Victoria General Information Area: 227,600 sq km (141,000 sq miles). Population: 4,797,400 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 21.1 per sq km. Capital: Melbourne. Population: 3,417,200 (official estimate 1999). GEOGRAPHY: Victoria is Australia’s most diverse state and its major agricultural and industrial producer. Located in the southeast, bordered by South Australia and New South Wales, its landscape consists of mountains, rainforests, deserts, snowfields, beaches, vineyards, wheatlands and market gardens. The Australian Alps are only three hours away from Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road to South Australia is a day’s drive. Victoria has 32 national parks, amounting to a third of Australia’s total. Time: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March). Public Holidays Victoria observes all the public holidays observed nationwide (see the main Australia section) and, in addition, the following are also observed: Mar 10 2003 Labour Day. Jun 9 Queen’s Official Birthday. Nov 4* Melbourne Cup Day. Mar 8 2004 Labour Day. Jun 14 Queen’s Official Birthday. Nov 2* Melbourne Cup Day. Note: *Melbourne metro area only. Travel - International AIR: The international airport at Melbourne (MEL) (Tullamarine) receives flights from the UK (approximate flying time from London – 21 hours), Europe, Asia and the USA. Major international airlines serving Melbourne include Qantas, Britsh Airways, KLM, Malaysia Airlines and United Airlines. The airport is 22km (14 miles) from the city (travel time – 35 minutes). For more flight details see the main Australia section. There are flights from Melbourne to all State capitals. SEA: Passenger/vehicle ferry from Tasmania to Melbourne. There are also ferry services from Melbourne to Williamstown across Port Phillip Bay and between Southgate, Princes Walk and the Melbourne Aquarium and Crown entertainment complex. RAIL: Overnight trains link Melbourne and Sydney (13 hours), and an overnight train –The Overland – runs to Adelaide (12 hours). Trains run to other main centres including Canberra (8 hours 30 minutes), Brisbane (48 hours) and Perth (72 hours). ROAD: Connected to all States by coach services. Main coach routes and travelling times are as follows: from Melbourne to Canberra is 9 hours 30 minutes, to Adelaide is 9 hours 30 minutes, to Sydney is 12 hours, to Broken Hill is 19 hours, to Brisbane is 25 hours. There is a well-developed road system covering 156,700km (97,400 miles) on which local buses operate. URBAN: Melbourne has an extensive network of electric railways, linked in the city centre by an underground loop-line. There is also a tram network which has an integrated ticket structure with the bus and rail systems. Fares are zonal, with travel cards for daily or weekly travel and multi-journey tickets. The Melbourne ‘city circle’ tram, in distinct burgundy and gold colours, is free. The Melbourne City Explorer Bus and the City Wanderer Bus leave hourly to major attractions in the city and the visitor may join or leave at any stopping point in the journey. Accommodation HOTELS: A full range of accommodation is available in Victoria, ranging from international-standard hotels in Melbourne to farm-stay, home-stay and self-catering holidays throughout the region. Numerous historic bed & breakfast establishments, some of them supported by the National Trust of Australia, are also on offer. There are also new cutting-edge hotels now open in Victoria, including The Prince, Lindrum, The Hatton, Park Hyatt and Westin. BED & BREAKFAST: These range from quiet lodges and cottages to farms and classic guest houses. Farmstays offer the opportunity to stay in a family homestead whilst participating in farm activities. Further information can be obtained from Tourism Victoria (see Contact Addresses section). CAMPING/CARAVANNING: A number of companies can arrange motor camper rentals, with a range of fully equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from Parks Victoria, Level 10, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 (tel: (3) 8627 4699; fax: (3) 9629 5563; e-mail: info@parks.vic.gov.au; website: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au). The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) also produces a comprehensive guide to tourist park accommodation, available at RACV retail stores in Victoria and online (website www.racv.com.au). Note: More detailed information on the range of accommodation available in Australia may be found by consulting Accommodation in the main Australia section. Melbourne Melbourne is a highly cosmopolitan city of over three million people with sizeable Italian and Greek minorities. Located in Carlton Gardens on the northern edge of the city centre, the ultramodern Melbourne Museum is Australia’s largest museum. Its features include a living Forest Gallery, Aboriginal Centre, Children’s Museum and IMAX Theatre. The chilling Old Melbourne Gaol has Ned Kelly’s armour on display. Opened in 2002, the National Gallery of Victoria: St Kilda Road houses Australia’s greatest collection of international fine art. The NGV: Australian Art is one of the attractions of Federation Square, a new city block devoted to culture. Rialto Towers Observation Deck offers panoramic views of the city and surrounds. Other places to visit include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Parliament House, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Also recommended are a trip to the races, a ride in one of Melbourne’s