Victoria: Australia's best road trip, wildlife spotting and coffee!
Victoria: Australia's best road trip, wildlife spotting and coffee!
ecoconscious travel
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Whether you’re looking to explore a nature reserve, take a green-friendly tour, or sample some of the region’s delicious locally-sourced food, Victoria has plenty to offer for the eco-conscious traveller. Discover how to make the most of your visit and enjoy the beauty of this destination in a sustainable way with our guide to eco-friendly travel in Victoria.
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Fast facts:
- Victoria is Australia's second smallest state, but home to its largest city: Naarm/Melbourne!
- You can see wild penguins on Millowl/Phillip Island, a popular tourist destination in Victoria.
- The world’s largest gold nugget, named ‘The Welcome Stranger’, was found in Moliagul, a Victorian town, in 1869. It weighed approximately 7 kilograms.
Phillip Island Nature Parks
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Millowl/Phillip Island is home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. You can experience the magic of watching these amazing seabirds waddle home from the ocean to their burrows any night of the year from viewing platforms and boardwalks.
Visitors to Phillip Island Nature Parks ecotourism attractions fund vital research, conservation and education work. Staff care for over 1,980 hectares of beaches, bushland and wetland reserves on Phillip Island. Your visit directly contributes to the ongoing care of Little Penguins and their habitat.
Phillip Island Nature Parks is advanced eco-certified and all sites are fully accessible with ramps, handrails, wide pathways and viewing areas. Check out their website for more info on their commitment to accessible tourism and sustainability.
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Things to do:
1. Visit the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a stunning scenic drive that stretches along the coastline of Victoria. You’ll see rugged cliffs, beautiful beaches, and breathtaking views of the ocean. Make sure to stop by some of the area’s iconic landmarks, such as the Twelve Apostles and the Loch Ard Gorge.
Twelve Apostles
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The Twelve Apostles. Well... Seven Apostles actually...
The 'Twelve Apostles' can be seen as 7 limestone rock stacks. 6 of them are visible in the classic view enjoyed by millions of people every the year, while the 7th is located several metres away from the corner of the main viewing platform.
There were never 12 rock stacks - and they were not always called the Apostles - Sow and Piglets did not remain as a name for long. There were 9 rock stacks at the beginning of the 21st century. Then at 9:18am on 3 July 2005, one of them collapsed. Another collapsed in 2009.
The rough waves not only destroy ‘Apostles’, or rock stacks, but they form them too. The arches and bridges you will see along this stretch of coast will one day collapse and become stacks which will in turn collapse back into the ocean from where they came.
One of Australia's most popular and most photographed tourist spots - the Twelve Apostles are a must see on your Great Ocean Road trip.
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2. Explore the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is a picturesque wine region that’s just a short drive from Naarm/Melbourne. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful vineyards and sample delicious wine, but many of the wineries in the region are committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Plus there's gin and beer and great dining too...
SOUMAH of Yarra Valley
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Cellar door open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Dining daily from 11:30am to 4pm (reservations essential).
One of our favourite independent wineries in the Yarra Valley. Focussing on styles from northern Italy including Savarro, Pinot Grigio, Ai Fiori (Rosato), Brachetto, Marzemino, Nebbiolo and Barbera as well as the eastern French varieties of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Viognier - visit for a tasting with a very experienced sommelier who will bring to life these award-winning wines.
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Watts River Brewing
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Open Thu-Mon 11am-5pm (later on weekends).
Some of our favourite brews in one of favourite towns to visit - Healesville.
The team here have done a lot to welcome everyone including families with a beaut kids play space.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tasting platter of 5 beers for AU$20. The IPA was our favourite and we had to grab a few takeaways!
Great snacks available to soak up the brews too!!
We ❤️ Watts River Beers!
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3. Hike Gariwerd/The Grampians
Gariwerd/The Grampians is a stunning national park that offers hiking trails with stunning views of Victoria’s natural beauty. Many of the trails are accessible by public transport, making it easy to have an eco-friendly trip without renting a car.
