12 incredible holiday destinations in Victoria (2024)

1. Wonderful Warrnambool

One of the best places to holiday in Victoria is Warrnambool.

Warrnambool is on the western end of the Great Ocean Road. 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.

2. Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges have ancient forests and cool gullies. The ranges are one of the best holiday destinations in Victoria to experience the great outdoors.

You u 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 1-hour drive.

Read: The ultimate Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley road trip

3. Phillip Island

Phillip Island boasts more than its fair share of famous locals. And while they too set hearts racing, we’re not talking about the Hemsworth brothers who hail from the tiny island. Think of all the wildlife, sandy beaches, fresh seafood and family activities.

The 32,000 little penguins who inhabit the island are its hottest stars. Visitors can get up close with the tiny feathered celebs as they wander to their sandy burrows at the nightly Penguin Parade.

Phillip Island has everything on offer for the nature-loving family – you can also take a cruise out to the Australian fur seal colony at Seal Rocks or visit furry koalas – plus a range of fun attractions including mazes, chocolate and go-karting to name just a few.

With an array of accommodation options, it’s easy to overnight on the island for extra exploring.

Getting there:Phillip Island is 142 kilometres south ofMelbourne.Approximately a 1.5-hour drive.

Read: The best things to do on Phillip Island with kids

4. Explore the Murray River in Echuca

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.

Echuca is Australia’s paddle steamer capital and home to the largest paddle steamer fleet in the country. Climb aboard for a day of visiting waterside wineries and farm gates and soaking up the rich riverboat heritage.

Families can walk, bike, boat, fish or camp while they spend their days breathing in fresh country air and marvelling at red gum forests.

Getting there: Echuca is 224 kilometres north ofMelbourne.Approximately a 2.5-hour drive.

Read: Six of Australia’s great river campsites

5. 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.

6. Gippsland wonderland

Gippsland has a captivating beauty. Idyllic coastal villages, charming countryside towns and irresistibly fresh produce incites a passion in those lucky enough to visit.

Families can spend days paddling at pristine beaches, exploring rockpools, strolling under a canopy of towering eucalypts and unlocking the past in the region’s historic villages.

Gippsland Lakes is Australia’s largest network of inland waterways. Families can swim, boat, fish and kayak in the clear water.

Getting there: Gippsland is 322 kilometres north of Melbourne. Approximately a 4.5-hour drive.

Read: Awesome things to do in Gippsland with kids

7. Bendigo

Bendigo was a goldrush boomtown. Now it is packed with some of Victoria’s best parks, playgrounds and heritage streets.

Check out the grand architecture created during the goldrush, explore the creative arts and culture scene and ride the 131-year-old tramways.

The Bendigo Easter Festival is a favourite event for families.

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

Read: Play at the four best playgrounds in Bendigo

8. Go for gold in 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: Panning for gold and more family-friendly things to do in Ballarat

9. Daylesford delights

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 paddleboard 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. 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.

12. The Grampians

One of Victoria’s most popular family-friendly holiday destinations, the Grampians offers an array of activities to suit adventurers of any age.

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’.

Perhaps the most iconic location in the region is theGrampians (Gariwerd) National Park, home to Victoria’s largest waterfall, MacKenzie Falls, and a range of easy walks for little legs. Mount William is the highest point on the stunning mountain range, with breathtaking views across the valley.

Getting there: The Grampians region is easily accessible by car, just a three and a half hour drive from Melbourne. It is alsoonly two and a half hours from the Great Ocean Road.

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

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

Keep reading:

• The ultimate Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley road trip
• Victoria holiday ideas
• The best holiday parks in Victoria
• Ideas for great Aussie family escapes

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