Hidden Victoria

Ancient volcanic peaks, cool-climate wineries, heritage gardens and the iconic Mount Macedon memorial cross — only an hour from the CBD.

A goldfields town turned creative hub. Victorian-era architecture, buzzing art scene, excellent cafés and the famous MADE festival.

The Great Ocean Road's most picturesque secret — Split Point Lighthouse, hidden rock pools, wild surf beaches, and a fraction of the crowds of Lorne just 10 minutes away.

Victoria's best-kept lake secret. Waterskiing, houseboating, world-class Tahbilk and Mitchelton wineries, and a gorgeous lake township almost nobody from Melbourne knows about.

Australia's first Notable Town — declared by the National Trust for its extraordinary state of preservation. Every building on the main street dates to the gold rush era. A living museum without the museum feel.

A tiny cool-climate town near the Wombat State Forest with Victoria's most powerful single-drop waterfall. Exceptional cafés, local produce and a creative community — all just 90 minutes from Melbourne.

A resilient alpine village rebuilt from the 2009 Black Saturday fires. Stunning rainforest walks, the spectacular Steavenson Falls, Bruno's Art & Sculpture Garden and gateway to Lake Mountain snowfields.

One of Victoria's most atmospheric places — a near-ghost gold rush town tucked in a mountain valley. Population of 15, stunning bushwalks and a narrow-gauge railway.

A quiet surf town hiding a world-class secret — dinosaur bones erode from the cliffs at Bunurong Coastal Park. Much less crowded than Phillip Island, with excellent surf and cafés.

A tiny lakeside village on the Gippsland Lakes. Oyster boats, pelicans, kayaking and the kind of quiet that Melbournians dream about.

A perfectly preserved bluestone whaling town with an exceptional food scene, a colony of short-tailed shearwaters on Griffiths Island, and some of Victoria's best seafood.

A tiny town at the southern foot of the Grampians, home to the Royal Mail Hotel — one of Australia's most celebrated regional restaurants with its own farm and vegetable garden.

A gold rush town so well preserved it feels frozen in amber. Ned Kelly was imprisoned here. Famous for its honey, the Beechworth Bakery, and a thriving food and arts scene.

A secret high country village tucked in a river valley at the junction of the Jamieson and Goulburn Rivers. World-class trout fishing, the historic Jamieson Brewery, mountain bike trails and a genuine away-from-everything stillness.

East Gippsland's best-kept secret. Pristine white sand, banksia forest, no crowds, brilliant stargazing and one of Victoria's top snorkelling spots.

Ancient limestone caves deep in East Gippsland with the most remarkable stalactite formations in Australia. Wallabies roam the campground at dusk. Genuinely off the tourist trail.

The gateway to Victoria's most remote high country — a tiny historic township on the Great Alpine Road with a famous pub, gold rush museum and access to the Bogong High Plains. One of Victoria's least-visited and most rewarding drives.