Victoria is blessed with oodles of beautiful and interesting holiday options, which makes for great trips away with the family.
Warburton
Located on the Yarra River 72 kms east of Melbourne is the stunning town of Warburton. Its friendly and vibrant community feel makes it a perfect place to enjoy time away with family. Ample cafes and restaurants provide fresh, often organic local produce with options to suit all palettes. The tourist information on the main street is an attraction in itself as a home to a 4.3 metre working water wheel that originally powered a nearby gold mine. Home to the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, the family can walk, cycle or horse-ride their way along this 38km stretch. Other outdoor adventure options in the area include Mt Dinna Buang, Blue Lotus water garden, Healesville Sanctuary and many picturesque picnic and park areas. A strong arts community also means there are a variety of cultural events from exhibits, film festivals, workshops, music performances as well as many opportunities for classes and workshops to participate in yourself. A number of wellbeing programs also run in this area.
Bright
To the northeast is the alpine town of Bright which is a good 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne. No matter what time of year you visit, there will be many things to do. The mountains make for a truly stunning drive, especially if the autumn foliage is out on full force, much of which is over 70 years old. In winter, Bright is a good base for both skiing and snowboarding with Mt Hotham and Falls Creek under an hour away. There are plenty of scenic walking or cycling tracks and adventure sports like paragliding, hang gliding or caving if you’re so inclined. Food options are plentiful and varied and many places specifically cater to children with toys, sandpit and kids menus. Local cheese and wine should also feature on your itinerary with a visit to one of the nearby wineries, or the Bright local brewery for some Victorian craft beer.
Geelong
Geelong on the Bellarine peninsula is a well-located destination that offers a variety of dining, accommodation options as well as plenty of things to do. In terms of Geelong’s family activities, the Adventure Park is fantastic for water play with pools, slides, go carts and playgrounds for all ages. You might also ride the historic carousel after you walk along the boardwalk taking in the local art and perhaps some ice cream! Buckley Falls are conveniently nearby which offer good picnic and biking options as well as a viewing area for the rapids. The Geelong Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit as well as the National Wool Museum which isn’t only educational, but provides children’s activities and interactive games. As a city, you’ll find major retailers and restaurants with everything from cheap eats to fine dining. In addition to this, Geelong’s location will mean you’ll also have beach destinations like Barwon Heads, Port Arlington and Torquay at your fingertips.
