Top places to visit in each of Australia’s states

VIC is one of the smallest states, but is well-known and highly visited because it’s home to the city of Melbourne. Melbourne is a fantastic city for WHV-holders to settle in. There is also a lot more to VIC than Melbourne.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road (GOR) is a scenic drive, considered one of the best in the world—up there with the Icefields Parkway in Canada or the Pacific Crest Highway in the US. The coastal road essentially connects Melbourne to Adelaide in South Australia, and stretches for over 150 miles. You can choose to drive it in its entirety, or to complete it in sections.

Obviously, the highlight of the GOR is going to be the Twelve Apostles. Some of the other rock formations that are worth your time include Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, London Bridge and the Grotto. Other notable stops during the drive include Great Otway National Park, Kennett River (for wild koala spotting), and Warrnambool.

Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilsons Prom, as the locals call it, is a three-hour drive south-east of Melbourne. It’s a very popular holiday destination, especially during summer. Locals and backpackers both flock to The Prom for hiking, beach going and boating. The number one hike is the Mount Oberon summit (it was closed when I visited, unfortunately). The best beach is Squeaky Beach, named for sands so clean and white, it’s supposed to squeak underfoot.

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula has something for everyone, and it’s a brilliant weekend getaway for WHV-makers based in Melbourne, at only a one-hour drive away. I spent ten months living in Melbourne, so I went to the Mornington Peninsula quite a few times. The beaches are much better than local Melbourne beaches (sorry, St Kilda)—cleaner and more family-friendly.

My highlights were penguin-spotting and wine tasting near Phillip Island, swimming with wild dolphins in Sorrento, and the Peninsula Hot Springs. Part of the peninsula makes up Mornington Peninsula National Park, where you can find walking trails for any ability.