12 incredible holiday destinations in Victoria

Penguins, colourful bathing boxes, great wildernesses and more are waiting to be explored. Here are the best holiday destinations in Victoria

1. Echuca Moama

Echuca was once Australia’s largest inland port. The town is the Victorian half of the twin towns of Echuca and Moama, located on either side of the mighty Murray River. A raft of unique adventures await – on water and land – in Echuca Moama. Discover the best family activities for smiles all round.

Chugging along the Murray on a charming paddlesteamer is one of the best ways to experience the river’s rich heritage. Then delve deeper into the region’s history with a visit to Port of Echuca Museum and the restored wharf, or with a guided port tour. Kids can challenge their minds at TwistED, a science playground you can build your own fantasy island, eat a bug or climb an augmented reality wall. Head to Billabong Ranch where little ones can enjoy pony or camel rides, mini-golf, pedal boats, rock climbing and archery at this mecca of fun. The ranch also offers unique horse and carriage rides through the historic port. At Kyabram Fauna Park, home to more than 400 native Aussie animals, families can help to feed a cassowary its morning tea or get up close and learn about the native frilled-necked lizards.

Echuca Moama offers an abundance of affordable, family friendly accommodation options, but a houseboat holiday might be the most memorable. Is there anything better than fishing or swimming right off your own deck?

Getting there: Echuca is 223 kilometres north of Melbourne. Approximately a two-hour and 40-minute drive.

2. The Bellarine Peninsula

The Bellarine Peninsula is a coastal gem brimming with family friendly adventures. From picturesque coastal towns to stunning beaches, exciting outdoor activities and excellent dining. The Bellarine offers everything from historic streets in Queenscliff, a vibrant waterfront in Geelong, cycling along the Bellarine Rail Trail, hiking in You Yangs Regional Park and simply riding Geelong’s historical Carousel.

Getting there: Geelong is 75 kilometres south of Melbourne. Approximately an 80-minute drive.

3. Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory is on the southernmost tip of mainland Australia and Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area. It is threaded walking trails linking pristine beaches with enchanting names like Fairy Cove and Squeaky Beach. Enjoy eye-popping views from atop Mt Oberon and keep an eye out for an abundance of furry and flippered friends. You’re guaranteed to spot seal colonies on a boat trip to the iconic Skull Rock. You’ll also likely spot emus and kangaroos roaming the plains surrounding the airfield or a bolshy wombat at its Tidal River Campground home.

Wilsons Promontory boasts a selection of all-access beaches with free accessible equipment hire and facilities – such as all-terrain wheelchairs – within the park. And if you’re eager for an extra special experience, Promhelis helicopter flights offer breathtaking bird’s-eye views of the area. One of the best things to do in Gippsland is to explore Wilsons Promontory’s glory from the water with Wildlife Coast Cruises or Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, who will keep your little ones engaged and learning. Wildlife Coast Cruises has a full-day cruise around Wilsons Promontory that will whisk you between refuge coves and historic lighthouses in search of cheeky seal colonies, snorkel hotspots and eerie skull-shaped rocks.

Wilsons Promontory is the kind of place your kids will still be talking about years after your trip. Embrace the magic of this 50,500-hectare national park by camping alongside meandering rivers, secluded beaches and granite rock formations.

Getting there: Wilsons Promontory is 195 kilometres south of Melbourne. Approximately a 2.5-hour drive.

4. Dandenong Ranges

Nestled just an hour from Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges offer a serene escape into ancient forests and cool gullies. This picturesque region is home to towering mountain ash trees, vibrant gardens, and hidden waterfalls, making it a haven for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

You can explore the Dandenong Ranges National Park on a leisurely walk to Sherbrooke Falls. Giggle with the kookaburras in the treetops as you tackle the flying foxes, tight ropes and ropes courses at Trees Adventure Glen Harrow Park. Puffing Billy is a century-old steam train that runs on its original mountain track. It passes over bridges, through forest and farmland from Belgrave to Gembrook. The train will have Thomas fans tooting with glee. The quaint townships offer many places to stop for a high-tea to spoil the kiddies.

Getting there: The Dandenong Ranges are 50 kilometres east of Melbourne. Approximately a one-hour drive.

5. The Grampians

One of Victoria’s most popular family-friendly holiday destinations, the Grampians offers adventurers for all ages. Abseil down sandstone cliffs, inhale the fresh mountain air, and discover ancient Indigenous rock art on deserted bush trails. There is no shortage of adventure in western Victoria’s soul-searing Grampians. Visit MacKenzie Falls to feel the spray of one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria as immense cascades flow over jagged cliffs or cast a line at the insanely serene Lake Bellfield. Then, try an easy hike, such as the 1.8-kilometre Lakeview loop or Reed Lookout, that promises epic vistas without the danger of a cliffside meltdown. Mount William is the highest point on the stunning mountain range, with breathtaking views across the valley.

Families can visit Victoria’s largest regional zoo, or play a round of mini-golf in a leafy wonderland. Take the family hiking through wildflower walking trails or experience country life on a working farm. And don’t forget to take a family snap with the Giant Koala, one of Australia’s iconic ‘Big Things’. Who knew getting the kids off their screens could be so easy?

Getting there: The Grampians region is 260 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, approximately a three-and-a-half-hour drive.

Read: The best things to do in the Grampians with kids

6. Ballarat

Ballarat is a creative city that’s surrounded by nature and packed with fun for families. Ballarat has incredible scenery, wonderful wildlife, knight-filled castles, and laneways packed with art and bustling cafes.

