Victoria

South of New South Wales is Victoria, a relatively small state however one that is incredibly diverse and full of things to see and do.

The capital city of Melbourne located on shore of Port Philip Bay and is divided into a North and South section by the Yarra River. Melbourne is a buzzing metropolis with a distinctly multicultural flavour and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. The city centre is intertwined with a maze of narrow laneways brimming with intimate cafes (Melbourne is also famous for good coffee), bars and boutique stores. Suburbs such as Carlton and St Kilda are influenced by their immigrant population, making dining out and sight-seeing a unique cultural experience.

In the centre of the city is Federation Square, opposite the historic Flinders Street Station. This multipurpose structure was built during the late 1990’s as a hub for cultural activity in the city, within which galleries, shops, live entertainment and restaurants serve hundreds of tourists daily. The nearby Arts Centre, National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Theatre Company also contribute to the artistic atmosphere of the city centre.  In contrast to the arts Melbournians are also sport-fanatics, particularly for Australian Rules Football which has professional competitions every year at the Telstra Dome and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Great Ocean Road runs along the coast of Victoria heading toward the South Australian border, and a road trip along through this area is a great way to see the stunning coastline. The most famous outlook from this is the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National Park, a group of 45 metre-high rock stacks stand majestically in the waters of the Southern Ocean. This is a sight that is most breathtaking when the light is softer, so dawn and dusk area ideal times to visit.

Facts about the state of Victoria!

Victoria is the third smallest state or territory in Australia and the second smallest state, with a total size of 227,600 kilometres square. It is about the size of Great Britain
Despite its size, Victoria has the second largest population in Australia and is also the most densely populated state in the country. It has a population of approximately 5.5 million people
The capital of Victoria is Melbourne, and it is the second largest city in Australia in terms of size and population. The population of Melbourne is 4 million, and 75% of Victoria's population live there
Melbourne is expected to eclipse Sydney with the largest population in Australia within the next 20 years due to it's growth
Melbourne is often referred to as the 'Sports Capital of the World', with numerous international events taking place there annually. These include the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis, the Australian Open Golf, the AFL Grand Final and various other international matches. It was also home to the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Melbourne is also home to large art communities and theatre communities, and is often renowned for various art exhibitions and theatre shows
Much of central Victoria was devastated by Australia's worst bushfires in 2009, which killed over 180 people
The dominant sport in Victoria is Australian Rules football, with the sport being played right across the state. The national league, the Australian Football League, is the largest and most prominent sporting league in the country, and 8 of the leagues 18 teams come from Victoria
Victoria shares a border with South Australia and New South Wales and holds strong rivalries with both states. It's also the closest state in terms of distance to Tasmania
36% of the state is covered by bushland and it has some of the most majestic bush scenery in the country
Many people take the Great Ocean Road journey between Melbourne and Victoria's second largest city of Geelong. Here you can see rugged coastline and some amazing scenery.

Victoria (VIC)

Victoria is the smallest state but the capital of Melbourne is the second most populated city in Australia. The weather in Victoria can be hard to predictable. The seasons are usually cooler than other Australian states and territories and it mainly experiences fog and frost in winter.

Melbourne is considered to be a culturally significant capital not only of Australia but also of the world. It has played host to the Commonwealth games and the world economic forums. The famous Crown Casino and Federation Square are located in the heart of the Central Business District and is a must-see for all visitors to truly soak in Melbourne’s unique atmosphere.

The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has been around since 1993 and is one of the biggest and most popular events of its kind. It attracts many world-class chefs, food critics and winemakers from all over the world every year during its fortnight-long run in March.

Victoria’s Phillip Island has over 3 million visitors every year. Many of them are there to see the famous Penguin Parade, where Fairy Penguins, only 43 centimetres tall, swim onto the shore.

Dandenong Range

The Dandenong Range is lain less than an hour from Melbourne and towering over Melbourne's eastern fringe. The Ranges are grand, green and very accessible. You can go to sleep listening to the rustle of the bush and wake up to the cackle of kookaburras. The natural world here is gloriously diverse, from stands of mountain ash up to 100 metres high, to the exotic blooms at Olinda's National Rhododendron Gardens. The Dandenong Ranges are home to spectacular wildlife, including king parrots, lyrebirds and lead beater's possums. You can explore on foot more than 300 kilometres of walking trails that loop through ferny gullies and past waterfalls to delightful picnic spots. "Puffing Billy" is Australia's favourite steam train, which trundles from Belgrave to Gembrook and back again.

 

Daylesford & Hepburn Springs

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are twin towns in the northwest of Melbourne. Victoria's home of indulgence boasts the highest concentration of mineral springs in Australia and is swathes of bush. Impressive mansions, striking landscapes and some of Victoria's finest gardens combine to create the old world ambience of the nearby Macedon Ranges. Rugged hills and thick stands of unspoiled bush provide striking contrast to stunning parks and glorious manicured gardens and historic houses, many of which are regularly open to the public. This is also a cool-climate wine region known for producing quality table wine, particularly "Macedon" and "Pinot Noir". The "Boomerang Holiday Ranch" and the "Wildwood YHA" offer a night in a dorm for A$ 20.

