Great Australia holidays start in the buzzing city of Melbourne – Australia's cultural capital. The excitement of discovering creative galleries, seaside esplanades and the restaurants and cafés hidden in its laneways are all part of Melbourne's glamorous charms. Then, turning out, explore stunning and diverse landscapes teeming with unique Australian wildlife just a short distance from the city, including one of the world's best drives – the Great Ocean Road. Or discover the globally renowned wines of Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, alongside the wildlife and natural attractions of Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory and the Grampians.

Melbourne

Whether a culture buff , sports nut, foodie or fashionista, you’ll find your niche in Melbourne. Enjoy a sunset beer on the St Kilda promenade, see the Southern Hemisphere’s best collection of international art, or browse the boutiques of trendy Brunswick Street. Whatever you get up to, don’t miss Melbourne’s Laneways, a maze of hidden arcades and lantern-lit lanes that are the city’s cultural heart.

Don't miss Flinders Street railway station, a French Renaissance icon that lends Melbourne a unique charm

Winelands & wildlife

Less than an hour from Melbourne is the Yarra Valley, Victoria’s oldest and best-known wine region, where you’ll find more than 80 wineries, several excellent restaurants and national parks home to kangaroos, emus, dingoes, wombats and platypus. Also close to the state capital is the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, where fertile hills and lavender farms spill down to a series of sheltered beaches where diving and sailing are among the activities available, and Phillip Island – a natural haven for huge colonies of little penguins, Australia fur seals, koalas and birdlife.

Ask us about a hot air balloon excursion over the vineyards of Victoria, before ending with a private wine tasting experience

Grampians & the Great Ocean Road

In the northwest of the state, the Grampians National Park is one of Victoria's most outstanding regions, famed for everything from its mountainous features and abundant wildlife to its Aboriginal culture and rock art sites. The hikes are especially impressive, with the Grampians Peaks Trail a special highlight. In the south, Victoria’s coast is awash with wildlife-rich national parks, historic ports, thundering waterfalls and spectacular surf beaches, all of which can be explored along the 243 kilometre-long Great Ocean Road, which winds its way from Geelong to Portland, past one of Australia’s most recognisable sights – the magnificent 12 Apostles.