloom in January and February when the rest of the country is still in a deep freeze. Beacon Hill Park covers 190 acres along the south shore and includes a petting zoo, playing fields, and more. The Butchart Gardens are among the city's most popular attractions and one of the world's premiere floral collections, first established in 1904 and located just outside of the city.

2. The History

As one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, there is lots to explore when it come to Victoria's past. The British Columbia Parliament Buildings, the Congregation Emanu-El, one of Canada's oldest synagogues established in 1863, and Craigdarroch Castle, built by an industrialist in 1890 as a spectacular version of Scottish Victorian architecture, are just a few of the many historic buildings and sites.

3. Indigenous Culture

Vancouver Island and the Victoria area was settled by the Coast Salish peoples, including the Songhees, for thousands of years before the Europeans came. There is still a large presence of indigenous people and their culture in the area, and many ways to check it out, including the Wawadit'la, a traditional "big house", with a totem pole, located at Thunderbird Park. The Royal British Columbia Museum includes a large section devoted to Aboriginal culture and history.

4. Island Life

Victoria's location on Vancouver Island gives you many ways to experience island life, from whale watching tours that operate out of Ogden Point in the city's Inner Harbour, to fishing and boating. North of the city on the Saanich Peninsula, you'll find the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, where you can delve into the marine biology of the area.

5. Foodie's Paradise

It is said that there are more restaurants per capita in Victoria than just about anywhere else in North America. You can sample authentic dim sum and other Asian specialties in Chinatown, or savor mouthwatering seafood fresh off the boats. Many restaurants adhere to a policy of serving only sustainably harvested seafood, and there is a strong organic food scene too.

What to do in Victoria

1. life by the water.

Sheltered from the blustery Northern Pacific, this harbor reaches the very heart of Victoria. To mosey along the waterside is a delight for locals and tourists alike, and notable sights along the way will surely catch your eye. From Fisherman's Wharf, walk to the chateau-style Fairmont Empress Hotel to ogle fantastical miniature sets. Nearby, the Victoria Bug Zoo offers an especially unique experience, while the Maritime Museum introduces tourists to British Columbia's water-logged history.

2. Royal BC Museum: Pride of the Province

The Royal serves as British Columbia's memory bank, combining a vast natural history collection with the Provincial Archives. Starting with Prehistory, the Museum does an excellent job chronicling the saga of our changing world. A favorite exhibit displays a gargantuan wooly mammoth, and the museum retraces the steps of the indigenous First Nations who first discovered these lands, particularly in Thunderbird Park.

3. British Columbia Parliament Buildings: Commanding Architecture

As Victoria is British Columbia's capital, the legislature of the province is housed in spectacular Parliament Buildings on Government Street. This neo-baroque masterpiece is jaw-dropping, and the interior is just as opulent, with guided tours available to presenta each room and artwork in context. The surrounding fields and gardens are also a treat, even if just wandering by.

4. Beacon Hill Park: Outdoor Fun for Everyone

This elegant park is full of activities for the whole family. Everyone can enjoy a peaceful stroll through the landscape, and children love to run around the playgrounds along the way. Tennis courts are always abuzz with healthy competition, and on hot days visitors can cool off in the waterpark as well. Wander the shoreline trails, find the pond-side picnic spots, take in the pristine gardens, and don't miss out on the adorable petting zoo either.

5. Butchart Gardens: Botanical Beauty

This national historic site is a world class botanical garden spread across 22 acres, and nearly one million visitors enjoy the grounds each year. From the fragrant Sunken Garden to the Star Pond to the Children's Pavilion, everyone can find something to satisfy their interests here. Most notable are the unique bronze sculptures of flora and fauna speckled throughout the grounds, sure to excite and surprise any happy wanderer.

