Victoria

The State of Victoria and its capital Melbourne (5 million inhabitants, Australia's second city) form the country's most European, most cultural and most creative region. Melbourne is regularly ranked among the world's most liveable cities by The Economist (world's first ranking several times between 2011 and 2017) — temperate climate, world-class infrastructure, vibrant arts and gastronomy scene, multicultural lifestyle.

Melbourne organises around the CBD (Central Business District) crossed by the Yarra River. The historic centre stands out for its laneways adorned with globally-recognised street art (Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane), its traditional Italian cafés (Melbourne coffee culture, inherited from post-war Italian immigration, is probably the world's most refined — Patricia Coffee Brewers, Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan), its Victorian arcades (Block Arcade, Royal Arcade), its Victorian architecture (Flinders Street Station 1909, Royal Exhibition Building UNESCO 2004). Beyond the CBD, signature neighbourhoods: Fitzroy and Collingwood (bobo, creative, restaurants), St Kilda (urban beach, Luna Park, sunset penguins on the pier), Southbank (museums, NGV — National Gallery of Victoria), Docklands (modern), South Yarra and Toorak (chic, Chapel Street luxury boutiques).

Melbourne's gastronomic scene rivals Sydney, Tokyo and New York. Attica (Ben Shewry) is regularly ranked #1 in Australia and top 50 worldwide. Vue de Monde (contemporary French cuisine atop the Rialto Tower), Cumulus Inc (Andrew McConnell, signature bistro), Chin Chin (trendy Southeast Asian cuisine), Flower Drum (high-end Cantonese). Melbourne brunch culture (avocado smash, eggs benedict) has spread worldwide. Lygon Street (Carlton) remains one of the world's most authentic Little Italys (Italians settled since 1950).

The State of Victoria offers exceptional excursions from Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road (1.5 hours to the start at Torquay) is one of the planet's most beautiful coastal road trips: 243 km of panoramic road between limestone cliffs (12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Arch) and eucalyptus forests, with seaside towns (Lorne, Apollo Bay) and wild koala observation at Cape Otway. Phillip Island (1.5 hours south-east) hosts the famous Penguin Parade — each evening at sunset, hundreds of fairy penguins emerge from the sea to reach their burrows (AUD 30-50 spectacle). The Yarra Valley (1 hour east) is one of Australia's major wine regions, specialising in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (champagne method by Domaine Chandon, founded by Moët & Chandon).

The Victorian Alps (3-4 hours north-east) offer skiing in austral winter (June-September) at Falls Creek, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham. The Mornington Peninsula (1 hour south) provides wineries, beaches and hot springs.