Other sights in Victoria
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Point Nepean National Park
The peninsula’s tip is marked by the stunning Point Nepean National Park, originally a quarantine station and army base and off-limits to the public. Quarantine is a legendary surf break at the Rip, and is still only accessible by boat.
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Historic & Cultural Precinct
Visit the honey-coloured buildings on a tour of the fascinating Historic & Cultural Precinct. First is the Beechworth Courthouse, where the trials many key historical figures took place (including Ned Kelly and his mother). Ned was committed to trial for the murders of constables Scanlon and Lonigan here in August 1880. Ned’s cell is behind the Shire Hall; his mother’s is behind the courthouse. Send a telegram to anywhere in the world from the Telegraph Station on Ford St, the original Morse-code office. Just like old times!
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Motor Racing Circuit
Even when the motorbikes aren’t racing, petrolheads love the Motor Racing Circuit, which was souped up for the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1989, although the island hosted its first Grand Prix way back in 1928. The visitor centre runs 45-minute guided circuit tours, which include a visit to the History of Motorsport Museum, as well the chance to cut laps of the track in hotted-up V8s (one/two/three people $210/315/365, booking essential). There’s also a go kart track.
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Briars
The Briars is the 1840 homestead of one of the peninsula’s first pastoral runs. Sitting on 96 hectares, it includes original farm buildings, parklands and a wildlife reserve. There are bird hides, koalas, echidnas and kangaroos. The homestead houses the Dame Mabel Brookes collection of Napoleon relics, which includes locks of the emperor’s hair and his death mask. Her great-grandfather owned the lands on the island of St Helena where Napoleon was exiled by the British for the final six years of his life.
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Heide Museum of Modern Art
Heide Museum of Modern Art is on the site of the former home of John and Sunday Reed, under whose patronage the likes of Sidney Nolan, John Perceval and Albert Tucker created a new movement in the Australian art world. Set in a sprawling, riverside park, Heide has an impressive collection and exceptional temporary exhibits. The museum is signposted off the Eastern Fwy. Otherwise, take an Eltham train to Heidelberg station, and catch National Bus 291 to the corner of Manningham and Templestowe Rds, and walk from there.
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Point Nepean National Park
The peninsula’s tip is marked by the stunning Point Nepean National Park, originally a quarantine station and army base. A large section of the park is a former range area and still out of bounds due to unexploded ordnance, but there’s plenty to see here and long stretches of traffic-free road that make for excellent cycling. There are also plenty of walking trails throughout the park and at the tip is Fort Nepean, which was important in Australian defence from the 1880s to 1945.
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Penguin Parade
The Penguin Parade attracts more than 500, 000 visitors a year. The ‘fairy penguins’ have been recently rebadged as ‘little penguins’ – a more accurate translation of the scientific name Eudyptula minor. Concrete amphitheatres hold up to 3800 people who coo over the ridiculously cute penguins that emerge from the sea after sunset and waddle resolutely up to their beach nests. The visitors centre has a gift shop and café (try the penguin burger!).
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Kinglake National Park
Kinglake National Park is the largest national park near Melbourne, a huge eucalypt forest on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range. In the centre of the park is Kinglake, a small township with a pub and a few shops (but no lake!). Toolangi, 18km east, was the home of CJ Dennis, who wrote the Sentimental Bloke. Near the Parks Victoria office is the popular Masons Falls Track, an easy 15-minute walk to a waterfall.
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A
Mildura Arts Centre & Rio Vista
The excellent Mildura Arts Centre & Rio Vista complex combines an art gallery, theatre and historical museum at Rio Vista, a former home of pioneer William B Chaffey. This grand homestead has been beautifully preserved. The interior is set up as a series of displays depicting 19th-century life, with period furnishings, costumes, photos and an interesting collection of memorabilia. The adjacent modern gallery features changing exhibitions.
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Dandenong Ranges National Park
Dandenong Ranges National Park is made up of the four largest areas of remaining forest in the Dandenongs. The Ferntree Gully Area has several short walks, including the popular 1000 Steps Track up to One Tree Hill picnic ground (two hours return), part of the Kokoda Memorial Track, which commemorates Australian WWII servicemen who served in New Guinea.