Where to Eat in Victoria

For high-end French and continental cuisine using local ingredients, look to Restaurant Matisse, where a three-course dinner starts at C$48. The Blue Crab Seafood House is one of many fine seafood restaurants in Victoria, where fresh seafood entrees start at C$32. Fishhook combines seafood with both Canadian and Indian influences; fish curries are priced daily and mains start at C$7.00.

When to visit Victoria

In contrast with most Canadian destinations, the climate of Victoria is temperate and snow-free most years. Summer is the most popular time for tourism, but mild weather and a vibrant arts scene attract visitors all year round.

How to Get to Victoria

The Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is located about 15.5 miles from the city. There are non-stop flights to and from Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, and other Canadian destinations. Bus fare from the airport to most points in Greater Victoria is C$5.00. A taxi from the airport to a downtown location should cost about C$55.

There is no direct rail service to Victoria. Via Rail trains arrive in Vancouver, and there is a bus service that connects with the ferries to take you to Vancouver Island and Victoria.

Ferry service, which accommodates car travel, is available from Vancouver and Seattle, Washington, with multiple routes and pick-up locations. Ferries arrive directly at the Inner Harbour, with easy access to downtown Victoria. Ferry rates start at C$17.20 for a single passenger, and C$56.45 for a car.

Pacific Coast provides bus service from Vancouver International Airport to downtown Victoria for C$55 one way, along with tours that stop at Butchart Gardens and leave time at the Inner Harbour for sightseeing. BC Ferries Connector starts at C$47.50 one way for an adult ticket. Both services operate a bus that connects to the ferry to get to Victoria.

Airports near Victoria

Airlines serving victoria, where to stay in victoria.

The Empress hotel first opened its doors in 1908 and offers rooms in an opulent setting. There are many budget-priced options like the Arbutus Inn or Bedford Regency, with comfortable rooms and basic amenities, while Zed Victoria offers striking modern design at affordable rates.

Popular Neighborhoods in Victoria

Downtown - this area of Victoria is pedestrian-friendly and made for strolling, shopping, and dining. There is a busy entertainment district of theaters and bars. This is also where you'll find the Inner Harbour and the historic Old Town.

James Bay - this is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and where you'll find attractions like the Parliament Buildings, Emily Carr House, the former home of the famous painter, along with the ferry terminals and Ogden Point cruise ship and helicopter terminal.

Oak Bay - this seaside village is located just to the east of Victoria and forms part of the Greater Victoria Area. It is home to many artisan craft galleries and studios, and three golf courses.

Where to stay in popular areas of Victoria

Most booked hotels in victoria, how to get around victoria, public transportation.

The Victoria Regional Transit System operates a network of buses, including the city's iconic double decker buses, throughout the area. Service is reliable and basic cash fare is C$2.50 for adults, with a day pass available for C$5.00.

There are multiple taxi companies operating in Victoria. Taxi rates are C$3.30 for the meter drop, and an additional C$1.93 for each additional half a mile (approximately).

The city is pedestrian friendly, but a car rental will let you easily explore the rest of Vancouver Island. A compact car rental from Budget, Enterprise, and Practicar starts at about C$48. Parking in lots can range from C$2.00 to C$13.50, while street parking costs $1.50 to $3 per hour with a 90 minute to 24 hour time limit.

Best car rental deals in Victoria

2 Adults, 2 Bags

The Cost of Living in Victoria

Shopping streets.

You'll find a wealth of shopping options along Government Street, including fashions from unique stores like Sitka and souvenirs from Moose Crossing Gifts, and the Bay Centre with more than 90 shops. Lower Johnson Street is the place to find local designers. There are several shopping centers in Victoria, including the Mayfair Shopping Centre in the Maywood district, and the Uptown in the Saanich area, housing both large retailers and smaller stores.

Groceries and Other

The Market and Country Grocer offer well-stocked shelves and reasonable prices. Thrifty Foods is a discount chain with multiple locations. A quart of milk costs about C$2.35, while a dozen eggs will run about C$C3.60.