Around a quarter of the 20 million or so Australian’s live in Victoria, with over 3 1/2 million of them living in the capital, Melbourne. The state offers one of Australia’s most diverse range of sights, activities and attractions all packed into the smallest mainland state.
Melbourne has so much to offer, this huge cosmopolitan melting pot is home to a huge European and Asian population with very large Greek, Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese populations. The city is known as Australia’s event city with a year-long calendar of major events including the horse race that stops the nation- the Melbourne Cup, The F1 Grand Prix, International Cricket, Grand Slam Tennis and of course the Australian Rules Football (AFL) Grand Final.
The city also has Australia’s largest casino, magnificent sporting facilities, some of the country’s best shopping and beautifully set amongst parks and wide boulevards along the Yarra River and new Docklands precinct.
Outside Melbourne only an hour’s drive south-west is Geelong, the gateway to the world-famous surf coast and magnificent Great Ocean Road which is home to the Twelve Apostles, one of Australia’s most amazing natural wonders. The central gold fields offer a rich history with grand old buildings and tranquil settings. The alpine area is home to Australia’s best skiing during the winter months. While the rich farmlands of the Gippsland and Riviera area put fresh food on Australia’s table. Victoria is a must-see for any visitor to Australia. It is compact and easily explored.