Top 10 nature & wildlife experiences

1. 12 Apostles

Jostle for a selfie spot at the 12 Apostles viewing platform at sunset or make your way down to the beach via the Gibson Steps to see the towering limestone stacks with waves lapping at your toes. They're unforgettable from any angle.

2. Koalas in the wild

Spot koalas in the wild: keep your eyes peeled for slumbering locals in the treetops of the Great Otway National Park. For guaranteed sightings, stop at nearby Kennett River, or ferry across to Raymond Island in Gippsland, and French Island on the Mornington Peninsula.

3. Our famous Little Penguins

Watch the impossibly cute: a waddle of Little Penguins making their way from the water to their burrows at Phillip Island's Penguin Parade. While you're there, take a boat ride to see Australia's largest colony of fur seals at Seal Rocks.

4. Wilsons Promontory

Discover Victoria's largest coastal wilderness area at Gippsland's pristine Wilsons Promontory. Watch for wombats, emus, kangaroos and parrots, as you explore walking trails and white sandy beaches. Take in the park's granite coastline and abundant marine life offshore with Wanderer Adventures, on an amphibious boat cruise.

5. Budj Bim Cultural Landscape

Visit one of Australia's most significant indigenous sites, Budj Bim, on Gunditjmara Country in south-west Victoria. The only Australian UNESCO World Heritage site listed exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values, shows the world's earliest living example of aquaculture, dating back more than 6000 years. Take a tour with indigenous-owned Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism, enabling visitors to engage with the area's fascinating history.

6. Great Ocean Walk

Experience one of Australia's most spectacular walks: stretching 104 kilometres along the Southern Ocean coastline, the Great Ocean Walk takes in clifftop walks, beach, forest and dunes. Opt for a day walk or trek the whole distance.

7. Dolphins and seals

Dive right in: swim and snorkel with dolphins and seals in Port Phillip Bay on a boat tour from Sorrento or Queenscliff. While you're on the Mornington Peninsula, don your snorkel to spot resident weedy seadragons at Flinders Pier and seahorses at Rye Pier.

8. Grampians Peaks Trail

Walk the highlights of the Grampians Peaks Trail, a world-class walking adventure that showcases the majesty of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Enjoy dramatic peaks, panoramic views and the majestic essence of this ancient and rugged landscape that is fitting for the intrepid adventurer.

9. Tower Hill

Meet the locals – koalas, emus, kangaroos, echidnas and waterbirds – roaming freely at Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Explore the walking trails within the extinct volcano or take a guided tour to learn about the local Aboriginal history and cultural heritage.

10. Wildlife Wonders

Play a part in conserving local wildlife with a visit to Wildlife Wonders, just out of Apollo Bay. Spot koalas, potoroos, wallabies and grazing kangaroos, and learn about the local wildlife and flora on the guided walk from conservation experts. All profits go to the Conservation Ecology Centre, working to conserve the unique Australian plants and animals across the Otways.

Why stop there? From top to bottom, Victoria abounds with opportunities to catch a glimpse of rare fauna and see nature at its very finest.

A stop at pretty Lake Elizabeth in the Great Otway National Park yields not only a picturesque walk, but a rare opportunity to spy the notoriously shy platypus. Up the road at Melba Gully, brilliant glow worms shine like diamonds after dusk.

Nature puts on a non-stop show at a variety of waterfalls all over Victoria, none better than towering MacKenzie Falls in the Grampians.

Or find your Instagram moment in an endless variety of hues at a salt lake such as Lake Tyrrell, Murray-Sunset National Park's Pink Lakes, or at Pink Lake in Dimboola.