10 Off-The-Grid Victoria Towns To Visit In 2025
In the Land Down Under, one of the best states you will find in the south of Australia is the popular Victoria. Where the Great Ocean Road stretches out with views of the Bass Strait and the distant island of Tasmania, travelers will be smitten by the many off-the-grid Victoria towns to visit in 2025, all of which serve as getaways from big cities like Melbourne or gateways into the many natural parks and historic attractions to see in Victoria. Between savory wine in the bountiful Yarra Valley to taking historic train tours on the Puffing Billy Railway, newcomers to this vivacious state will find Victoria a welcoming and accommodating state down in the Land Down Under, especially due to the wonders and surprises in store in the many off-the-grid Victoria towns to visit in 2025.
Walhalla
Walhalla is a welcoming and wonderful hamlet deep within a valley with the Victorian Alps surrounding the place. Back in 1862, Walhalla prospered and peaked as a prominent gold-mining town whose history you can learn more about at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine. Likewise, you can head down to Stringers Creek in the hopes of panning for gold in the water, or perhaps you might be more interested in touring the various old hotels, shops, school, and churches that have retained their architectural images since the 19th century. At the Walhalla Goldfields Railway, you can enjoy leisurely and lackadaisical train rides through the valley and the Victorian Alps encircling Walhalla. Beyond the town’s confines, you can go traipsing through the verdant woodlands of both the Baw Baw National Park and Moondarra State Park. In a land where the Gunaikurnai People once roamed, Walhalla provides an excellent escape into the simple backdrops and outdoors splendors of Victoria.
Beechworth
For individuals eager to immerse themselves in the cultural histories, diversities, and anecdotes of the past, the off-the-grid town of Beechworth is a worthwhile destination boasting a cornucopia of historic charms. The original settlement was called Mayday Hills but was later renamed for a place in England. During the 19th century, Beechworth prospered as a prominent mining center within the Ovens Valley goldfields. Additionally, it was the site of some of the earliest hospitals, jails, and mental health care facilities in Victoria. The Asylum Ghost Tours and the Old Beechworth Gaol are just some of the various historic landmarks you will find showcasing Beechworth’s storied heritage.
On the other hand, the Yeddonba Aboriginal Cultural Site, located at the base of Mount Pilot, preserves the art of the Dhudhuroa people, the primary indigenous clan of the area and a sub-clan of the Pangarang people of the Goulburn Valley, whose culture and relevance can be best seen in Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park. Last but not least, the town houses a memorial museum named for the explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, who had lived most of his life in Beechworth and whose collections and antiquities—ranging from a genuine thylacine to a giant world globe depicting the Russian Empire—are on full display in the museum. Beechworth is definitely a worthwhile destination to visit, one of many off-the-grid Victoria towns to see in 2025.
Daylesford
Travelers can afford to go towards the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria in order to arrive at the delightful little town of Daylesford. Famous for its natural mineral springs, Daylesford provides a daily dose of relaxation and comfort in springs located in the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve and the Argyle Mineral Springs. Inside a 19th-century mansion that has been converted into the Convent Gallery, you can peruse and admire three levels of local, national, and international artworks from various artists.
Visitors with a desire to lounge and stroll through the outdoors can head over to the leafy Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, a floral and fantastic location that sits atop an extinct volcano. Close at hand, you might be able to spot rare Australian wildlife like the spot-tailed quoll within the Wombat State Forest and the Hepburn Regional Park. Lastly, to the north, you can find the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, Australia’s first national heritage park, which preserves the remnants of Victoria’s gold-mining relics and houses. There are many more wonders and attractions to marvel at in Daylesford, so give this off-the-grid town a chance to inspire and awe.
Maldon
Less than half an hour from the cities of Bendigo and Castlemaine, the small town of Maldon thrives as "Australia's first notable town" due to its notable 19th-century architecture that has maintained its Victorian appearance since gold-rush days. Several abandoned yet well-preserved mines and quarries are dotted all over Maldon, with places like the North British Mine ruins, the Dredge and Dragline Historical Site, and the Victorian Goldfields Railway Maldon Station educating newcomers on the value of gold for Maldon’s economy and industry. The Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum, on the other hand, contains a diversity of engines, vehicles, and machinery that contributed to Maldon’s mining heritage.
From atop the Mount Tarrengower Lookout, one can get an excellent view of Maldon and the Tarrangower Fields, where quartz reefs and alluvial gold were located and extracted. The most immersive and impressive location that captures the look of an old mining town can be seen within Porcupine Village, a town within a town that maintains the rustic wooden shacks and houses from Maldon’s mining days. Even though Maldon’s mining days are over, you can still find plenty of things to excavate from the town’s historic and natural attractions.
Bright
Brighter days and the brightest of nights await you in the brilliant town of Bright. This laid-back and lovely town thrives as a launching base for explorers eager to brave the peaks of Mount Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park. Furthermore, travelers can gain access to Mount Hotham, a popular ski resort where one can participate in a variety of treks, skiing, and other recreational pursuits in the mountains of Victoria. The region is also famous for delicious wineries and fall foliage, and you can soak in the seasonal sensations of the area at the Bright Plantation and the Porepunkah Plantation. Only around 36 miles from Beechworth, visitors to the small town of Bright will have their moods brightened and their spirits lifted with all the arboreal attractions to enjoy around town.
