VICTORIA
Victoria may be mainland Australia's smallest state, but it's blessed with far more than its share of fantastic attractions of the cultural, natural, and historical varieties. Its environment runs the gamut from the dry and empty western plains of the Mallee to the inviting wineries along the fertile banks of the Murray River, from the ski resorts of the Victorian Alps to the forested parks of the Gippsland coast. The capital of the state and the cultural center of the nation, sleek and sophisticated Melbourne over¬flows with stained glass and elaborate iron latticework. Its multifarious districts offer verdant gardens, eclectic ethnic neighborhoods, seaside strips, and student haunts. And because Victoria is compact and has a well-developed infrastructure, its attrac¬tions lie within easy reach of one another and of Melbourne.
Victoria's most distinctive attractions are found on the coast. West, of Melbourne, which perches conveniently in the center, the breathtaking Great Ocean Road winds its way alongside the roaring Southern Ocean. Hand-cut between 1919 and 1931 from the limestone cliffs, the road passes surfing beaches, coastal getaways, temper¬ate rainforests, and geological wonders, including the Twelve Apostles rock forma¬tion, which pokes precariously from the sea like ancient fingers. East of the capital, the coastline unfolds past Phillip Island's penguin colony and the beach resorts of the Mornington Peninsula, heading into Gippsland. Here, crashing waves collide with granite outcroppings to form the sandy beaches at the edge of the renowned Wilsons Promontory National Park. East Gippsland's Riviera climate and resort beaches slowly give way to stony, sandy tidal estuaries teeming with birds and fish.
Most of the state's interior is remarkable less for its natural grandeur than for its his¬torical significance. The mid-19th century gold rush flooded central Victoria with seekers of the sweet stuff. When the ore waned, a host of charming, elegant country towns were left in its wake, today preserved in tourist-oriented nostalgia. Later, leg¬endary bushranger Ned Kelly had a plan to stick it to the man in his wanderings throughout the Hume Corridor. Today, tliis area is a fertile land of wineries nestled in the shadow of Australia's ski mecca, the High Country. The 20th century brought extensive agricultural and commercial development, including several massive hydroelectric public works projects tliat continue to impact the state's ecosystems. Still, Victoria's physical beauty remains, tempered by a refined sensibility and cosmo¬politan flail- that add a touch of class to Australia's down-to-earth grit.
VICTORIA HIGHLIGHTS
- The 12 Apostles. Touristy? Yes. Spectacular? Definitely.
- A day or a lifetime at the Taggerty Bush Settlement for a first-hand experience with Australian fauna, pioneer history, and Aboriginal culture" Going sports-mad with the local footy fans at Melbourne's MCG
- Phillip Island's penguins are great and all, but we prefer dusk feedings at the Koala Conservation Centre followed by sunset over the Nobbies
- Melbourne's delectable, diverse, and de-groovy restaurants.
- Learning about the Koori people at the Brambuk Cultural Centre
- Echuca's marvelously kitschy World in Wax Museum and its just-plain-marvel¬ous National Holden Motor Museum
- Ghoulish night tours of the Old Melbourne Gaol
- Sunrise at Wilsons Promontory's wind-swept lighthouse