As the second smallest and most diverse of the Australian States and Territories, Victoria's distinct regions offer everything from the traditional Aussie beach getaway, to adventure in the snowfields, vineyards and gourmet food regions to outdoor wilderness and wildlife encounters, all within easy reach of the most liveable city in the world, Melbourne.       

Melbourne

Melbourne is a city that knows how to live. Melbourne is a city of many layers, appealing to thrill seekers in search of the next big adventure, to those who appreciate the finer things in life and everyone in between. Visitors are spoilt for choice with a thriving arts scene, a renowned food and wine offering, year-round events calendar, shopping, sport as well as the city's iconic hidden laneways.

Hidden Secrets Tours is renowned for its contemporary insider view of Melbourne and now is very excited to bring a new tour to the stable, The Golden Mile – a historical, guided walk which explores Melbourne's early settlement days and subsequent gold boom. The two hour-walk, offered daily, provides glorious insights of the prima donnas, bushrangers and innovators of a different time. Showcasing incredible architecture, and some incredible stories, these walks are a step back in time.

For a different insight into Melbourne, the already existing Melbourne Shopping Experiences and Melbourne Sports Tours have joined forces – now working collectively as MelbourneSEE. They provide enjoyable retail therapy tours and an in-depth knowledge of Melbourne's shopping culture along with a range of sporting tours including horse racing and Aussie Rules themed adventures. Private tours can also be arranged.

Those seeking a wildlife adventure should head to Melbourne Zoo to discover the all new I'Animal experience, a unique night-time experience that takes visitors on an after-hours, choose-your-own-adventure journey through the zoo. A new Breakfast with the Koalas experience will also be launching soon.

Well established touring company, Wildlife Tours, this year introduce 'Café Bus' – a specially designed bus which boasts comfortable lounge seats with personal tables, ideal for sharing fresh local produce sourced from farm houses the tour visits. An on-board coffee machine provides free unlimited coffee throughout the day. Café Bus tours include a selection of wine, chocolate, cheese, cider and strawberry tastings at farm houses and cellar doors in Melbourne's premier wine regions. 

Those seeking stylish and vibrant accommodation can choose from one of the three Art Series Hotels  located in Melbourne. Set in the city's hottest locations, visitors can choose from The Olsen (Chapel Street, South Yarra), The Blackman (St Kilda Road, Melbourne) or The Cullen (Commercial Road, Prahran). The hotels are promoted as not only hotels, but art gallery's as well with over 500 art works on display.

The Hotel Windsor celebrates 130 years in 2013. The Windsor is Australia's most cherished and last remaining Grand hotel, pre-dating The Savoy in London, The Plaza and Waldorf Astoria in New York and The Raffles in Singapore. 

Mornington Peninsula

With its endless bay and ocean surf beaches, more than 50 vineyard cellar doors and some of Australia's top golf courses, visitors find it hard to believe that the Mornington Peninsula is just an easy hour drive from Melbourne. New venture, Adventures in Natureis a co-operative marketing group consisting of five of the premier nature based tourism attractions and accommodation Mornington Peninsula. Members are Bayplay, Hummingbird Eco-Retreat, Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, Polperro Dolphin Swims and Tree Surfing.

Connecting the Mornington Peninsula with the Bellarine and Great Ocean Road regions, Searoad Ferries, offer enormous flexibility for travellers. The ferries operate 365 days of the year with 24 crossings a day from 7am – 6pm, on the hour every hour from both Queenscliff and Sorrento. The vessels are world class and have a capacity of 700 passengers and up to 70 vehicles.  Travellers get to experience the magnificence of the Port Phillip Bay with its spectacular coastal scenery, cliff top mansions and historic sites as well as the opportunity to see dolphins and seals, and even whales in winter.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island, is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the magical natural wonders of Australia, from its distinctive animals to beautiful beaches, rugged coastline and picturesque landscapes. With diverse coastline and bush land, wildlife encounters, idyllic coastal dining and family adventure, the Island has many experiences to share, all within an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne.

In March 2013 Phillip Island's surfing community celebrated the formal declaration of Victoria's first National Surfing Reserve at Cape Woolamai Beach. Australian surfing legend Layne Beachley hosted the event and said that Phillip Island has always been one of her favourite surfing destinations. The Reserve is made up of four sites along Phillip Island's coast: Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland and Cat Bay.

