The Twelve Apostles, a spectacular sandstone cliffs are off the southeast coast as one of the most photographed natural attractions in Australia next to the famous Ayers Rock (Uluru). Since July 2005 there are only eight due to erosion of sandstone cliffs. The mountains of the Dandenong Ranges are located 35 km from Melbourne. From the observation platform of the highest peak has a magnificent view over the lower mountain tops, over the city. Mount Dandenong is located on the William Ricketts Sanctuary, named after one of the first advocates of the rights of Australian aborigines. The Puffing Billy (Billy wheezing), an old railway wagons with bright red leaves, on the short route through the mountains from Belgrave to Emerald. Delightful is a trip to the picturesque Yarra Valley with its wineries and walks in every season in the Natural Park Healesville Sanctuary.
The adventure of the gold rush in the fifties and sixties of the 19th Century was the golden age of the bushranger (bandit). Sovereign Hill, 120 km north-west of Melbourne, Ballarat is a fully restored gold rush town, a museum village. Other cities in the gold mining days are Castlemaine and Bendigo.
In East Gippsland in the state is a lush, fertile area of lakes and parks. The Gippsland Lakes form the largest body of water in Australia. A well-known wildlife sanctuary is located in Wilsons Promontory National Park, in the southeastern corner of mainland Australia. Wilson’s Promontory is part of the Wilderness Coast, which includes the Ninety-Mile Beach. Aboriginal, wild flowers and numerous species of birds can be seen in the Grampian Mountains. The pristine desert landscape Desert Wilderness in the northwest of Victoria draws with its unique flora and fauna, the visitors into their spell. Also impressive is a visit to the Murray-Sunset (Yanga-nyawi) – provides, in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, the mountains of the Alpine National Park with its high mountains not only ideal conditions for skiing, the fresh mountain air and the colors of the numerous flowers also invite to take long walks. The Port Campbell National Park, southwest of Melbourne, is the most beautiful and most dangerous coastline of Victoria. Active holiday offer in Victoria almost, because there are many beautiful beaches, perfect for watersports: Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay, Ninety Miles Beach (in the Gippsland Lakes area) and the beaches on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong.
Melbourne
Melbourne (website: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/) is a cosmopolitan city with over 3 million residents and neighborhoods of Italian, Greek and Chinese immigrants. The architecture of the city is fascinating. In the suburbs you will find a mixture of elaborate plasterwork and cast iron and graceful spire in the city center next to modern skyscrapers. In the center stands the tallest building in Melbourne, the Eureka Tower, with a height of 297 meters and 95 storeys. The Victoria Arts Centre consists of the National Gallery of Australia’s largest art collection, a magnificent concert hall and theater complex. The many parks of the city, Parliament House, Captain Cook’s Cottage and other historic, listed buildings are also worth seeing. Also you can visit the racecourse, a boat cruise on the Yarra River or a trip to Phillip Iceland Nature Reserve. Even the Royal Botanic Gardens are worth a visit. The Melbourne Zoo in Royal Park is one of the largest and finest in the world. In the district of St. Kilda, there are fairy penguins, which tours by Urban Penguin Express will be offered.
In the old port, just a kilometer from the center, is currently being built under the name of a brand new Docklands district, changing the face of the city vital and should become a new tourist attraction. Until 2018, built on an area of 200 hectares is an attractive waterfront with many restaurants, bars, sports facilities, apartments, shops and hotels. As the first part of the project of New Quay is already completed.