 

Mornington Peninsula

Arcing gracefully around the eastern rim of Port Phillip Bay and close to the city, the Mornington Peninsula is a holiday spot favoured by Melbournians. With a mighty ocean to the south and protected bays on either side, the Mornington Peninsula is home to wine, golf courses with ocean views, great beaches and Victoria's most popular national park. Sorrento has historic hotels and limestone mansions overlook excellent eateries, sidewalk cafés, boutiques, galleries and specialist shops. Nearby Portsea, at the end of the peninsula, is a popular diving location and provides the setting for regular surfing and iron man competitions. You can also swim with dolphins and seals and explore the labyrinth of tunnels and fortifications of Point Nepean.

 

Phillip Island

Phillip Island is an island two hours in the southeast of Melbourne; there you can see little penguins, seals and koalas at close range. And every year, wild life of a different kind is the focus when the island hosts international motorcycle races. There is a rugged coastal scenery as well as historic buildings, heritage gardens and ancient trees on adjacent Churchill Island. You can also find some of the best surf beaches in Victoria and explore the more than 100 species of birds that reside at Rhyll Inlet.

 

Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley is in the northeast of Melbourne and popular for their 55 world class wineries. The temperate climate is ideal for chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet, sauvignon and methode champenoise sparkling wine. You can tour the region by car, take the skies to view vine-filled valleys and distant hills in a hot-air balloon, or meet the native fauna at the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary. Just 15 minutes from Melbourne on the way to Yarra Valley is the Heide Museum of Modern Art and the TarraWarra Museums of Art.

 

Geelong

Geelong is half an hour in the southwest of Melbourne and it is Victoria's wool centre and has a major port. The city is home of the football team "Geelong Cats" and the Ford Car factory. It is not charming here, but the central part has plenty of historic buildings, and some views of the industrial port. If you have a little bit time, you can visit the "Wool Museum", the Art Gallery, the Waterfront, the "Ford Discovery Centre" and the Botanic Gardens. For staying overnight you should go to the "National Hotel Backpackers", there you can get a night in a dorm for A$ 19.

The town Sale is connected by the river to the Gippsland Lakes and was earlier a busy port town. It has some nicely restored old buildings and a little to excite the traveller. The nearby lakes, waterways and the harbour have more than 130 species of water birds. 2 kilometres in the south of Sale is the "Sale Common Wildlife Refuge" with a wetlands boardwalk.

Torquai is a popular surfing and holiday town lain on the eastern end of the Great Ocean Road. There are entire commercial surf centres, like Surf City Plaza and even if your are not interested in waves, you might change your mind here.

The "Surfworld Australia Surfing Museum" is an excellent place for those with any interests in waves. A good beach for families is the "Fisherman's Beach" and the "Back Beach". In the southwest of Torquai is the famous surf spot "Jan Juc".

The "Tiger Moth World Adventure Park" offers canoeing, air shows and flights in vintage Tiger Moths. There are some second-hand surf shops in Baines Court. An eleven hour coastline walk from "Jan Juc" to "Moggs Creek" offers the "South Coast Walk". Every eastern is the world-championship surfing contest at "Bells Beach Recreation Reserve". The "Bells Beach Lodge" offers a night in a dorm for A$ 20-23.

Victoria Holidays

Road Trip on the Hume

Road trips reawaken your sense of adventure, especially in the North-East of Victoria where there is so much to discover.

Whether departing Melbourne or Sydney, the road systems are easy to use and clearly sign-posted. The Rutherglen wine region is a quick dash up the Hume Highway, a swift 3.5 hours. From Sydney the drive is twice as long, which gives you twice as much opportunity to explore new things along the way.

South of Sydney, signs to Canberra may entice you for a quick visit to the nation’s capital – but don’t be tempted just yet! Canberra is best saved for a time when you have a weekend or three days to spare. There is so much to see and do in the Australian capital, including visits to important national monuments like Parliament House and the National War Memorial. Added to those are some fantastic museums, including Questacon, the awesome Science and Technology interactive museum, and The National Australian Museum. Like so many of Canberra’s world class museums, these buildings are architectural wonders, perched on the soothing shores of Lake Burley-Griffin. There is so much to see in Canberra, an atmospheric city which is so different from the other “city in the bush”, Albury.

South of Canberra, and only 2 hours away from the major city Albury, you will find a small town called Gundagai. The majority of motorists travelling the Hume Highway may not be aware that this unimpressive seeming truck-stop is the site of an Australian legend – the dog on the tuckerbox. This lovely monument was established in honour of a famous story about a famous pioneer, Bullocky Bill and the loyal dog who guarded his master’s lunchbox. A festival takes place at the site of The Dog on the Tuckerbox every year.