Apollo Bay
Just one of many off-the-grid towns on the Great Ocean Road, Apollo Bay is a sunny and heartwarming destination filled with beaches and waves. From vantage points such as Marriner's Lookout or the Otway Lighthouse, Australia's oldest lighthouse, you can get a photographic view of Apollo Bay and the Bass Strait. Down at the beaches, you can stroll beside humungous cliff walls and jutting pillars and monoliths being battered constantly by languid waves. Meanwhile, in adjacent wildlife areas such as the Barham Paradise Scenic Reserve and the Wildlife Wonders, you can discover all sorts of unique plants and creatures native only to Victoria’s coastal wonderland.
Undoubtedly the biggest attraction in Apollo Bay is the neighboring Great Otway National Park, a region of rugged coastlines and several waterfalls including the three cascades of Triplet Falls. In your journey throughout Apollo Bay, you might stumble upon glow worms at Melba Gully and the enigmatic platypus at watering spot such as Lake Elizabeth. However, you will definitely find adventure and new experiences to cherish in your vacation in the off-the-grid town of Apollo Bay.
Lorne
Approximately an hour east of Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road, the lackadaisical and off-the-grid town of Lorne lures newcomers with its plethora of allures. In a rainforest land and plateau where the Gadubanud (King Parrot) and Gunditjmara people continue to steward the area, Lorne engages visitors with events such as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, occurring on the first months of the New Year where bikers and cyclists all over compete throughout the Great Ocean Road in an exhilarating race to the finish. In the autumnal months, you can also participate in the Falls Music & Arts Festival for its enchanting and marvelous performances, artworks, community engagements, and holistic experiences worth savoring. Those with an appetite for extreme sports can burn their muscles at the Live Wire Park, an amusement park filled with challenging and rewarding avenues and obstacle courses. Individuals who prefer to take things nice and breezy can take photographs of several nearby waterfalls, such as Henderson Falls, Sheoak Falls, and the Upper Kalimna Falls. In the end, you will come to admire and adore Lorne for its legendary activities and its lackadaisical landmarks.
Mallacoota
Mallacoota is a magnificent small town right at the easternmost tip of Victoria, where the state meets with its neighbor, New South Wales. In this corner of Gippsland, travelers can cherish their fond experiences when traversing the massive forested and seaside expanses of the Croajingolong National Park, a UNESCO-listed wilderness area filled with sand dunes, forests, beaches, and a number of coral reefs as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Much closer to Mallacoota’s town limits, visitors can go kayaking and fishing at the adjacent Wallagaraugh River. At the Mallacoota RSL Bunker Museum, you can see how Australia prepared for a possible invasion during the chaotic years of World War II. Meanwhile, from a long stretch of sand starting from Mallacoota Coastal Reserve all the way to Quarry Beach, you can engage in several recreational activities ranging from snorkeling, swimming, beachgoing fun, and other pursuits. One should not miss out on the opportunity to see the off-the-grid beauty and out-of-the-way splendor that is Mallacoota.
Torquay
Torquay is an unforgettable getaway just an hour away from Melbourne. For years, this town on the east end of the Great Ocean Road has been famous for its exhilarating and exquisite surf beaches like Bells Beach and Jan Juc Beach, where surfers and beachgoers can soak in the sun and have fun on treasured waves. From Point Impossible Beach, one can traverse the panoramic Surf Coast Walk trail that leads visitors towards the Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, a home for a unique species of sea slugs within limestone reefs. At the Australian National Surfing Museum, you can admire the epic surfers and tubular history of surfing that Torquay is famous for promoting. If you are enthusiastic to take to the skies, you can find a handful of programs and schedules to book an airplane trip all over Torquay and beyond at the Tiger Moth World Adventure Flights. Lastly, you can go gallivanting through the Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve for more sights and sensations of Victoria’s coastal outdoors. You will not regret your vacation in the delightful and off-the-grid small town of Torquay.
Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon, situated just 40 miles from Melbourne, stands in the heart of the Macedon Ranges, a riveting region filled with arboreal surprises and mountainous adventures. For those of you interested in a challenge, one can attempt an ascent to the peak of the town’s eponymous mountain, Mount Macedon. On the other hand, persons with a penchant for relaxation and ease can go sauntering through the floral fields and halls of the Forest Glade Gardens, complete with sections that showcase the unique flowers of both Japan and England. There is much wildlife to see, picnic and camping areas to set down in lush areas such as the Macedon Regional Park and the Sanatorium Lake Nature Walk. Within these bucolic regions, you can head over to unique cultural and historic landmarks like the Hanging Rock, a sacred rock formation formed from volcanic activity in the past. More activities and attractions are in store in the off-the-grid town of Mount Macedon, so consider planning a lengthy vacation in this monumental town deep in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria.
Adventures are often difficult, and the destinations can be hard to reach at times, but it is definitely worth it to reach those off-the-grid places that few people know about. In the case of the Australian state of Victoria, the many off-the-grid towns to visit there in 2025 are filled with opportune activities, thrilling events and attractions, and captivating natural scenery for anyone to enjoy. From beaches and shorelines stretching across the Great Ocean Road to the hinterlands and mountains deep within Victoria’s center, travelers will be amazed and overjoyed by the abundance of Victoria towns to visit this year, each with their own unique amenities and landmarks for all to see. As summer continues to go on, give yourself a chance to go adventuring in the off-the-grid Victoria towns to visit in 2025.
