I’ve dedicated the last decade to travelling and exploring over 50 countries, including two incredible years living and working in Australia. Over these couple of years, I lived in Melbourne for five months at a time, allowing me to truly dive deep into the state of Victoria. I visited Victoria National Parks and Melbourne National Parks as I like a balanced trip combining city energy with escaping into the wilderness. I loved that Victoria's national parks were so accessible from the city of Melbourne and often could access amazing hikes by train or public transport which was great as I didn't have a car unless I hired one.

Planning a visit to Sydney, Australia? Here's where you'll find:

  1. Travel Essentials for Visiting Victoria, Australia
  2. The Best Travel Insurance for Outdoor Adventures
  3. Hiring a Car to Visit Victoria’s Best National Parks
  4. Get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia
  5. Victoria’s 22 Best National Parks and Hikes
  6. Dandenong Ranges National Park
  7. Mornington Peninsula National Park
  8. Wilsons Promontory National Park
  9. Yarra Ranges National Park
  10. Great Otway National Park
  11. Grampians National Park
  12. Mount Buffalo National Park
  13. Kinglake National Park
  14. Little Desert National Park
  15. Port Campbell National Park
  16. Croajingolong National Park
  17. Alpine National Park
  18. Tarra-Bulga National Park
  19. The Lakes National Park
  20. Budj Bim National Park
  21. Lower Glenelg National Park
  22. The Brisbane Ranges National Park
  23. Lind National Park
  24. Burrowa - Pine Mountain National Park
  25. French Island
  26. Terrick Terrick National Park

 

Essentials for Victoria
Find cheap flights to Victoria
Find hotels or hostels 
Find activities and tours for Victoria
Get an eSIM for Australia

Travel Essentials for Visiting Victoria, Australia

Home to one of my favourite cities in the world, Victoria is a must-visit state. It offers everything from bustling hot spots and intricate architecture to mind-blowing natural scenery and rugged national parks. Whether you’re a first-time traveller or an absolute pro, some essentials simply can’t go amiss for a trip Down Under.

If you're planning a visit to Victoria, be sure to check out my detailed guides on visiting this part of Australia:

You can also shop my outdoor essentials and hiking gear here.

image22-2

The Best Travel Insurance for Outdoor Adventures

Adventure boosts my body with excitement and anticipation - in the best way of course! Going into the unknown is an exhilarating experience, but if a decade’s worth of travelling has taught me one thing, it’s that you can never be too prepared. No matter how much adrenaline runs through my veins, my well-being always comes first.

That’s why I opt for SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covering more than 175 countries. One of the huge advantages of this policy is that I can choose when my policy starts and stops and can adjust this whenever from wherever. SafetyWing is always looking to offer travellers as much as possible, and they've recently expanded coverage to include adventure sports and electronics theft. 

SafetyWing provides Travel Insurance for Nomads including global coverage that you can purchase outside your home country, with the guidance of 24/7 human support. Their cover supplies the following:

  • Meals & accommodations if you have a travel delay over 12 hours
  • Emergency dental care up to $1000
  • Medical care including prescriptions, emergency care and hospital stays
  • Coverage for lost checked luggage
  • Flights home if something bad happens
  • Continued coverage for visits back home
  • Coverage for motor accidents
  • Coverage for injuries from leisure sports & activities

Read my full blog post on Choosing Travel Insurance for Solo Female Travellers to learn more about the security of having a reliable policy in your back pocket.

Experience the perfect Australian Road Trip on a budget

Hiring a Car to Visit Victoria’s Best National Parks

I knew Australia’s diverse landscape was changeable throughout the country, but I wasn’t ready for the stunning national parks just an hour or two away from the heart of Melbourne. And one of the best, most affordable and flexible ways of reaching these parks and Melbourne hikes? By hiring a car in Melbourne.

I made so many friends in Melbourne, and this was a great result when it came to venturing further from the city. I chipped in with a few of my closest buddies on a car rental so we could pack a bag, jump in the car, and split the rental and fuel costs. The most dependable and affordable rental was through Discover Cars. The company offers competitive prices and a selection of cars suited to various occasions like a standard SUV, compact car, and even an economy option. 

image23

Get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia

As I live in the UK, Australia is pretty far away, so I wanted to spend as long there as possible! The best option was to get a Working Holiday Visa for Australia letting me spend two years in the glorious country. If you fall in love with Australia, it’s possible to obtain a Third Working Holiday Visa, for a total of three years gallivanting around Aus - what a dream.

Welcome to Travel is a tour operator based in Sydney who understands how travellers feel when they move to Aus for an extended time.  Providing welcome tours in Sydney, Melbourne and up the infamous East Coast, Welcome to Travel boosts travellers’ confidence while providing the perfect setting to get to know the country better. They've given me some exclusive discount codes for you to save up to $150 on a trip to Australia:

These tours are such a fun way of kickstarting your Aus journey and meeting other solo travellers early on too. 