Grampians National Park
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Explore the natural beauty of the Grampians from its world-famous hiking trails. Discover majestic waterfalls, dazzling spring wildflower displays and awe-inspiring mountain panoramas. Cross paths with kangaroos, wallabies, emus and native birds. Heritage-listed for its Aboriginal heritage, animal and plant life, and stunning natural beauty, the Grampians National Park is one of Australia's most recognisable places. The best way to appreciate it is on one of its many world-class walks or hikes or by taking a scenic drive.
The Grampians draws walkers from around the world. Hike to the highest peak within the Grampians, Mount William, or explore the plethora of walks around Halls Gap and the Wonderland Range. Views from the Pinnacle are famous, but the steep walk should only be attempted by the fit. If you’re an experienced walker you’ll enjoy the unique challenge of the park’s overnight hikes. Choose from the iconic Grampians Peaks Trail, Major Mitchell Plateau or The Fortress and Mt Thackeray Overnight Hike.
We love the views from Gar/Mount Difficult and can't wait to trek more of the Grampians Peak Trail!!
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4. Visit Millowl/Phillip Island
Millowl/Phillip Island is a beautiful nature reserve just a short drive from Melbourne. Here you can see the famous Penguin Parade, where you’ll witness adorable little penguins make their way up the beach at sunset. You can also take a wildlife tour to see kangaroos, koalas, and other native animals.
Phillip Island Nature Parks
@ecoconscioustravel
Millowl/Phillip Island is home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. You can experience the magic of watching these amazing seabirds waddle home from the ocean to their burrows any night of the year from viewing platforms and boardwalks.
Visitors to Phillip Island Nature Parks ecotourism attractions fund vital research, conservation and education work. Staff care for over 1,980 hectares of beaches, bushland and wetland reserves on Phillip Island. Your visit directly contributes to the ongoing care of Little Penguins and their habitat.
Phillip Island Nature Parks is advanced eco-certified and all sites are fully accessible with ramps, handrails, wide pathways and viewing areas. Check out their website for more info on their commitment to accessible tourism and sustainability.
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5. Explore Naarm/Melbourne
Naarm/Melbourne is a bustling city with a rich history and vibrant culture. It’s also one of the most sustainable cities in Australia, with a thriving bike culture, plenty of green spaces, and a focus on local and sustainable food. Check out two of our favourite food and specialty markets in Australia - Queen Victoria Market and South Melbourne Market - for some of the tastiest and freshest food you'll find anywhere!
Melbourne
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OK we're very biased as Naarm/Melbourne is where we call home - but it's also our favourite big city in the world. Remembering it always was and always will be Aboriginal land, Naarm/Melbourne at times also feels like a big South East Asian city, other times the British and Euro influences are strong, and in other ways the city and its sprawling suburbs are quintessentially Australian. Yes think Ramsay Street and Neighbours - those quarter acre blocks, brick veneer houses and suburb as far as the eye can see!
We love living in the Bayside suburb of Elwood and having all the attractions of the city close to us. So much of Melbourne's grandeur was built on Gold Rush money - we love the stone facades, arcades, laneways and European tree-lined streets. It is a beautiful city - and now one of the most vibrant multicultural cities in the world. Think different ethnic food, music and arts festivals every weekend! Oh and the best coffee in the world...
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Queen Victoria Market
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The Queen Vic Market is open:
Tue, Thu, Fri: 6am-3pm
Sat: 6am-4pm
Sun: 9am-4pm
Night markets seasonally on Wed nights: 5pm-10pm
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South Melbourne Market
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The South Melbourne Market is open every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ecoconscious travel
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Shiela and Simon are avid travellers who have seen first-hand the impact that tourism can have on the environment and local communities. They realised that there was a need for travel information and resources that focused on sustainable, responsible travel, and so ecoconscious travel was born.
The aim of our ecoconscious travel is to provide an information resource and online booking platform where eco-conscious travellers can easily find and book high quality tourism experiences that align with their values – presented from a trusted source who knows and can recommend those experiences.
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We understand that tourism can have a significant impact on the environment and local cultures, and we are committed to minimising our footprint through responsible travel practices. We work with local partners to create itineraries that are designed to minimise waste, reduce carbon emissions, and support sustainable tourism initiatives.
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