What are the best things to do in Victoria, Australia?

Victoria is Australia’s second smallest state, but it packs an awful lot into those relatively small driving times. Capital city Melbourne is understandably the focal point. It’s a world class city, and there are plenty of things to do in Melbourne.

But go beyond Melbourne, and regional Victoria offers excellent coastal scenery, food and wine, wildlife and heritage. Things to do in Victoria range from surfing on the beaches to climbing in the mountains. If it’s regional towns you’re after, Australia Travel Questions has a series of Victoria town guides.

Otherwise, below are the best things to do in Victoria beyond Melbourne that are currently covered on Australia Travel Questions.

Things to do in Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges

Climb to the top of Mount Disappointment.

Walk to Lerderderg Gorge in the Lerderderg State Park.

See Trentham Falls plunge over volcano-formed basalt.

See rock formations formed by lava in the Organ Pipes National Park.

Climb the fabled Hanging Rock in Woodend.

See kangaroos on the golf course in Gisborne.

Things to do on the Bellarine Peninsula

Take the Portarlington ferry from Melbourne to Portarlington, and visit the Jack Rabbit Winery or Terindah Estate on a Bellarine Peninsula wine tour.

Visit the National Wool Museum and Buckley Falls in Geelong.

Hop on the Queenscliff ferry to the Mornington Peninsula.

Things to do on the Great Ocean Road

Try a surfing lesson in Torquay – or watch the experienced surfers at Bells Beach.

Visit the Australian National Surfing Museum.

Taste chocolates at the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie.

Spot kangaroos on the Anglesea Golf Course.

Go inside the Round The Twist lighthouse.

Dine out over Ipsos or Movida in Lorne.

Get the classic Great Ocean Road photo from Teddy’s Lookout.

Walk to Erskine Falls in the Great Otway National Park.

Have an adventure in the treetops at Otway Fly or Live Wire Park.

See koalas in the trees at Kennett River

Enjoy the views from the Cape Patton Lookout.

Go kayaking with seals from Apollo Bay.

Spot platypus on Lake Elizabeth.

Attack the surf at Johanna Beach.

Walk down to the beach at Loch Ard Gorge near Port Campbell.

Take a Great Ocean Road scenic flight over the Twelve Apostles.

Indulge your foodie side in Timboon.

Watch whales from Logans Beach in Warrnambool.

See abundant native wildlife at the Tower Hill Reserve in Koroit.

Observer the massive seal colony at Cape Bridgewater.

Things to do in the Grampians and Wimmera

Walk to MacKenzie Falls.

See the Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge.

Take in the view from the Boroka Lookout.

Dine at the fabulous Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld.

Learn about the lava plains at the Volcanoes Discovery Centre in Penshurst.

Go wildlife-spotting in the Grampians National Park or Halls Gap Zoo.

Go fishing for trout at Lake Fyans.

See Wannon Falls and Nigretta Falls just off the Glenelg Highway near Hamilton.

Go walking and 4WDing in the Little Desert National Park.

Things to do on Phillip Island

Stare out over the Southern Ocean after walking to the end of Cape Woolamai.

Explore Phillip Island’s indulgent side at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, Purple Hen Winery and Rusty Water Brewery.

Enjoy a Phillip Island whale-watching cruise.

See koalas at eye level at the Koala Conservation Reserve.

Go surfing at Woolamai Surf Beach.

Watch penguins come in from the sea at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade.

Things to do on the Mornington Peninsula

Swim with seals from Sorrento.

Swim with weedy sea dragons near the Portsea Hotel in Portsea.

Go stargazing in Mount Martha.

Take the Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car from Dromana to the Enchanted Adventure Garden and Arthurs Seat State Park.

Enjoy seafood with bayside views at The Rocks Mornington.

Hit the surf at Gunnamatta Beach.

See nocturnal creatures on a Moonlit Sanctuary night tour in Pearcedale.

