Victoria

Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia known for Melbourne's sport and culture, the Great Ocean Road, wine regions and the Victorian Alps.

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Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia, and Melbourne is its capital and the country's second-largest city. Visitors come for Melbourne's museums, galleries, theaters and sport, the coast and its beaches, and the wineries of the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula. The state runs from temperate coast and central regions to the Victorian Alps in the northeast and semi-arid plains in the northwest, with Bass Strait to the south.

Aboriginal people have lived in the area for about 40,000 years, and more than 30 Aboriginal languages were spoken there before European colonization. Gold found near Ballarat and Bendigo in 1851 started a gold rush that shaped the Goldfields towns. Phillip Island is known for its fairy penguins. Plan around the weather: the northwest is hot in summer, and snow falls only in the mountains and hills of the center and northeast, so ski trips belong in the cold season.

Victoria in five

Book the Penguin Parade in advancePhillip Island Nature Parks says bookings are essential. General viewing is $34 for adults and $17 for children; arrive an hour before penguins come ashore at sunset, and allow 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne.Penguin Parade
Drive to Phillip IslandThe V/Line bus goes to Cowes but not to the Penguin Parade, and there are no return buses to Melbourne after the Parade ends. A hire car or tour solves it.Flights and car hire
Book bookable campgrounds earlyParks Victoria campgrounds must be booked online, with half-price camping in place until July 2027. Bookings open in staggered releases, so check the dates for your season.Parks Victoria bookings
Use the Great Ocean Road authority for coast sitesFrom 1 July 2026, bookings for some Great Ocean Road campsites are managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, not by Parks Victoria.Parks Victoria booking information
Walk the Grampians in sectionsThe Grampians Peaks Trail is 164 km and a 13-day hike from Mt Zero through Halls Gap to Dunkeld, but it can be done in shorter sections. Halls Gap is the base.Grampians National Park

Things to do in Victoria

See all attractions in Victoria

Sight · VictoriaErskine Falls

Sight · VictoriaGibson Steps

Theater · VictoriaMelbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)Check the event schedule and ticket details before travelling, as exhibitions and events change.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to VictoriaPut the places you like in Victoria on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Melbourne (MEL)
Getting there: Flights into Melbourne from other capitals and overseas
Getting around: Hire car for coast, Grampians and Phillip Island; trams in the city
Best base: Melbourne, with a night each in two directions
Time needed: 7 to 10 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Hot, summer
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low15°Warm, festivals
MarchClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low14°Mild, clear
AprilPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Autumn color
MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Cool, rain
JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cold, wet
JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Coldest
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Cold, wet
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Spring, windy
OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Spring, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low10°Warm, blooms
DecemberClear6 rainy daysHigh28°Low13°Warm, busy

Average daily high and low in Melbourne, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Victoria

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 12°
Humidity: 95%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 49%

Victoria

08:57 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+11

Today18°9°49%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 49%.
Wed22°8°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu16°8°21%Thursday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 21%.
Fri20°8°65%Friday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 65%.
Sat13°7°65%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 65%.
Sun14°5°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
Mon21°4°4%Monday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 4%.

Updated 07:58 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Victoria

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Phillip Islandabout 90 minutes by carThe Penguin Parade at sunset; book tickets and plan the drive back.
The Grampiansa long drive or an overnightHalls Gap walks, the Pinnacle and the Grampians Peaks Trail sections.
Great Ocean Roada long day or two days from MelbourneSurf beaches, Otway rainforest and the Twelve Apostles; the route guide covers days, stops and closures.Read the guide

Before you go to Victoria

Car hire from MelbourneCoast, Grampians and Phillip IslandCompare car hire

Penguin Parade and coast toursSkip the driving back at nightCompare day trips

eSIM for road tripsGaps in the Grampians and coastRead the guide

Insurance for a state road tripChangeable weather and cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Victoria, checked

Penguin Parade general viewing: adult $34, child $17, family $85; bookings are essential and everyone, including infants, needs a ticket.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Parks Victoria bookable campgrounds are booked online; half-price camping is in place until July 2027.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
From 1 July 2026 some Great Ocean Road campsites are booked through the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Victoria

Melbourne

Trams, laneways and the base for the state

Read the guide Great Ocean Road

Torquay to the Twelve Apostles, days and closures

Read the guide Tasmania

Across Bass Strait, a short flight away

Read the guide All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Long distances and one-way rentals

Read the guide ETA and eVisitor explained

Who needs which and where to apply

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for cancellations and remote travel

Read the guide

Victoria FAQ

How many days do you need in Victoria?

Seven days cover Melbourne plus two directions: say the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island, or the Grampians. Ten days lets you add a night in the high country or the Mornington Peninsula.

Can you visit Phillip Island by public transport?

Partly. A V/Line bus runs to Cowes, but it does not reach the Penguin Parade, and there are no return buses to Melbourne after the show. A tour or a hire car is the practical choice.

Do you need to book camping in Victorian national parks?

For Parks Victoria's bookable campgrounds, yes: bookings are made online, with half-price camping in place until July 2027. Some Great Ocean Road sites are booked through the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority instead.

What is the best time to visit Victoria?

February to April and October to November give mild days for walking and driving. Summer is hot inland, and winter is cold and wet, though the coast is dramatic in storm weather.

Is the Grampians worth a trip from Melbourne?

Yes for walkers: Halls Gap has day walks, the Pinnacle views and sections of the 164 km Grampians Peaks Trail. It is a long day from Melbourne, so most visitors stay a night or two.