Kick start your holiday down under with a visit to Melbourne and discover a city surrounded by nature and wildlife. Choose one of the great touring routes on offer or join a guided tour and see koalas, kangaroos, little penguins, dolphins and seals, all within an hour's drive.
Spot koalas and penguins
Travel down the Great Ocean Road to spot sleepy koalas perched in eucalyptus trees at the Great Ocean Eco Lodge. Heading east? Get up close to these furry friends at the Healesville Sanctuary. Or take a trip south for sightings on French Island and at the Koala Conservation Centre on neighbouring Phillip Island. While you're there, be sure to catch Phillip Island's famous nightly penguin parade where the little creatures wander up onto the beach.
Hang with a kanga
Spend an afternoon sampling renowned wines in the Yarra Valley and sit on your patio at dusk to watch the kangaroos feeding. Play a round of golf with the local kangaroos that populate the Anglesea Golf Course or head further down the coast to the Tower Hill Nature Reserve. The vast Grampians National Park and Wilson's Prom, the mainland's southernmost point, are also great places to see these iconic creatures in their natural habitat.
Out on the water
Take a cruise from Queenscliff or along the Mornington Peninsula to swim with wild dolphins and seals in Port Phillip Bay. Take a drive further along the Great Ocean Road to see southern right whales off Warrnambool and the mighty blue whales near Portland.
Show me the way
Choose a self-drive tour and see the best of Victoria at your own pace. Stay at luxury spas and eco-lodges while getting close to nature. Take in the towering cliffs of the Twelve Apostles and see emus, kangaroos, koalas and more on the Great Southern Touring Route. Alternatively, hit the South East Touring Triangle and catch the little penguins on the beach, seals and dolphins in the bay, and kangaroos and koalas along the way.