Take the French Island ferry from Stony Point, then go koala-spotting on French Island.

Taste Mornington Peninsula wines at the Polperro Winery.

Bathe in the Peninsula Hot Springs pools.

See kangaroos on the St Andrews Beach Golf Course.

Visit Cheviot Beach where Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing.

Things to do in the Goldfields

Visit unexpected Olympic venue Lake Wendouree in Ballarat.

Immerse yourself in the recreated gold rush town of Sovereign Hill.

Watch jousting contests at Kryal Castle.

Go underground at the Central Deborah gold mine in Bendigo.

Things to do in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

Take a Yarra Valley bike tour.

Taste wines at Yering Station, Balgownie Estate, Innocent Bystander and Rochford Wines on a Yarra Valley wine tour.

Taste chocolates at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie.

Enjoy the walk to La La Falls near Warburton.

Take the family on the Wirrawilla Rainforest Walk.

See animals in a natural bushland setting at the Healesville Sanctuary in Healesville.

Walk to Steavenson Falls near Maryville.

Relax amid the autumn leaves of Alfred Nicholas Gardens in Sherbrooke.

Things to do in the Goulburn Valley

Taste wines and admire Aboriginal art at the Mitchelton Winery in Nagambie.

Try beers and wines at the Nagambie Brewery and Distillery.

Things to do in the High Country

Do a husky dog sledding tour at Mount Baw Baw.

Go on a Ned Kelly walking tour in Beechworth.

Tackle the Mount Beauty Gorge Walk.

Investigate the supposed Ned Kelly Tree at Stringybark Creek.

Learn the story of Ned Kelly’s last stand on Siege Street, Glenrowan.

Drink Italian wines at the King Valley wineries.

Take in the views of the King Valley from Powers Lookout.

Have a slap-up meal at Gapsted Wines in Myrtleford.

Enjoy craft beers by the river at the Bright Brewery in Bright.

Go mountain biking on the trail network around Omeo.

Things to do on the Murray River

Take a road trip along Australia’s longest river.

Learn about Australia’s immigration history at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience in Wodonga.

Go wine-tasting in the grounds of a castle at the All Saints winery in Wahgunyah.

Go for a Lake Mulwala boat cruise from Yarrawonga.

Taste local produce along the Murray Farm Gate Trail on the drive from Albury to Echuca.

Go swimming from Thompsons Beach on the Murray River in Cobram.

See koalas and kangaroos on Ulupna Island near Strathmerton and Tocumwal.

Learn about Aboriginal culture while walking in the Barmah National Park.

Go on a Murray River paddlesteamer cruise from Echuca.

Get spooked out on an Echuca night tour.

Discover why the Port of Echuca was so important.

Choose from more than 100 parmas in Echuca.

Visit the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement.

Tackle the Gunbower Island Forest Drive in the Gunbower National Park.

Taste wines at the historic Chateau Mildura in Mildura.

Take a tour of the Hattah Lakes in the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park near Mildura.

Go camping next to the pink lakes of the Murray Sunset National Park.

Things to do in Gippsland

Stroll along the beachside rail trail in Kilcunda.

Tread the white sands of Squeaky Beach and Whisky Bay near Tidal River.

Walk to Toorongo Falls near Noojee.

Walk along the Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail.

Spot wildlife at Agnes Falls.

Go wine-tasting in Warragul or Traralgon.

Learn about coal mining at PowerWorks in Morwell.

Take a train ride on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway.

Swim at the Blue Pool in Briagolong.

Visit the Coal Creek living heritage museum in Korumburra, near Leongatha.

Go swimming in Lake Glenmaggie near Maffra.

See the murals of St Mary’s Church in Bairnsdale.

Enjoy the coastal walks of Cape Conran, East Gippsland.

Walk to Point Hicks, the first place in Australia seen by Lt James Cook.

Enjoy fishing at Lake Tyers.

Go boating on the Mallacoota Inlet from Mallacoota.