The southeastern state of Victoria's 400 km ( 250 mi) long Great Ocean Road is one of the world's premiere coastal drives, meandering past rainforests, waterfalls, inviting beaches and secret grottos. The stretch between Angelesea and Apollo Bay is especially striking, passing through Torquay, where surfers ride the waves, and the hip and fashionable town of Lorne. The Twelve Apostles stand guard stoically near Princetown, monoliths carved from the whims of the ocean.

Victoria's fertile inner regions, such as the Yarra Valley and Victoria High Country raises vineyards producing respected international labels. The Grampians provide an outdoor adventure land for Victoria's active population, and tours of its diverse landscape may be taken from canoes, on horseback, or dangling from a hanglider. The wealth of the Goldfields spurred an influx of miners from all four corners of the globe, with only a precious few striking it rich. Victoria's capital city of Melbourne 's Queen Victoria Market has been in operation for a century, and Old Melbourne Gaol was the last home of the infamous bandit Ned Kelly.