Gippsland

Gippsland, located in south eastern Victoria and one of Australia's most popular nature based destinations, has recently launched exciting new products for international visitors looking for authentic nature based experiences. The products include Southern Secrets Tours, Gippsland Food Adventures and Snowy River Cycling. The new products complement the region's fantastic nature based tourism appeal.

Yarra Valley & The Dandenong Ranges

Yarra Valley & The Dandenongs Marketing is the peak marketing body for the Yarra Valley and the Dandenongs. Though it's less than an hour's drive from the bustle of the city, the region feels like a world away. Sample the world-renowned wineries, fabulous scenery, delicious local produce and unique attractions including Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and Puffing Billy steam railway. Check out the recently introduced promotional video in simplified Chinese to showcase Puffing Billy's unique products.

The recently launched world-first interactive platypus show at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary allows visitors to come face-to-face with the Sanctuary's most iconic species. Guests can observe platypus as they interact with keepers and play in the water.

Goldfields

Combining gold rush history with world-class art galleries and gourmet food, get set for a vibrant adventure when you visit Victoria's Goldfields, just over an hour's drive northwest of Melbourne. Visit spectacular historic towns, grand streetscapes, gardens, art galleries, festivals and world class attractions.

Victoria's High Country

Victoria's High Country has a range of cycling tour packages to help visitors explore more than 250km of safe, off-road Rail Trail network, including the ever popular Murray to Mountains Rail Trail connecting culinary villages such as Beechworth, Bright and Milawa.

From dining on fine local produce, to a hands-on class at one of the region's many cooking schools, to a tasting of the King Valley's Italian varietals or Rutherglen's luscious fortifieds, rich food and wine experiences abound along and just off the Rail Trail network. Three local tour operators, High Country Bike Adventures, Riding High Cycling Tours and All Terrain Cycles service North East Victoria's Rail Trail network, providing transfers and itineraries to suit each group's cycling interest.

Discover even more about the Victorian Alps with Adventure Victoria. A destination that appeals to repeat visitors to Australia seeking to travel off the beaten track, or for outdoor / activity focused visitors seeking adventure in the form of abseiling, cooking schools, cycling, horse riding, 4WDing, hiking, kayaking and paddling in rivers.

Great Southern Touring Route

Regarded as one of the world's best touring experiences, the Great Southern Touring Route (GSTR) starts in Melbourne and incorporates the beautiful waterfront city of Geelong, the Great Ocean Road (including the Twelve Apostles), the seaside city of Warrnambool, the majestic nature and Aboriginal heritage of Grampians National Park, the gold rush history and grandeur of Ballarat and the health giving waters of the spa country.

New to ATE this year is Lady Bay Resort.  Located in Warrnambool at the end of the Great Ocean Road, the property offers sixty-five fully self-contained one, two and three bedroom apartments.  It also boasts a restaurant and spa on site. 

Sydney to Melbourne Touring Route

Heading in the other direction from Melbourne, the Sydney - Melbourne Touring route offers four distinctive touring routes between Australia's two largest capital cities. Choosing from coast, heritage, or alpine, the routes showcase stunning coast line, inspiring landscapes, national parks, white sandy beaches, heritage towns, alpine regions, championship golf courses and Australia's elegant capital city, Canberra. See whales, seals, penguins and more in the wild or take the Alpine Road over the Victoria Alps.

Touring companies

Bunyip Tours offers tours to Victoria's premier destinations including the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, the Grampians, Wilsons Promontory National Park as well as tours to the Mornington Peninsula. Go West runs daily small group services to the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island and offers multi-lingual tour services, as does Oceania Tours & Safaris operating public and private tours from Melbourne in small groups with English, German, Italian and Spanish guides.

Gray Line also offer a wide range of tours in and around Melbourne, to Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road, Puffing Billy, Sovereign Hill and the Mornington Peninsula.

Regionally, The Lancemore Group is a family-owned and managed company and among the largest operators of Victorian boutique hotels. They have established three iconic properties - Lindenderry at Red Hill, Lindenwarrah at Milawa, Lancemore Hill at Macedon Ranges and recently introduced the award-winning Mansion Hotel & Spa at Werribee Park.

Media contacts: Madeleine Blake, Senior International Media Officer, Tel: +61 3 9653 9814; mobile +61 409 037 103

Email: internationalpr@tourism.vic.gov.au

Corporate website: www.tourismvictoria.com.au

Consumer website: www.visitmelbourne.com