Victoria

AAT Kings offers a range of Guided tours and Flexi trips to Victoria.

• Melbourne
• Great Ocean Road
• Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges
• Phillip Island
• Ballarat
• Mount Buller & Lake Mountain

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s most cosmopolitan city, from the arts and museums, to restaurants, markets and shopping.

The city’s mix of architecture combines fine heritage buildings with sleek modern styles. There are endless examples of this like Federation Square, Parliament House, Flinders Street Station, St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, Queen Victoria Market and the Victorian Arts Centre. Other famous landmarks AAT Kings tours visit include the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria’s, war memorial and on some AAT Kings tours you’ll also visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Grand Prix racetrack and Rod Laver Arena - home to tennis’ Australian Open.

Melbourne’s climate also means it’s full of beautiful parks and gardens like Kings Domain Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens. In the Fitzroy Gardens you’ll find Captain Cook’s Cottage, dating back to 1755. Captain Cook was the intrepid British explorer who discovered the East Coast of Australia.

For great views of the city, pass over the Westgate Bridge and the Bolte Bridge (available on our Morning City Tour), or see the city skyline from a totally different perspective on water on a Yarra River cruise (included in our Afternoon City Tour).

If you have some extra time in Melbourne, enjoy the buzzing café and restaurant scene. Melbourne boasts more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia. There are so many hidden treasures to discover in the historic laneways within the city centre. Another top spot to visit is the city’s ‘Little Italy’ on Lygon Street. Shoppers go straight to shopper heaven walking along Chapel Street, exploring the many one-off boutique clothing stores on the neighbouring side streets.

Melbourne is a gateway to: Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road; Dandenong Ranges; Yarra Valley; Ballarat; Mt Buller; Grampians; Bendigo; Echuca

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Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's most scenic journeys. A winding road with spectacular ocean views that leads you through quaint seaside towns to an Australian natural icon, the Twelve Apostles. 

You'll start your great road trip in Melbourne and head west to Torquay, stopping at surfing nirvana, world famous Bells Beach. Then travel through the gorgeous coastal towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Wye River. Take time to look around Apollo Bay and maybe grab some lunch from a local café.

Continue the drive through the lush forest of Otway National Park and then the green hills of Port Campbell National Park until you reach the highlight of this spectacular road trip, the Twelve Apostles. These giant stone monoliths ascend from the Southern Ocean standing tall as the waves crash around them. No matter what time of day you visit, the Apostles never fail to impress. You'll feel the ocean breeze on your face and smell the salt in the air as you observe one of nature's most magnificent masterpieces.

Just around the bend you'll discover Loch Ard Gorge and learn about the amazing shipwreck survival that took place there. See London Bridge, a rock which once formed the shape of a bridge reaching out into the ocean but has in recent years eroded into two pieces. Towards the end of the drive lies the town of Warrnambool, a whale-watching wonderland. From May to October whales can often been seen just 100 metres off shore.

 

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Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Food, wine and wildlife await you just an hour’s drive from Melbourne, in the picturesque Yarra Valley. Known for its world class wineries and radiant countryside the Yarra Valley epitomizes Victoria in all its splendour.

With AAT Kings you’ll visit a number of local wineries where you can learn about the wine making process on a guided winery tour and enjoy a wine and cheese tasting. Pinots and Chardonnays do particularly well in the Yarra Valley’s cool climate so be sure to sample one of these as you take in the stunning vineyard views. 

The Dandenong Ranges are another highlight on the Yarra Valley map. Watch the magnificent rainforest pass you by as you travel on Puffing Billy, Australia’s oldest operating steam train. The 25km journey is an experience you’re sure to remember.

Visit the award winning Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and see Koalas, Kangaroos, Emus, Wallabies, Echidnas and Tasmanian Devils in a natural bush setting. The sanctuary is home to more than 200 species of birds, mammals and reptiles and is a haven for endangered species and injured wildlife. Check out the ‘Birds of Prey’ presentation and see the mighty Wedge-tailed Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon in action.

 

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Phillip Island

Phillip Island is the perfect place to see Australian wildlife up close and in its most natural state. Watch the famous Penguin Parade and see the adorable penguins scamper out of the ocean, along the beach and into their tiny burrows. You'll hear the penguins squawk as they reach their homes at dusk after swimming around 100km throughout the day. Walk along the specially built boardwalk and you'll see the penguins resting after their hard day at sea.

Phillip Island is also home to the Koala Conservation Centre where you can see Australia's cuddliest looking creature, the Koala, nestled high in the tree tops or scurrying along the bush floor. Koalas generally sleep 18 hours a day and spend the rest of their time eating eucalypt leaves – what a life! If you're lucky you might even see a baby Koala, known as a Joey.

 

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Ballarat

The Gold Rush of the 1850s led many to the goldfields of Victoria. Many towns were established including Ballarat which is now Victoria's largest inland city. You can experience what life was like during the Gold Rush when you visit Sovereign Hill, a site recreated as a 1850s gold mining settlement. Pan for gold, explore an underground mine, see a blacksmith at work, satisfy your sweet tooth at the candy store and take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The site is filled with period-style characters that you can chat to and you can even have your photograph taken in historic costume.

 

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Mt. Buller and Lake Mountain

During the winter season AAT Kings can get you to all the action of the snowfields at Mt. Buller and Lake Mountain. Victoria's high country receives some of Australia's best snowfall so whether you go to Mt. Buller or Lake Mountain you're bound to have a great time. Enjoy the fresh, crisp mountain air and have a day of fun on the slopes. You can ski or toboggan your way down the mountain and at the end of the day enjoy a hot chocolate at one of the many mountain cafés. Best of all, we can organise all your ski-hire for you.

 

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