The Hume Highway continues to Albury, a major town of about 50 000 people. You’ll find night-life, restaurants, bars and best of all, a gateway to the mysterious south-west of New South Wales and also the Snowy Mountains. Albury was built on the banks of the mighty Murray River, which forms the natural boundary between New South Wales and Victoria. Now is a good time to get out of the car and stretch your legs at one of many parks on the riverbanks. On the northern side in Albury, enjoy a rest stop at Noreuil Park. Alternatively, if you cross over the border in Victoria, you can hop out at Belvoir Park on Huon Street.

Deciding where to visit can be difficult with so many exciting destinations just a short drive from Albury. A recent trip to Rutherglen proved to be amazing. It is a tiny, peaceful country town at the centre of a beautiful wine region, famous for its fortified and sweet wines.

A great place to stay in Rutherglen is the Hotel Victoria. Boasting an ancient pedigree of 142 years in the hotel business, “The Vic”, as it is affectionately known, has been renovated by Sean Pilgrim and Sarah Morris, previously employed with the Intercontinental Hotel group. Together they have established a famous restaurant in the fine old billiard room of the hotel called Mrs Browns, and designed a range of great accommodation deals including a package deal for cyclists.

Whether you are cycling, snowboarding or motoring your way down to North-Eastern Victoria, you will be entranced by the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique region.

Easy and Lucrative Employment in Victoria

The smallest mainland state, Victoria commands the second largest economy in Australia. It employs a major chunk of the workforce in the country and tops the list of key income producing states. With numerous mining, manufacturing, service, and agricultural industries coming up in the past few years, Victoria offers rewarding jobs for skilled, highly skilled, or unskilled labor force.

The administration in Victoria is quite friendly and attractive. Thousands of jobs with varied salaries are available in Victoria, making it a prime spot for immigrants. Annual sports events, festivals, and carnivals not only invite tourists but also workers looking forward to work full time or part time in Victoria.

Apart from tourism, the education system too, attracts thousands of immigrants who intend to study and ultimately work in Victoria. With many useful tertiary and TAFE institutes in the state, students easily find employment here. Along with these opportunities, the government has made transport affordable and convenient for students.

Since March, 2013 there has been an influx in the rate of immigrants coming to Victoria. Employment is no longer profitable just for the natives but for the immigrants as well. The amendment in the immigration policy, such as post study work options, and work incentives in the temporary visa Skilled Graduate subclass 485 has attracted top professionals.

In a nutshell, foreigners can easily get jobs without being permanent resident in the country. Engineers, nurses, doctors, IT specialists, accountants, plumbers, welders, pasta cooks, and similar professionals can now work for a longer period in Victoria.

The State Government of Victoria has also been hiring professionals in the finance sector, biotechnology and science, and education. Expert accountants, auditors, chemists, vets, geologists, physicists, teachers or vocational specialists, can easily find suitable openings in the state.

Seasonal jobs are also available in Victoria. Large parts of the land in the state consist of farms that grow different seasonal fruits. During January to April and November to February, orchard farms hire innumerous seasonal workers to pick fruits, and sort and package them. In Victoria’s Murray River Valleys, Lake Boga, Swan Hill, Nyah West, and Kyabram farmers grow apples, tomatoes, pears, grapes, and peaches.

On the other hand city life is fun in Victoria. Visitors are often seen satiating themselves with cappuccinos and cuisine delicacies. Entertainment in rural spots, such as Geelong and Mildura often help in creating jobs of bartenders and chef assistants. Working at wineries and breweries is common among visitors on Work and Holiday visa, Working Holiday visa, or Work visa.

Looking for a career break in Victoria? If you are interested in an education to pursue your dream of living and working in Victoria, please contact our student counsellor to find out more about your options.

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Melbourne is a very cool, cultural and artistic town that is very well rounded and has something to do for people of all ages and backgrounds there. Melbourne also has the cricket ground that is home of the Australian Rule Football team in the winter and cricket in the summer months, so these sports are especially popular around this region. . It has great markets, beaches, and entertainment for travellers and locals to enjoy. Melbourne has an international airport, and rail links to other states surrounding VIC.

A big chunk, 36%, of Victoria is forest, and there are also a number of large lakes that are inland. Victoria’s longest river is the Murray River. There is 1600km of vast coastline that separates Australia from Tasmania; it borders the southern ocean, and Bass Strait. This is called the great ocean road, and is a great tour to take to see all of the beautiful scenery and sites along the coast. It is a great idea to take the time and explore the Grampians or enjoy the many great rivers, lakes and valleys. Also another great day trip could be to go and visit the little penguins at Phillip Islands.

There is one thing about Victoria’s climate, especially in regards to its’ capital, that is well known amongst all Australians, and that is that there is an immense amount of rainfall in this state. The climate is still very temperate however, with the summers usually ranging between 13-25°C (55-77°F), and the winters ranging between 5-13°C (41-55°F).