trams, a river cruise down the River Yarra, or a visit to the Melbourne Zoo, with its intricately recreated animal habitats. Beyond Melbourne Thirty-five kilometres (22 miles) from the State capital are the Dandenong Ranges, which provide excellent views of the city over the peaks from the Summit Lookout. At Mount Dandenong itself is the sanctuary named after William Ricketts, one of the early champions of Aboriginal rights. His haunting carvings of Aboriginal faces still stare out over the forested landscape and are part of the Galeena Beek Aboriginal Culture Centre. Victoria was also the home of the outlaw Ned Kelly, often regarded as a national hero in Australia, and was the scene of the eventful days of bushranging during the gold rush of the 1850s and 1860s. Sovereign Hill, 120km (75 miles) northwest of Melbourne, is an old gold-rush town from this period, now restored to its original condition. Other towns of this era are Ballarat and Bendigo, respectively 115km (71 miles) and 150km (93 miles) from Melbourne. Nostalgia is also available in the shape of ‘Puffing Billy’, a train of bright red carriages which runs along from Belgrave to Gembrook through the Dandenong Ranges. In the east of the State is Gippsland Lakes, a lush fertile region dotted with lakes and parkland. The west is drier, with huge sheep-grazing lands. Towards the centre are the Grampian Mountains, famous for wild flowers, birdlife and offering some of the world’s finest rock climbing. Victoria is also home to Brambuk, a cultural centre exhibiting the arts, crafts and historical records of the Western Aboriginal people (open daily 1000-1700). National Parks & Nature Reserves Phillip Island Nature Reserve, 140km (87.5 miles) from Melbourne, is famous for its rich wildlife, particularly birds, koalas, fairy penguins (which can be seen marching up the beach in the evenings), and fur seals (large colonies of which can be observed at the Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre). Another famous wildlife sanctuary is in the Wilson’s Promontory National Park, southeast of Melbourne on the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland. The Port Campbell National Park, southwest of Melbourne, contains some of the most beautiful – and dangerous – coastlines in Victoria. It is here that the awesome rock formations, The Twelve Apostles, can be seen from the Great Ocean Road. Sport & Activities Bushwalking: The best-known destinations include Bogong National Park (with a possible six-day walk including the ascent of Mount Bogong, from October to April only); Mount Feathertop (a two-day circuit offering scenic mountain views, requiring walkers to be prepared for snowfalls at any time of the year); Wilson’s Promontory (locally known as ‘the Prom’, a three-day circuit through beautiful stretches of coastline); and the Grampians (a spectacular region of sandstone mountain ranges, forests, valleys and heaths, particularly famous for its displays of wildflowers between August to November). Northwest of Melbourne, Sovereign Hill, located within the country’s most famous gold rush destination, offers visitors a chance to do their own gold panning. Further information on this area can be provided by Ballarat Tourism (website: www.ballarat.com). Several mineral springs can be found around nearby Daylesford, known as Australia’s spa centre. For further details, contact VIC Department of Sustainability and Environment, 240-50 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002 (tel: (3) 9412 4011; fax: (3) 9412 4803; e-mail: customer.service@nre.vic.gov.au; website: www.nre.vic.gov.au). Wine tasting: Victoria has over 200 wineries, and tasting tours are widely available. Outstanding wine-growing regions include the Yarra Valley; the Mornington Peninsula; and the Rutherglen region in the Grampians. The Victorian Wineries Tourism Council (website: www.visitvictoria.com/wineries) can provide further details. Wintersports: Victoria’s High Country is one of Australia’s most visited wintersports destinations, with the main snowfields only about four hours by car from Melbourne. The best destinations for downhill skiing and snowboarding include Mount Buller, Fall Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buffalo and Mount Baw Baw, all of which have excellent facilities. Other resorts, such as the Bogong High Plains, Lake Mountain, Mount St Gwinear or Mount Torbreck, are specifically designed for cross country skiing. Watersports: Home to regular international regattas (such as Sail Melbourne), Melbourne’s Port Philip Bay is one of the world’s great yachting waterways. There are also some good beaches nearby and even better ones at Westernport Bay, Ninety Mile Beach (in the Gippsland Lakes area) and along the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong. The best diving destinations include Wilson's Promontory (access to the sites is mostly by organised boat tours); Cape Liptrap (good for beginners); Cape Patterson; Phillip Island; Cape Schanck; Apollo Bay; Cape Otway (known for its crayfishing areas); Port Fairy (around which lie up to 30 stranded ships); and Portland (Victoria’s westernmost town). Whale watching is possible at Warrnambool, 263km (163 miles) west of Melbourne, where migrating whales can be observed between May and July. Surfing enthusiasts may head to Bells Beach and Jan Juc on the Great Ocean Road near Torquay, where the Rip Curl Pro & Quit Classic, a triple-A world-rated international surfing contest, is held annually for a period of seven days