A 13-day journey through Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park shows just how much ground a walking holiday in Victoria can cover: the Grampians Peaks Trail is designed as a 13-day, or 12-night, one-way hike. Overnight stays are planned at eleven hike-in campsites, accessible only on foot. Those looking at different trail formats will also find shorter and differently described options in Victoria.
Walking between multi-day hikes and long-distance trails
The Southern Prom Circuit is a three- to five-day overnight hike through temperate rainforest to the white sand beaches and clear waters of Sealers Cove and Waterloo Bay. Compared with the Grampians Peaks Trail, the main difference is the stated duration: three to five days versus 13 days and 12 nights. The landscapes described also have their own distinct character, from rainforest to bays.
The Goldfields Track offers another point of comparison: it is 210 kilometres long and passes through some of the most historic towns and beautiful forests in central Victoria. The route can be completed on foot or by bike. Unlike the two multi-day hikes mentioned above, it is described by distance rather than a fixed number of days. The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is characterised by alpine ridges, green river valleys and alpine scenery. Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park also has numerous high-quality walking trails and hikes, as well as scenic drives.
Coastlines, water and landscapes
In Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park, sponge gardens and richly diverse marine ecosystems are part of the underwater world. Diving and snorkelling are possible at Norman Beach, on the southern side of Picnic Bay and in Refuge Cove; water conditions can vary. This offers another way to explore the park through specific locations and activities in the water.
Another coastal highlight is the 12 Apostles: the rock stacks rise from the Southern Ocean off Victoria’s dramatic coastline. MacKenzie Falls flows year-round in Grampians National Park. And free-roaming koalas, emus, kangaroos and numerous waterbird species live in Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, which is located within an extinct volcano. In the Otways, visitors can watch glow worms at Melba Gully. These places showcase different landscape and nature themes without needing to be combined into a single route.
Cultural heritage and wine region
In the Diggings area of Sovereign Hill, visitors can pan for real gold using the same techniques miners used in the 1850s. The First Peoples exhibition at Melbourne Museum explores the history, cultures, achievements and survival of the First Peoples of south-eastern Australia. It features more than 600 cultural objects and 38 Victorian languages; exhibition content may change.
The Yarra Valley offers another distinct focus: there are more than 70 wineries around Healesville and in the hill country of Nillumbik, Hurstbridge and Kangaroo Ground. Historical and cultural discoveries therefore sit alongside walking trails, landscapes and wine regions as different reasons to plan a trip.
Getting to the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley can be reached from Melbourne via the Lillydale railway line to Lillydale Station, as well as by bus routes 683 and 679 from the Melbourne CBD. Lillydale Station is accessible. As transport details can change, it’s worth checking the information before you travel.
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