Travel to Victoria, Australia

Flights to Victoria are the most common way to arrive, and most will arrive at Melbourne airport. If you’re already in Australia, cheap flights to Melbourne are almost always available. This is also a region of Australia with plenty of options to arrive by road, with numerous routes - Princes Highway, Western Freeway, Calder Freeway and others converging on Melbourne.

There’s a frankly ludicrous amount of things to do in Victoria. One of the most popular with backpackers is driving the Great Ocean Road, a road trip that takes in the Twelve Apostles rock formations, numerous beaches, and several coastal towns. The Grampians to the west and the Dandenong Ranges close to Melbourne are incredibly scenic places for hiking, and a trip to St Kilda to see the fairy penguins comes highly recommended. You could comfortably spend your whole time here in Melbourne, hanging around bars and cafes, or maybe taking in a game of Aussie rules football - it’s a big sporting city.

Despite being Australia’s smallest mainland state, Victoria is so packed with things to do that you don’t want to be in a rush. Many people settle down in Melbourne for a few months before moving on. If you’re passing through and are travelling independently, give yourself at least a couple of weeks to see everything, assuming you’ll be driving around most days.

There are several transport options for getting around Victoria, but the easiest is hiring a car and driving yourself around. Numerous group tours set off from Melbourne, as well as plenty of bus connections. There are also regional train options for getting around by rail.

If you’re not Australian, you will need a visa to visit. There are a few available depending on what you're planning to do doing during your visit. If you’re visiting as a tourist, you need to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). This costs around £15. If you’re planning to stick around for a while and earn some money, you must apply for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. These must be arranged well before you’re due to travel, as they can't be acquired once you're in the country.

Victoria is a hotspot for Australian wildlife, there’s plenty to see if you know where to look. Boat trips to St Kilda or Phillip Island are a must for seeing miniature (adorable) fairy penguins, and visits to Grampians National Park and Great Otway National Park offer great opportunities to spot Koalas in the wild or see a wide range of Australian birdlife. Head to Wilsons Promontory, mainland Australia's most southern point to watch wombats, emus, kangaroos and parrots. Along the coast are numerous whale-watching tours, as well as cruises to spot dolphins and seals.

Melbourne, and much of Victoria by extension, is famed for its changeable weather - you might experience sun, rain, wind, and more in the space of a few hours. So be prepared when you pack! Depending on the time of year, it’s worth packing a light rain proof and a jumper, as well as some sturdy shoes for all the activities you’re going to be getting up to. Don’t bother bringing sun cream with you - it’s much cheaper to buy it there.

The best weather comes during Australian summer, roughly November to February. Melbourne and the south of the state are generally hot and sunny, but not too hot - it’s only further north that temperatures may become uncomfortable. Tourist numbers are much higher in summer, which has the advantage of more work in Melbourne being available if you’re on the market. Winter means fewer crowds, but significantly higher rainfall and cooler temperatures.