Leaving Melbourne - back to life and back to blogging | Australia

Victoria’s Best National Parks & Hikes

Victoria is Australia’s second-smallest state, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less interesting! Home to over 100 national parks and reserves, as well as cities like Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo, Victoria has something for every traveller. I may have fallen instantly in love with Melbourne, but Victoria’s National Parks impacted me with a similar feeling of joy (and a side of lactic acid!).

1. Dandenong Ranges National Park

Offering sweeping views of Melbourne and the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong Ranges offer rainforest tranquillity less than an hour’s drive from the city. If you don’t have access to a car, hire one for the day with Discover Cars and explore the park at your own pace. 

2. Mornington Peninsula National Park

South of Melbourne lies the Mornington Peninsula National Park; a landscape of wild ocean beaches that provides the perfect location for fun activities like hiking, surfing, and diving. Either hire a car for your excursion or hop on a train from Southern Cross Station to Frankston, then Hastings to Stony Point on Westernport Bay.

3. Wilsons Promontory National Park 

Wilsons Promontory National Park may be over a three-hour drive from Melbourne, but it’s worth every minute! The sunsets here are some of the best I experienced during my two years in Aus, and by hiring a car and splitting the cost with friends, I didn’t go over budget either.

Travel | 10 luxuries every traveller should splurge on

4. Yarra Ranges National Park

Northeast of Melbourne is the stunning Yarra Ranges National Park. Luscious rainforests and charming scenery welcome travellers with enough stimulation to set every sense alive. It’s possible to reach the Yarra Ranges by buses, taxis, or train rides, but hiring a car for a road trip really is the best way to soak up every ounce of the awe-inspiring landscape.

5. Great Otway National Park

Waterfalls have always inspired a kind of magic inside me, and the Great Otway National Park offers some absolute gems. The Triplet Falls, Hopetoun Falls, and Carisbrook Falls are all mesmerizing, and easily accessible by the Great Ocean Road in a smooth, modern, AC-adorned rental. 

6. Grampians National Park 

I rented a car with a couple of friends to drive the nearly 4-hour journey to the majestic Grampians National Park. Traversing the steep, winding roads gets adrenaline flowing but the grand view at Reeds Lookout made everything worthwhile. The abundant wildlife and activities available at the Grampians make it the perfect location for adventure, outdoor-loving travellers.

Melbourne | Getting lost in Wilson’s Promontory National Park | Australia

7. Mount Buffalo National Park

Visiting Mount Buffalo National Park reminded me just how big Australia is! It’s a 4-hour venture northeast of Melbourne, crossing picturesque scenery and landing in a world of steep cliffs, waterfalls, and wildflowers carpeting the ground. Buses depart from Melbourne to the park, but is there a better feeling than driving along through some of Australia’s most enchanting environments? 

  • Length of stay: 1- 2 days
  • Accommodation: Lancemore Milawa
  • Best Hike: The Horn
  • Top Activity: Ladies Bath Falls 

8. Kinglake National Park

The hustle of Melbourne will never get old, but there’s something incredibly comforting 

about Kinglake National Park being just over an hour’s drive from the city. It’s an epic spot for an overnight stay to enjoy native birds, epic walks, and even mountain bike trails if you’re up for the challenge! Renting a car is the most convenient way of reaching the park, otherwise, you’ll be tackling a 3- 4 hour train journey! 

9. Little Desert National Park

When I was first told I could drive to a desert from Melbourne in just four hours, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. But it’s true, and it’s called the Little Desert National Park. It’s one of my most recommended Melbourne National Parks because its unique environment transports visitors to another world. Gone are the busy streets and constant hum of chatter, replaced by an array of different soils, wildflowers, and unique drought-tolerant vegetation.

  • Length of stay: 1- 2 days
  • Accommodation: The Willery Guesthouse
  • Best Hike: Pomponderoo Hill Nature Walk
  • Top Activity: Horseshoe Bend Lookout 

IMG_2618

10. Port Campbell National Park

The ocean will forever hold a place in my heart, and exploring Port Campbell National Park was the ultimate way to fill my mermaid soul! Port Campbell is under 3 hours southwest of Melbourne, offering glorious sights like the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and Princetown Beach. Why not drive down to the waves and relish one of the most picturesque lunch spots outside of Melbourne? 

11. Croajingolong National Park

Buses and trains can take you from Melbourne to the Croajingolong National Park, but be prepared for the nearly 10-hour journey! Or, rent a car and share the cost with friends so you can dive into the remote east coast of Victoria for stunning Melbourne hikes among ancient forests and dominating sand dunes. 

12. Lake Eildon National Park

The 2-hour route from Melbourne to Lake Eildon National Park takes you north in Victoria, past the Yarra Ranges National Park and into a world perfect for swimming, canoeing, waterskiing, and fishing. 