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Nobbies Centre
The Nobbies Centre is a sort of gigantic cafe and souvenir shop with an interpretive centre tacked on, but there are some great interactive panels and games, and the huge windows afford great views of the 6000 Australian fur seals who loll here during the October–December breeding season. You can view the seals from boardwalks or use the centre’s underwater cameras to zoom in on them ($5).
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Tolarno Gallery
Tolarno was an integral player in Melbourne’s most famous midcentury marriage between Georges and Mirka Mora. Once raucously bohemian, now many years and several sites later, it’s a serious, cerebral contemporary space with a very diverse and well-regarded stable of artists. The location, on the corner of Flinders Lane, is quite special.
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Bonegilla Migrant Experience
For 24 years from the end of WWII, Bonegilla, 10km east of Wodonga, was Australia’s first migrant reception centre, providing accommodation and training for some 320,000 migrants. At the Bonegilla Migrant Experience you can visit some of the preserved buildings and see photos and historical references.
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Princess Margaret Rose Cave
You can take the river cruise to Princess Margaret Rose Cave, but tickets for the cave tour cost extra. Cruises depart daily in summer at 1pm, but don’t operate Monday and Friday during the rest of the year. If you travel to the cave on your own, it’s about 17km from Nelson, towards the border.
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Grand Prix Circuit
The Grand Prix Circuit hosted it’s first grand prix in 1928. It was overhauled to stage the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1989. The visitors centre runs one-hour walking tours of the track, and you can have your photo taken on the winner’s podium.
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Monash University Museum of Modern Art
If you have a particular interest in contemporary Australian art, then a trek out to Monash University Museum of Modern Art is worth the effort. It has an inspired collection and promotes Australian work through regularly changing exhibitions and public programs known for their curatorial nous.
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Cape Otway Lighthouse
At the end of Lighthouse Rd is the Cape Otway Lighthouse, Australia’s oldest, dating back to 1848. The historic complex includes the old telegraph station, lightkeeper’s house and a cafe with shipwreck gallery, and you can climb the decommissioned lighthouse for fine views along the coast.
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Point Nepean Visitors Centre
Point Nepean visitors centre has stacks of information on the Point Nepean National Park. You can walk or cycle to the point (12km return), or take the Point Explorer, a hop-on, hop-off bus service. There are walking trails throughout the park.
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Werribee Open Range Zoo
This is a 225-hectare African-safari-style experience about 30 minutes southwest of Melbourne. Meerkats greet you at the entrance and admission includes the safari tour: plenty of emus, bison, Mongolian wild horses, hippos, rhinos, zebras and giraffes grazing on the savannah.
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D
Old Geelong Gaol
Old Geelong Gaol closed its doors to prisoners in 1991, but the old bluestone building remains and is open for tours. You can see the grim cells, watchtowers and a gallows re-creation of the execution of James Murphy, hanged in 1863 for murdering a policeman.
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SkyHigh Mt Dandenong
It’s worth driving up to SkyHigh Mt Dandenong for amazing views over Melbourne from the highest point in the Dandenongs. There’s a café-restaurant, garden and picnic areas, and a maze (adult/child/family $6/4/16) here too.
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Phillip Island Wildlife Park
A good range of wildlife can be spotted at Phillip Island Wildlife Park, about 1km south of Cowes. As well as koalas, wombats, roos and wallabies there are a few harder to find critters such as Tasmanian devils, cassowaries and quolls.
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William Ricketts Sanctuary
William Ricketts Sanctuary features sculptures blended beautifully with damp fern gardens. Ricketts’ work was inspired by nature and the years he spent living with Aboriginal people. Bus 688 runs here from Croydon train station.
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E
Government House
The stretched Italianate Government House, where Victoria’s current governor resides is a copy of Queen Victoria’s palace on England’s Isle of Wight. National Trust tours include both properties; bookings are essential.
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Cape Schanck Lightstation
Cape Schanck Lightstation, built in 1859, is a photogenic working limestone lighthouse, with a kiosk, museum, information centre and regular guided tours. You can stay in the old lightkeeper’s cottages for $150 a night.
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