For the adventurous traveler, Australia is a treasure worth exploring. A young country in terms of colonization, the Commonwealth of Australia was born in 1901. Today, with a population of nearly 25 million in six states and two territories, it’s a vast and diverse landscape inhabited by few people – much like Canada.
Victoria, the second largest state in Australia, is located in the southeastern region. The city of Melbourne is the state capital. Situated on the northern shores of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is known for world-class shopping, multicultural flair, and cosmopolitan feel. It also boasts a proud tradition of sport, being the birthplace of Aussie-rules football and the AFL (Australian Football League).
Authentic gold-rush town
Many of Victoria’s most popular attractions are within a short drive of Melbourne, like the town of Ballarat. Here you’ll find Sovereign Hill, a recreated gold-rush town that immerses visitors in historic happenings re-enacted by costumed characters.
When an abundance of gold was discovered at the Victorian goldfields in the 1850’s, the lure of easy lucre was irresistible. Just like Yukon’s famous Klondike gold rush, hordes of people gambled everything they had to try their luck panning for gold.
Wannabe prospectors made their way to Australia from around the world and swarmed the area, desperate to strike it rich. For a lucky few, fortunes were made overnight. For most, the dream remained unrealized.
I, too, would try my luck, quickly falling victim to the addictive lure of the pan. The technique involved shoveling scoops of gravel, rock and sand into a round iron plate, then stooping over and sifting the heavy contents back and forth, dumping out the big stuff, eventually getting down to smaller substances.
It took plenty of practice to attain the finest nitty-gritty, and by then I was hooked – particularly after final swirls of the softest silkiest sands began to reveal miniscule specks of gold. This astounding discovery roused an overwhelming obsession that there could be more! There MUST be more! Surely I will find my fortune if I just… keep… on… panning…
After two hours of shoveling, scooping and sifting, my host had to practically pull me away from the creek-bed. By then I had effectively mastered the technique, amassing enough gold to equal the size of the tiniest grain of rice. Which meant I was still poor. But my sheer determination and near madness earned a timeless memento worth more than its weight in gold.
Australia’s unique creatures
Switching from minerals to animals, nearby Ballarat Wildlife Park offers a natural setting to observe adorable koalas lolling about eucalyptus branches. You can also see real Tasmanian devils which look nothing like the one on Bugs Bunny, and safely get up close to killer crocodiles.
Stroll among cute little kangaroos you can feed right out of your hand. But be warned. If the emus see you, you just might get accosted by one. Because they tend like to peck at your hand in search of food, should they get within striking range.
Outdoor adventure paradise
Outdoor enthusiasts visiting Australia’s state of Victoria must check out Grampians National Park, a rugged mountain range consisting of sandstone ridges carved into steep craggy slopes. With more than 50 trails winding through a system of sparkling lakes, cascading waterfalls, and magnificent panoramic vistas, the region is favourite among hikers, cyclists, paddlers and climbers.
Four-wheel drive backwoods tours will take you deep into the remote regions of the second largest state in Australia. Where the landscape teems with native plants, birds and other forms of life. Undoubtedly including the critters you knew were there, but didn’t want to see. Ever.
I’m talking about Australia’s infamous spiders and snakes. Yes, they exist. And yes, they can kill you. But the locals I was traveling with weren’t at all phased, and I para-phrase: “We grew up knowing about them. They’re just part of our environment. We don’t think about them much.”
Gariwerd is the Indigenous name for the Grampians. This almost-mystical place is pivotal to stories by Indigenous communities in South-Western Victoria. The cultural landscape hold much physical and spiritual significance.
The region has the largest number of rock art sites in Southern Australia and over 80% of Victoria’s rock art sites, with some of it dating back more than 20,000 years. Other ancient sites have revealed stone tools, the remains of settlements, and artifacts of all kinds.
The grandest road around
For stunning marine scenery, the Great Ocean Road is hard to beat. This popular driving route ranks among the world’s most stunning drives, hugging the contours of the coast and covering 300 kilometers from Nelson to Australia’s surf capital, Torquay.
A definite highlight is the Twelve Apostles – giant stacks of eroded sandstone soaring up from the swirling ocean waters. Lined in a row like silent sentinels guarding the coast. Perhaps guarding seafarers against dangers that lurked below the surface. In centuries past, it’s believed that more than 700 ships met unexpected demise along the Shipwreck Coast. Commemorations at different points mark some of the sites of these tragic tales.
Beachcombers like me just love idyllic seaside villages, and Apollo Bay is one of the best anywhere. Midpoint along the Great Ocean Road, outdoor patios with spectacular views are everywhere, while every water sport under the sun can be pursued.
Just a few kilometres inland the valleys of the Otway mountain range give way to rainforest with its own lush climate and wildlife. Once the region settled by timber workers and farmers, the hills now host artists, holiday makers and beach seekers.
Walking among the treetops
Bushwalking in the Otways reveals petrified forests, fireflies, rainbows, and some of the highest ocean cliffs in Victoria. Test your fear of heights or thrill of treetops at Otway Fly Treetop Walk, an exhilarating experience high above the fern-covered floor offering birds’ eye view of the tranquil rainforest setting.
Its 600-meter-long 25-meter-high series of walkways ascend to the edge of the tree-covered canopy. With the spiral tower rising up another 45 meters, it puts you right over the top. Literally. Offering a beautiful birds-eye view of a forest in the second largest state in Australia.
And confirming for you that way up high in the trees is a pretty thrilling place to be when you’re Down Under.