Sovereign Hill is one of Ballarat’s greatest treasures. The recreation Gold Rush town is a living, breathing museum spread over 25 hectares of original goldfields. The town has a blacksmith, school, church, sawmill, gold mine, coach house and a street full of ye olde shops. Sovereign Hill will whisk families back through time to the rough and rowdy days of the Eureka Stockade and is guaranteed to leave kids with a serious case of gold fever.

Transport the kids back another 700 years at nearby Kryal Castle, a world of fearsome dragons, gallant knights and wily wizards where live jousting, sword fighting, jugglers and fire eaters are the order of the day.

Getting there: Ballarat is 144 kilometres west of Melbourne. Approximately a 1.5-hour drive.

Read: The best things to do in Ballarat with kids

7. The Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is a seaside playground. The boot-shaped stretch of land lies between Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay. Water babies will love the pristine beaches. They offer great surfing and lessons for beginners, plus calm swimming spots. Adventurous families can explore sea caves and sand dunes, and spot shipwrecks at the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. Head out on the water to swim with seals and dolphins, scuba dive and enjoy a world of water sports. More leisurely activities include exploring the peninsula’s seaside villages and indulging in at a thermal spa. And, of course, you’ll want to nab a selfie at the Insta-famous rainbow-bright bathing boxes that line the beaches.

Getting there: The Mornington Peninsula is 76 kilometres south of Melbourne. Approximately a 1-hour drive.

8. Bendigo

Bendigo is a city with a heart of gold, literally. Bendigo was founded on the gold rush of the 1850s and manages to embrace its history while moving forward with thriving arts and hospitality industries. Melburnians may know it intimately but there’s plenty to discover for interstate travellers. Bendigo has been recognised as a UNESCO Australian Child Friendly City, there are countless ways to explore the area and learn about its gold rush history. Kids can pan for gold, ride the 131-year-old tramways, go to the Discovery Science & Technology Centre, The Zone Fun Park and The Bendigo Botanical Gardens.

Getting there: Bendigo is 150 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Approximately a 1.5-hour drive.

Read: Play at the four best playgrounds in Bendigo

9. Daylesford

Daylesford is the place for a weekend of family pampering. It is tranquil, charming and encircled by picturesque countryside and boutique wineries. Soak up the history of generations-old farms and waters charted during the gold rush. Enjoy the scenic spoils of Lake Daylesford; explore the stately landscapes of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens; and hike the Hanging Rock Trail to explore the area rumoured to have been the haunt of bushranger ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan, made even more famous by iconic Aussie film Picnic at Hanging Rock. And, of course, dip a toe or 10 into the magical mineral springs the region is most famous for.

Getting there: Daylesford is 114 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Approximately a 1.5-hour drive.

10. Mildura

Mildura is sometimes referred to as the place where the Mediterranean meets the outback. It has citrus groves, vineyards, lots of sunshine and sandy rivers that are great for swimming. Mildura sits on the banks of the Murray River. Families can fish or play along the many secret sandbars or canoe, stand-up paddleboardrd or hire a run-about to cruise upstream.

The region is surrounded by stunning national parks, bucolic farmland and stunning landscapes. Murray-Sunset National Park and Hattah-Kulkyne National Park have a lot to offer families. The kids will love the guided farm gate tours. Benetook Farm is the go-to place for families with its maze, cycling trails and animal interactions. Just don’t forget to leave time to stock up on fresh farm eggs and pick strawberries (in season).

The Mildura region is also a brilliant base from which to explore Mungo National Park. Mungo is the home of the 40,000-year-old Mungo Man and the Willandra Lakes system. Willandra Lakes contains a string of ancient lakes formed over the last two million years, they look like an otherworldly moonscape for modern-day visitors.

Getting there: Mildura is 542 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Approximately a 6-hour drive.

11. Warrnambool

The city of Warrnambool is perched along Victoria’s dramatic Shipwreck Coast on the western end of the Great Ocean Road. Warrnambool is a coastal gem brimming with natural beauty, rich maritime history, and vibrant culture. This charming seaside city is famous for its rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and as a prime spot for whale watching, with Southern Right Whales visiting its shores from May to October.

In Warrnambool, you can go to the beach, go fishing, horse ride on sand dunes, visit markets, bike ride and whale watch certain times of the year. Warrnambool or Port Fairy Beaches are great for beginner surfers. The Lake Pertoble Adventure playground has giant slides, flying foxes, a maze and boat rides. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve is secreted in an extinct volcano crater. You’ll see koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and emus roaming in their natural habitat. And you can learn about local Aboriginal culture from an Indigenous guide. A visit to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village will teach kids the region’s turbulent history. Visit the lighthouse during the day and watch the impressive sound and light show experience at night.

Located nearby are its captivating seaside neighbours, Port Fairy, Portland and Port Campbell.

Getting there: Warrnambool is 256 kilometres west of Melbourne, approximately a three-hour drive.

12. Lake Tyrrell

Located in the heart of the Mallee region, Lake Tyrrell offers an outback adventure with a difference. The shallow, salt-crusted lake is Victoria’s largest inland salt lake. It is renowned for its otherworldly beauty and occasional pink hue that is created by the pink micro-algae red marine phytoplankton in warmer weather. At night it is the sky that steals the show. The dark and endless skies provide the perfect environment to view the Southern Hemisphere’s constellations.

Getting there: Lake Tyrrell is 382 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Approximately a 5-hour drive.

This article on the best holiday destinations in Victoria appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.

Lead image: Yarra Valley © Robert Blackburn/Visit Victoria

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