Related State of Victoria Favorites Tips

Favorite thing: April weather is really unstable in Victoria (Melbourne is the capital city of this state), but you can pretty much count on it being quite cool through the days anywhere from 11-18 deg C and very cool at night 8-11 deg C, so bring warm clothes. Victoria has been in a drought for 10 years and we are currently on water restrictions, so rain hasn't been a problem, but as I said the weather is really unstable so be prepared for anything from hail to sun (People say the Crowded House song "Four seasons in one day" was written with Melbourne in mind)but it sure as anything will not be like Florida.

Favorite thing: When you're not looking at the beach, you'll be loooking at this, equally beautiful in my opinion, in its own way. Whole segments of the road look like this, rough scrub as far as the eye can see. Small sections pass through rainforest, and there are towns, but passing point to point, you see a lot of this.

Favorite thing: I always like to add a few information tips about the plants and animals I see along my path.

Here is a picture of Bower Spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma), which is a common bluff plant found along the Victorian coast.

It has a beautiful yellow flower, and there are smaller red berries which are great food for lizards and birds.

The main purpose of this vegetation is to prevent landslides from coastal areas, and it has protected Phillip Island's "Nobbies" Nature Park from soil erosion.

Favorite thing: One of the important first steps to planning a trip to Victoria is to visit the tourism bureau online. This site provides some excellent information on all of the "pieces" of Victoria, and uses the jigsaw puzzle to seperate the different tourism areas throughout it.

Victoria is split into several different territories:

Melbourne
Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and The Ranges
Melbourne's Bays & Peninsulas
Macedon Ranges and Spa Country
Goulburn Murray Waters
The Goldfields
The Grampians
The Great Ocean Road
Legends, Wine and High Country
Phillip Island and Gippsland Discovery
Mildura and Murray Outback
Lakes and Wilderness

Fondest memory: http://www.visitvictoria.com

Favorite thing: The weather at the Great Ocean Road is unpredictable so be prepared. I remembered starting in the rain, followed by long periods of sunshine and then the rain came again. The wind is very strong so extra clothing is essential.

Fondest memory: Taking a leisure walk along the famous Yarra River and experience the sights and sounds is indeed a very good experience. When you are tired, you can sit on the benches and watch the world go by.

Favorite thing: Victoria as it seems centers on chiefly Melbourne and the Gold Fields, plus a few other places like the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Promontory. But there are of course countless other little places which are out of the way thus yet to be discovered or at least worth a trip to if they are known.

In the early winter of 2002 I set out from Melbourne on a 4915Km bicycling trek to Darwin. I passed through the state's south west and discovered for my self some really nice off the beaten track places I hadn't even heard of. Many main towns I had learn't of years before, but knew nothing about, were often pleasant surprise to visit. To name a few there was Lavers Hill with it's cosy pub, and after getting there I felt I was truely out of the locations over influenced by Greater Melbourne. Although every artist and his dog has painted it I found Tower Hill an intriguing place to coast down into it's marshy crater. While in Koroit, which I saw in a rainstorm, I learnt of it's friendly bakery and fine humble Victorian era mainstreet. At the hamlet of Yambuk I stayed in a beautiful old Edwardian school building owned and run by the local Aboriginal community. The town of Portland nearby was to me the state's most unknown city, it's also the oldest.

Fondest memory: I took my own state for granted and didn't really learn to appreciate it until I got on my bike!

Favorite thing: The "London Bridge" was a famous natural bridge structure along the Great Ocean Road. Years back, the middle of the bridge structure collapsed and some tourists were trapped on the other side. After many hours in the cold coastal weather, they were finally rescued. This is a photo of the remains of the structure today.

Favorite thing: Traditionally, Elders governed the clans, making decisions on matters such as deciding penalties for transgression of Aboriginal Law, directing hunting and gathering activities to maintain harmony with the environment, ceremonial activities, trade and clan gatherings.

In Victoria and throughout Australia, Elders are highly respected as the keepers of the knowledge. Elders know the Dreaming stories, the sacred sites, the traditions and cultural practices.