  • Length of stay: 2- 3 days
  • Accommodation: Summer Lea 2 by Tiny Away
  • Best Hike: Merlo Lookout to Cooke Point
  • Top Activity: Lakeview Boat Hire

Melbourne | Getting lost in Wilson’s Promontory National Park | Australia

13. Alpine National Park

Victoria’s Alpine National Park is the state's biggest, offering the best opportunities for hiking, camping, and picnicking under the stars. Depending on the time of year, the mighty 5-hour drive can reward its guests with skiing, snowboarding, and abundant snowy scenes. Hiring a 4WD car is the ultimate way to hit the tracks, with reliant wheels guiding every step of the way. 

  • Length of stay: 4- 6 days
  • Accommodation: Mountain Dreaming
  • Best Hike: Mount Buller via West Ridge Track
  • Top Activity: Mount Bogong

14. Tarra-Bulga National Park

The wondrous Tarra-Bulga National Park is a feast for the eyes, boasting a cool temperate rainforest environment and rich Aboriginal heritage. Tarra-Bulga is 200 km east of Melbourne, making the 2-hour journey a breeze by car and means skipping a 4-hour train or bus journey. 

  • Length of stay: 2- 3 days
  • Accommodation: Tarra Valley Retreat
  • Best Hike: Corrigan Suspension Bridge Loop
  • Top Activity: Birdwatching of Lyrebirds and Pilot Birds

15. The Lakes National Park

If you’ve had a dreamy vision of taking a boat ride in Victoria, The Lakes National Park is the ideal choice. The peace and tranquillity here are unbeatable. The bushland landscape can retain its raw wildness, and wildlife like the Greater Glider and Little Bent-wing Bat can thrive. Driving offers the most flexibility as the Lakes are a four-hour journey east of Melbourne.

Melbourne | Getting lost in Wilson’s Promontory National Park | Australia

16. Budj Bim National Park

The Budj Bim National Park is more than a scenic natural spot, with a deep Aboriginal heritage nestled in its bushland setting. Boasting crater lake, lava canals, and caves, Budj Bim is a unique Victoria National Park, allowing visitors to dive back in time to when communities settled within the bush, farming and trading food. Located three hours west of Melbourne, bus and train journeys take around five hours, but a car rental will get you there in just over three. 

17. Lower Glenelg National Park

One of the hardest things about Melbourne National Parks is their sheer volume! But don’t be tempted to miss the Lower Glenelg National Park, even though it’s a mighty five-hour drive west of Melbourne! Take a tour of the Princess Margaret Rose Cave, or enjoy a lake-side setting perfect for canoeing, kayaking, and even fishing for lunch if you’ve got the skills!

  • Length of stay: 1- 2 days
  • Accommodation: Casuarina Cabins
  • Best Hike: Great South West Walk
  • Top Activity: Glenelg River Canoe Trail

18. The Brisbane Ranges National Park

Huddled just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne, in the South West region of Victoria, The Brisbane Ranges National Park is a feast for the eyes and soul. It offers magnificent Melbourne hikes through a carpet of wildflowers, where you can spot kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and even possums!

  • Length of stay: 3 days
  • Accommodation: Emu Lodge Country Retreat
  • Best Hike: Brisbane Ranges Circuit: Extended Loop
  • Top Activity: Boar Gully Campground

Milestones | T W E N T Y S E V E N

19. Lind National Park

The Lind National Park is one of Victoria’s oldest, home to a stunning range of forest scenes and spots of temperate rainforest. One of the most immersive ways to soak up the Lind National Park’s beauty is by journeying the Euchre Valley Nature Drive in your 4WD car rental from Melbourne. 

20. Burrowa - Pine Mountain National Park

The five-hour drive northeast in Victoria will land you in the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park. If you’re up for the challenge, make the most of the park by traversing the summit of Pine Mountain, enjoying breathtaking sights and sweeping views as a reward for the high step count!

  • Length of stay: 1- 2 days
  • Accommodation: Walwa Hotel
  • Best Hike: Old Dogmans Track
  • Top Activity: Pine Mountain Summit 

21. French Island

The most efficient way of reaching French Island off the coast of the Mornington Peninsula from Melbourne is by hiring a car and taking a ferry from either Stony Point or Cowes. French Island is a must-see to experience untouched nature thriving in a paradise setting.

Melbourne | Getting lost in Wilson’s Promontory National Park | Australia

22. Terrick Terrick National Park

A three-hour drive north of Melbourne lies the Terrick Terrick National Park. It’s a haven for nature lovers to hike the incredible scenery, absorbing the beauty of endless plants, animals, and rich birdlife. The base of Mount Terrick Terrick is a heavenly place to take a lunch pitstop, with convenient toilets and picnic tables in the park for added comfort. 

  • Length of stay: 1- 2 days
  • Accommodation: Carriages Waterfront
  • Best Hike: Terrick Terrick Loop
  • Top Activity: Bennetts Rock