Victoria
Victoria is the sporting and cultural hub of Australia, yet it also has a unique natural beauty to offer visitors.
You will go far to meet anyone with a bad word to say about Melbourne. Often seen as Australia’s ‘European’ city, Melbourne’s cosmopolitan café culture and small, cosy bars contrast to the bolder, busier environment of Sydney. Although Melbourne doesn’t have the same variety of beaches as Sydney, it does have St Kilda, a trendy bohemian beach town just a short distance from the CBD.
The people of Melbourne are crazy about their sport, be it Aussie rules, which originated in Victoria, soccer, NRL or cricket. Melbourne is the only city in the world to host both a tennis Grand Slam and a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
If you fancy getting out of the city, the Great Ocean Road will give you the road trip of a lifetime and every tourist should see the magnificent Twelve Apostles, those bizarrely beautiful geological phenomena sticking out of the sea.
Victoria events guide 2008
April: Melbourne International Comedy Festival (19th March – 13th April) – a month
of side splitting gags as the world’s funniest take over Melbourne.
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (2nd - 6th) – horticulture heaven at Carlton Gardens.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Surf Classic (3rd – 13th) – The world’s best stop off to conquer the legendary Bells Beach breaks as part of the World Championship Tour.
May: Beginning of Right Whale Spotting Season – Warrnambool
St Kilda Film Festival – screenings of independent short films across all genres.
Aussie Rules Anniversary Challenge Match (10th) – A Victorian team take on the rest of Australia to commemorate 150 years of the game.
June: Snow Season Opens
Winter Wine Quest – Yarra Valley welcomes visitors to sample delicious local wines.
July: Melbourne International Film Festival – Showcasing the best of the big screen from around the globe.
Melbourne Design Festival – Federation Square hosts a showcase of designers’ handiwork.
August: Melbourne Writers Festival (22nd-31st) – book lovers gather to celebrate literary excellence.
September: Aussie Rules Football Grand Final – 100,000 fans pack out the MCG in the finale to the AFL season.
Royal Show – Traditional agriculture fair staged at Melbourne Showgrounds.
October: Livid Festival – Melbourne hosts one of Australia’s biggest and longest running rock festivals.
Melbourne Festival and Fringe Festival – Innovative performances across all art forms.
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix – Phillip Island hosts three days of tyre screeching action in three classes.
Melbourne International Arts Festival – witness the best of Australian and international theatre, dance, visual arts, opera and music.
November: Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday) – The nation’s eyes are on Flemington for the highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival.
Sexpo Exhibition – Melbourne’s four-day health, sexuality and lifestyle convention.
December: Boxing Day Cricket Test – Australia host South Africa at the MCG in the world’s best attended test match.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Melbourne CBD.
