Victoria

If you love sports, you’ll love Melbourne, the sporting capital. Victoria is also about sandy beaches, snow-peaked mountains, wildlife, food and wine.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Population:	3.7 million
Climate:	Despite its small size, the Victorian climate varies across the state. The north has much drier and warmer weather than the south. Australia's seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere. The climate can be characterised as warm to hot in summer (December to February), mild in autumn (March to May), cold and damp in winter (June to August), and cool in spring (September to November).
Cultural Mix:	More than one in four Victorians was born overseas. In order, the top 10 other countries of birth for Victorians are: United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Vietnam, New Zealand, Germany, China, Netherlands, India, and Malta.
Famous For:	Food Great food is essential in Melbourne. Like dressing well, Melburnians are wired to eat well. Melbourne’s European and Asian migrants transformed the bland Anglo-Saxon table into a feast of flavours. Sport In Melbourne, football and cricket have been joined since birth by their shared home – the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This one place is both the sacred site of football in winter and a magnet to cricket addicts in summer. Melbourne boasts no less than 101 football ovals and cricket pitches in inner Melbourne alone. And in greater Melbourne there are more footy ovals and cricket pitches (over 2150) than there are churches or schools. The youngest jockey to win the Melbourne Cup was a 13-year old Aborigine, Peter St Albans, riding Briseis in 1876. The first Melbourne Cup was held in 1861. The winner, Archer, took a prize of 170 pounds and a gold watch. Today, the total prize pool is around $4 million, $2 million for first place. Festivals Melbourne loves a party, preferably an arty party and preferably with a parade. Each year the city celebrates Moomba in March, the Melbourne Fashion Festival also in March, Comedy Festival in April, the Melbourne International Film Festival in July, the Age Melbourne Writer’s Festival in August, the Melbourne Fringe Festival in September, the Melbourne Festival in October and the Melbourne Cup in November. It’s a measure of the continuing increases in the city’s population size, mix and sophistication that Melbourne can support so much festival activity.
Did you know...	The key to Melbourne’s liveability lies in two major design elements. First, the garden wedges. Great chunks of green break into the metropolis, Second is the glorious width of the main streets – 99 feet wide. Although Vegemite is no longer Australian owned, it is still only made in Melbourne.
Transport:	Victoria's network of first-class roads, connecting the state’s cities and towns as well as interstate locations, means it is easy to reach your destination by car, motorbike or bicycle. Various train and bus companies connect Melbourne with intrastate and interstate destinations, while scheduled flights service regional centres. Find out the best ways to get to Victoria's regions. Getting around Melbourne is easy thanks to an excellent train and tram system, a good taxi service and an easy-to-navigate gridlike city map.

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Related Information

Itineraries – Britz Coastal Explorer Experience a 7-day tour that includes a healthy dose of history and scenic wonders in between. Get to know the best of Australia’s town and country.

State Highlights – Victoria Explore the Great Ocean Road, head for the green fields of the country, sample food and wine that compares with the world’s best and live life the way it’s meant to be.

Australian Tourism Offices Head to the Britz Base for links to Australia’s official State Tourism websites for details on local events, attractions and must-sees.

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