Victoria- Covid has hit us hard, but now we need a holiday.
The last few months been very trying, so many people have lost their jobs and many feel like they are losing their minds. I think we can all agree, we all need a holiday more than we ever have before.
There is so much uncertainty in the world and even within our own country. Fear of lockdowns and border closures is making us all a bit hesitant to book our next trip. No one wants to be stuck anywhere they don’t want to be. No-one wants to have to quarantine for two weeks if they accidentally stumble into a Covid outbreak. We are all doing our best to survive this pandemic but we just want to live our best lives. I’m sure everyone has had enough.
At this stage our best option for a getaway is within our own home state. For us here in Victoria we have done it extremely tough, we have been forced into the longest and hardest lockdown in the world and we deserve a getaway where we can de-stress and enjoy ourselves, let’s face it, it’s been way too long.
To give us our best chances of actually being able to take the holiday we plan, I have compiled a list of the best places to holiday within our own state.
Pre lockdowns we have been out and about compiling our list of tried and tested gems, all within a few hours drive from Melbourne.
Take your pick-
Phillip Island- It’s known for the penguins but it has so much more to offer. We were last there during winter for whale watching season. The nature walks on offer are second to none, we love the Cape Woolamai walk and the Forrest Caves. Cowes offers many great restaurants and cafes and being an island it’s surrounded by gorgeous coastline. For more information you might like to check out my blog on 5 free things to do on Phillip Island.
The Grampians- Heading up from Melbourne you might like to stop in Ballarat for a night or two on the way. Once you arrive you might not want to leave as you’ll be welcomed by an abundance of nature and wildlife. Known for its stunning natural beauty, hiking trails and walks. It has a strong aboriginal cultural heritage and is a great place to get away to be one with nature. You’ll see awe inspiring Mountain View’s, stunning waterfalls and may even bump into a kangaroo or two.
Lakes Entrance- for those of us who love a coastal getaway, Lakes Entrance is a popular seaside resort and fishing port. Home of many inland rivers and a fabulous beachside lifestyle. It’s the seaside charm of this town that draws in holiday makers year round. If you enjoy Fishing or boating or just the beach vibe so you can relax and unwind this is your place.
Echuca- it’s the Australiana charm that gets me every time we go here. The Murray river is lined with gum trees, kookaburras and paddle steamers. Rich in history and just so inviting. Life on the Murray is relaxed but also fun. A hotel meal is a must, and with it you’ll experience the casual welcome of a country town. Loved by campers and boating enthusiasts who love to get out on the water to ski or wakeboard. I’ve also written a whole blog on Echuca which you might like to read for more information.
Wilson’s Prom- it’s the southern most tip of mainland Australia. It’s home to an array of native wildlife, picture perfect beaches and walking trails. It’s one of Victoria’s best loved national parks and is a very popular spot for campers. So much so that you need to book well in advance often putting your name into a lottery system to get a place.
Bright- I can’t highlight in words how beautiful Bright is in Autumn. The colours of the leaves are so vibrant and it’s worth visiting at this time of year just to see it for yourself. Check out all my pictures on Instagram at @kb4travel. Bright is another welcoming country town that has a lot to offer. It’s a Mecca for bike riders with many trails around town and even up into the hills for the adventurous. It also has a well known food and wine scene. You can read more about Bright in my Autumn is Bright blog.
Snow fields- Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham etc- we all know what snowfields are known best for, skiing, snowboarding and winter activities. Great if you can get there during snow season but not so great if your locked down, thanks Victorian government and Covid. For the past two years the seasons have been very limited with small windows of snow opportunities but you may not know that many of these villages are also open in Summer. The high country offers lots to see and do year round.
Lorne- is another fantastic beachside town and it’s a great place to stay if your planning on driving the famous Great Ocean Road. This part of Victoria is also famous for great surf beaches and it’s surf culture. You might want to start your road trip here and end it in another great seaside town like Warnambool, Port Fairy or Port Campbell visiting the world famous 12 Apostles and many other beautiful scenic spots along the way.
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Mornington Peninsula- is made up of a number of charming suburbs the general feel of the Mornington Peninsula is a mix of luxurious coastal living. Draw cards to this area include wineries, local produce and markets as well as their famed hot springs. The Mornington Peninsula has a mix of bayside’s calm beaches with quaint beach boxes and the oceanside surf beaches. Known to be where the wealthy Melbourne residents have their multi million dollar holiday houses and home of one of Australia’s best Vanilla Slices. See my blog on Millionaires walk for more information on this.
Yarra Valley- From 2020 data the Yarra Valley is home to 300 vineyards and 160 wineries, so it’s safe to say this would be one of the main reasons people travel here. Built around this industry are a number of great places to stay and the local production of some great food. Travel here for an indulgent getaway or romantic hideaway but there is also some great scenery to explore.
Melbourne City- A staycation in the city might be overlooked as sometimes it’s not actually seen as a getaway, but we have had some great holidays staying in the city for various occasions. When you think about it, it’s the perfect place to go as it offers everything you could ever want. Many of the hotels have great facilities, your close to a plethora of great restaurants and cafes. Your in the epicenter of Melbourne’s sports, arts, shopping and entertainment districts and you can catch the free city tram to most of it. It’s definitely worth experiencing a city staycation at some stage and what better time than now, post lockdown.
I hope this brief introduction to many of Victoria’s best getaways has given you some inspiration to finally book your next trip. As always, if you would like further information or a chat about what suits you best, contact me.
#holidayherethisyear #seeaustralia
