Victoria, you'll love every piece of it !

Nestled at the South Eastern tip of Australia, Victoria is Australia's second smallest state, covering 227,600 square kilometres, roughly the size of the British Isles.

Compact it may be, but Victoria has a wealth of diverse regional areas and attractions, from sweeping coastline and pristine beaches to national parks and forests teeming with wildlife, from mountain ranges to beautiful lakes to Australia’s largest city, Melbourne.

Melbourne is the state's capital and it sits on the Yarra river and around the shores of Port Phillip Bay.

Some claim that Melbourne is the style capital of Australia, Melburnians certainly seem to think so and who am I to argue?

Lauded for its sense of style and elegance, Melbourne boasts glamorous festivals and events, Australia's best shopping, a lively passion for eating and drinking, and a flourishing interest in the arts.

Restored and preserved nineteenth-century architecture, built following the discovery of gold, provides a heady reminder of a prosperous age, while beautifully tended parks and gardens present a therapeutic respite from the pace of city life.

Victoria in general, and Melbourne in particular, plays host to some of Australia’s (and the world’s) most famous sporting events including the Spring Racing Carnival culminating in the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November, the Australian Open Tennis Championships in January and the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix in March not to mention the various football codes and, of course, the cricket at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, affectionately known as the MCG, or even just “the G”.

Melburnians are known for their passion when it comes to sport but there is also a very lively arts community and you’ll find that the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in March and April will also provide the ‘arty’ visitor with an abundance of things to see and do.

Melbourne is a melting pot of cultures, a fact reflected in its cafes, bistros and bars.

Fashionable, eclectic and eccentric - Melbourne's dining spots offer a dizzying spread of the world's great cuisines, serving meals from the substantial and classic to the truly exotic.

An epicurean heaven, Melbourne has something to delight every palate, right across the city.

In the southern suburb of St Kilda there are fabulous Jewish cakes in Acland Street (a.k.a. the Boulevard of Broken Diets).

There is inexpensive, fresh and gorgeous Vietnamese cuisine in Victoria Street, which runs through inner-suburban Richmond.

You can dine on something as simple as fresh bread, local cheese and olives at the Queen Victoria Market in the city or the Prahran Market on Commercial Road for minimal cost.

If you like food, and let’s face it, who doesn’t, you’ll find all manner of fare to suit any taste and any pocket.

Getting around Melbourne is easy, thanks to an integrated network of trains, trams and buses.

Tickets allowing travel across all services can be purchased from vending machines at train stations, on trams or buses, or pre-purchased at selected shops such as newsagents.

Other ways of getting around include taxis, which are numerous and easy to spot,( they are all eye-catching yellow), boats and cycling (Melbourne has an extensive trail and road network).

As you move out of the city of Melbourne you’ll find the Yarra valley about an hour’s drive away, is home to some of Victoria’s oldest vineyards.

World class wineries offer cellar door sales and tastings of hand crafted wines, as well as stylish restaurants serving gourmet food and local produce.

Drive for an hour in a different direction and you’ll come to the Mornington Peninsular.

Here, if you let your imagination have sway you could easily think you'd travelled all the way to Europe.

You'll find a distinctly foreign landscape, olive groves to remind you of Italy and plenty of pinot noir to pay homage to France.

Sorrento and Portsea, on the Mornington Peninsula, exude a sophisticated beachside lifestyle, with antique shops, galleries, cafes and a variety of coastal walking trails.

The Bellarine Peninsula also has all the ingredients for a memorable visit - historic seaside villages, beautiful beaches and the vibrant city of Geelong, which is the state's largest regional city, with its lovely waterfront precinct packed with , attractions activities, great restaurants and sweeping bay views.

If you like fresh, crisp air, clear skies, cool mountain streams and unbelievable views, Victoria's high country. has a lot to offer.

If you enjoy a region rich in history, adventure, food or wine, you will find it in Victoria's high country.

The Grampians, Gippsland and the Macedon Ranges will give the visitor a camera full of superb photographs, and a heart overflowing with wonderful memories of time spent in God’s own country.

The people, the scenery, the food, the wine, the diversity,

Victoria, you’ll love every piece of it.