The 7 Can't-Miss Towns In Victoria

Victoria’s best small towns are often defined by the beautiful landscapes that surround them, from Torquay’s surf beaches to Daylesford’s mineral springs and historic bathhouses. Many, like Mount Beauty, are also located in or near the Victorian Alps, where trails lead to Mount Bogong or to viewpoints overlooking the cliffs and rock formations of Mount Buffalo National Park. Others reflect Victoria’s coastal culture and gold rush history, such as Beechworth. Together, they highlight the range of experiences found across regional Victoria. These are seven towns in Victoria that should not be missed.

Port Fairy

Port Fairy is a magical place, as can be seen not just from its name but also its lighthouse, beaches, folksy shops, and festivities. One of the most enchanting sites here is on Griffiths Island, a former bay whaling station turned wildlife sanctuary, including the rare short-tailed shearwaters, commonly called muttonbirds. There is also a historic Port Fairy Lighthouse here, built in 1859 to guide ships off Port Fairy Bay. The community has a few gentle beaches, with East Beach known for having small waves ideal for kids to take out boards. Southcombe Beach has stronger waves, making it more suitable for relaxing on the sand. Living up to its name, Port Fairy celebrates stories and art of all kinds at the Blarney Books and Art store and the Port Fairy Folk Festival, hosted every March with a huge lineup of folk musical artists. The event also boasts handmade crafts, food, and interactive workshops where the whole community can come together.

Mount Beauty

Australia has many different climates, from scorching deserts to pleasantly warm coastal towns. In Mount Beauty's case, it is a four-season town with cold winters, cool springs and falls, and warm summers. The town sits at the foot of Mount Bogong, offering alpine bike trails, local drinks, and more. It's a gateway to the Alpine National Park, a Victorian Alps park known for its high mountains, wildflowers, and alpine ash trees. Spanning 646,000 ha, it is one of the largest parks in the state, and visitors cannot miss the Bogong moth migration, which is rarely seen elsewhere.

Closer to town is the Mt Beauty Big Hill Mountain Bike Park, challenging cyclists with cross-country and hilly trails, and the Kiewa River Trail, a great place to breathe in the fresh mountain air or go fishing. Mount Beauty pairs its natural beauty with delicious wines and beers at the Mountain Monk Brewers, Quaff Wine Bar, and other drinking holes.

Porepunkah

Porepunkah sits squarely in the High Country of Victoria, Australia, acting as an entry point to several alpine destinations. Right within its borders is the Mount Buffalo National Park, an alpine destination that draws in people in every season, whether that's hiking at Lake Catani in the summer, skiing in the winter, hiking up to the Gorge Lookout and Chalet, or taking a hang glider off the cliff for a truly daring sightseeing tour. The park, established in 1898, covers approximately 31,000 hectares and is known for its dramatic granite cliffs, snow gum forests, and waterfalls, including Eurobin Falls.

Residents go to the Porepunkah Riverside Park and Playground for a BBQ or a dip in the water. In Porepunkah proper, there's a tour guide at Hedonistic Hiking to see the best sites in the area, as well as multiple wineries such as Ringer Reef Winery, set up on the site of an old gold mine that today offers high-quality wines in the backdrop of creeks, valleys, and mountain summits.

Beechworth

Beechworth was a major gold-mining center in the 1850s, when prospectors stumbled upon 14 pounds of gold. It drew in people from around the world, even the U.S. and China. Today, you can see one of the old quarries at the Beechworth Historic Park, which also connects to Lake Kerferd and Lake Sambell. A forested trail connects these two lakes, and along it, you can spot old mine shafts and iconic Australian wildlife such as koalas and wombats. Another scenic place in Beechworth is Ingram’s Rock, named after James Ingram, who established a hospital and school in town in the 1800s. The rock looks out over the old goldfields in Reids Creek. The miners are long gone, but residents find ways to make their own treasures, such as at the Beechworth Contemporary Art Space, which showcases art made from non-traditional materials, sculpture, and other works by 30 local artists.

Torquay

Even before Torquay was founded, it drew in picnickers to eat their lunch by the waves of Australia's Surf Coast. The town today is the start of the Great Ocean Road, which crosses through Victoria's coastline, and it's also a mecca for surfers. The town has three beaches right next to each other, with Torquay Beach and Torquay Front Beach offering kid-friendly spaces, while Torquay Surf Beach draws in surfers of all skills. Surfing isn't just a hobby in Australia. It's an art form with a hundred-year history. Torquay tells that story at the Australian National Surfing Museum, with photographs, antique boards, clothes, and of course, surfing music. If you're in the mood to take in the views of the coast, then you can jump on a trailhead for the 44.3 km Surf Coast Walk Trail. The trail is divided into 12 sections, ideal for hikers, birdwatchers, and campers.

Daylesford

Daylesford has always had treasures hidden under the surface. It was founded as a gold-mining town in 1852, when an Irish immigrant discovered gold in a creek. When the gold dried up, the town transformed into a spa town due to a different kind of gold: natural mineral springs. Those spring waters are still available at the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve, which was first set up in 1865. Visitors can drink the water or take a refreshing bath at the old Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. The former gold-mining area has been transformed into Lake Daylesford, with walking paths and paddleboats for rent. If you're looking for a warm festival during the Southern Hemisphere's summer month of December, check out the Daylesford Highland Gathering, which celebrates the town's Scottish heritage with dancing, music, and traditional highland sports. Events include Weight Over Bar, Light Hammer, Stone Put, Caber Toss, and more, along with plenty of retail food and drink vendors.

Halls Gap

Three hours away from Melbourne is the town of Halls Gap, a fun community that loves having a glass of wine and hiking through the Grampians National Park. The park covers more than 160,000 hectares and is known for its sandstone mountain ranges, Aboriginal rock art sites, and diverse wildlife, including kangaroos, emus, and wallabies. Back in town, there are many ways to start your journey in Halls Gap, but one stop you shouldn't miss is the Brambuk The National Park & Cultural Centre. It provides information on the trails, Aboriginal culture, and flora and fauna you might encounter.

From there, you can hike up to MacKenzie Falls, an approximately 100-foot waterfall, either at the base or from The Bluff Lookout. You can see some of Australia's most iconic creatures at the Halls Gap Zoo, including Tasmanian devils, koalas, crocodiles, kangaroos, and many others. If you find yourself needing to cool off, go for a small stroll to The Venus Baths, a rockpool that's fun to splash around in

Rejuvenating Waters, Cliffs, and Waves

These can't-miss towns all offer some form of rejuvenation. In Daylesford, it's quite literal, with its fresh mineral springs, while Mount Beauty offers a different form of rejuvenation through winding mountain bike trails and delicious beer and wine. Torquay and Port Fairy, meanwhile, have enchanted folks for hundreds of years with their rolling ocean waves and have contributed much to Australia's flourishing surfing culture. While it's certainly worth it to come to Victoria for the diverse city of Melbourne, these smaller destinations are also worth the drive for a bit of relaxation.