If you’re looking for a great weekend getaway destination in Victoria with your family, then there are plenty of places to explore. In the past few years, the state has been steadily growing its tourism industry and is now considered one of the top destinations in Oceania. If you have kids who love camping or exploring new things, then this would be a perfect place to visit! This blog post will highlight some of the best places that families can go to while they’re visiting Victoria.
Every great family camping trip needs a great RV. Our Escape is a spacious off-roader with all the storage space you could need. This makes it ideal for families needing a little more wiggle room and space for all those toys to keep the kids amused. Compatible and towable with any four-wheel drive, the Escape comes with a queen mattress and space for bunk beds. Add whatever you need for some memorable (and comfortable) family time!
Our Escape from the inside. What a great family space.
The Grampians National Park
Victoria has many natural attractions such as the Grampians National Park, which is filled with mountains and bushland where campers can enjoy hiking trails and rock climbing opportunities all within close proximity to each other. You haven’t seen anything until you’ve been to the Grampians National Park. There are many things to do there, including Mount William Summit Walk, which makes for a 3.5km round trip. Totalling 1,167 metres in height, Mount William is the Grampians’ highest peak and has an amazing view at the top! Take in panoramic, 360-degree views of the rugged mountain ranges and vast, wide plains. This is a treat, especially if you visit at sunset. Just imagine the silhouetted bush contrasted against a neverending neon light display that spans in all directions. Talk about nature’s fireworks!
The MacKenzie Falls
The park features some beautiful waterfalls that will take your breath away—among which include Clematis Falls, MacKenzie Falls, and Silverband Falls. It also boasts an iconic rock formation called The Pinnacle. With its spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, this geological phenomenon is the Grampians’ optimal vantage point. Hikers will delight in the 4km walk to the top and back, which should take about 2.5 hours. There are also alternate paths you can take. If you have children in tow, we recommend starting at the Sundial Carpark and ascending via Devils Gap. This is also great for people who aren’t up for such a challenging walk.
The Pinnacle Lookout
There are so many natural sights to see and scenic trails to follow in the Grampians National Park. There’s enough to warrant their own separate blog post. And if you want to set up camp here, there are so many sites to choose from—among which include Jimmy Creek Campground, Stony Creek Campground, and Borough Huts Campground (to name just three). If you want the family to get a taste for walking in the wilderness, then we can’t recommend the Grampians National Park highly enough.
Lake Eildon
Lake Eildon is one of the largest lakes in Victoria. With its 515-kilometre shoreline and jaw-dropping capacity of 2,290,000 megalitres, Lake Eildon holds about six times as much water as Sydney Harbour. It goes without saying, then, that this is the location for boating, fishing, and swimming! There are also campsites around the lake that provide you with all you need for a comfortable stay. Will you choose Lakeside Campground, Candlebark Campground, Jerusalem Campground, or Devil Cover Campground? Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or want to be surrounded by nature, Lake Eildon has it all!
Lake Eildon: it’s really too big to be called a lake. Can you call it a ‘stilled ocean’?
Lake Eildon is one of the most popular destinations in Victoria because it offers so much more than just beautiful scenery. Be sure to bring your boating or waterskiing gear. And if you don’t have your own boat, you can always hire one from the local operators. Perhaps you could use this for a spot of fishing.
This happy camper is clearly taken by Lake Eildon’s mountainous backdrop. You will be, too.
If you would prefer the lake to be more of a scenic backdrop to adventure, there is plenty of scope for drier activities, too. Pack a family picnic and set up your spread at Herb Fitzroy or Forsyth Flat Day Visitor Areas. There are barbecue facilities available, too, if you wish to heat things up a bit. Once you’ve fuelled up, choose to explore either the Coller Bay Walking and Cycling Track, or one of the other many tracks for walking or hiking. The trails vary in length from 1–10 kilometres, range from grade 2–4 levels, and can branch off into alternate paths. This is especially the case with the grade 4-level Keg Spur and Blowhard Spur Tracks, which consist of five different versions. Walk whichever one best fits your schedule or energy levels. With kids along for the ride, it might be best to stick to the Perfect Cure Creek Nature Trail: a grade 2-level, one-hour circuit spanning 1.5km.
Mountains and lakes ahoy
This is merely a sample of places to go in Victoria for a weekend. Of course, there are so many other places to suit differing tastes, but campers with an adventurous spirit will revel in the opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, and viewing our beautiful bushland from spectacular vantage points. If you’re wanting to instil an adventurous spirit into your children, then the Grampians National Park and Lake Eildon would be our top picks. And the good news is that so many of the activities are family-friendly. The kids will love a spot of fishing, perhaps a grade 2-level walk, or a family bike ride and picnic. Cart the camper trailer down to one of these picturesque weekend destinations in Victoria.