during Easter. Woolamai in Phillip Island offers excellent surfing for the more experienced surfer. Spectactor sports: Australian Rules Football, or ‘Aussie Rules’, a mixture between football and rugby, originated in Victoria. The climax of the season (starting in March) is the Australian Football League Grand Final, played in September at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, which also plays host to the highest standard of international and national cricket matches, and is ranked amongst cricket’s most sacred pitches. The first Tuesday in November is declared a public holiday for the running, at Flemington, of the 3.2km- (2 mile-long) Melbourne Cup, the highlight of Australia's racing year. This presitigious horserace offers the highest prizes in the southern hemisphere. Social Profile Food & Drink: There is an enormous variety of cuisine available in Melbourne and restaurants offering specific types can be found in sectionalised districts: Lygon Street for Italian, Little Bourke Street for Chinese, Lonsdale Street for Greek, Victoria Street for Vietnamese, Sydney Road for Turkish and Spanish, and Acland Street for Central European. Other cuisines that are well represented in the city’s restaurants include French, American, Mexican, Lebanese, African, Malaysian, Afghan, Swiss and Mongolian. Nightlife: Melbourne is home to a vibrant and varied entertainment culture that comes alive at night. There is everything from ballet, classical concerts and opera to plays in Melbourne’s ornate theatres like the Princess and Regent and street performers. There is an eclectic array of pubs, bars and nightclubs in and around Melbourne. Whatever your taste there is something to suit everyone, whether it's a laid-back beer in an authentic Aussie pub, a comedy night, live bands playing jazz and blues music or upmarket dance clubs. The Crown Casino Complex in Melbourne is a complete amusement area that includes a casino, cinemas, restaurants, bowling-alley and nightclubs. Shopping: Food products such as honeys, jams, chutneys and the local wines of Yarra Valley are popular buys. Tradtional sheepskins and the Australian’s answer to the raincoat, the drizabone, can be found here. Melbourne is a major fashion centre, home to the world-famous surfing brand, Quicksilver, and shoppers looking for designer wear should head for the city arcades or Howey Place. Unusual buys and bargains can be had at the Queen Victoria Market. Shopping hours: Sat-Wed 0900-1700, Thurs-Fri 0900-2100. All major supermarkets are open 24 hours. Some shops close Mon and Wed. Special Events: For a full list, contact Tourism Victoria (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of festivals and special events taking place in Victoria for 2003: Jan 13-26 Australian Open. Feb 11-16 Australian International Airshow. Feb 28-Mar 10 Ballarat Begonia Festival. Feb-Mar Australian Grand Prix. Mar-Apr Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Mar 27-Apr 30 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Apr 10-14 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Apr 16-27 Rip Curl Pro and Sun Smart Classic (surfing contest). Sep Australian Football League Grand Final Week. Oct Melbourne Festival; Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix; Oktoberfest, Melbourne. Oct-Nov Spring Racing Carnival, inc Melbourne Cup. Nov Wangaratta Festival of Jazz. Nov 15-23 Equitana Asia Pacific (horse show). Dec 26-30 Boxing Day Test Match. Business Profile Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers’ House, 196 Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 (tel: (3) 8662 5333; fax: (3) 8662 5462; e-mail: webmaster@vecci.org.au; website: www.vecci.org.au). Conferences/Conventions: Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city and gateway to the southern region, has convention facilities to match international standards – the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre is the largest exhibition space in the southern hemisphere with over 14,000 hotel rooms, 30 meeting rooms, 7300sq m of exhibition space and three state of the art theatres. The World Congress Centre, opened in 1990, also offers 28 meeting areas for up to 3500 delegates. A further exhibition complex linked by a walkway to the World Congress Centre, Melbourne, opened in 1996. Also, a casino-leisure complex, Crown Towers, opened in 1997. Major convention facilities include Dallas Brooks Conference Centre, Melbourne Hilton on the Park, Hyatt on Collins, the Radisson President Hotel and Convention Centre, Regent of Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building and Convention Centre, Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne Park Tennis Centre and Victorian Arts Centre. For more information on conferences and conventions in Victoria, contact the Australian Tourist Commission or the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau, Level 12, IBM Centre, 60 City Road, Southbank, VIC 3006 (tel: (3) 9693 3333; fax: (3) 9693 3333; e-mail: mcvb@mcvb.com.au; website: www.mcmb.net.au) or Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (UK Office), 42a Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 8EB, UK (tel: (01753) 481 540; fax: (01753) 481 600; e-mail: 106465.556@compuserve.com). Climate Hot summers and relatively cool winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year. Southern areas can have changeable weather even in summer, often with four seasons’ weather in one day. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.