Wandering where? Film locations

The fully integrated Wander Victoria marketing campaign features all of Victoria’s eleven regions, showcasing the beauty and diversity of Victoria’s natural landscapes.

The main film sets the scene, capturing a selection of stunning natural settings found in The Murray, Great Ocean Road, Gippsland, Grampians, High Country and Mornington Peninsula.  The broader campaign, campaign website, and subsequent film variations profile further easily accessible destinations and experiences across the state including Geelong and the Bellarine, Goldfields, Daylesford Macedon Ranges, Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges and Phillip Island.

Unlike traditional tourism campaigns, Wander Victoria presents locations that are not necessarily icons of regional Victoria, instead revealing some lesser known locations to remind Victorians that there is plenty out there that they have yet to discover or experience.

Film locations:

Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove, Red Hill South (Mornington Peninsula)

Set in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula in the understated village of Red Hill South, Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove offers a veritable feast for all the senses with a swathe of award-winning cool climate wines, seasonal local produce fashioned into provincial French fare, a contemporary sculpture trail and a rambling rural outlook of vines, olive groves, sculpture, lakes and wetlands, with pastures and a hint of ocean as the backdrop.

Seppelt Great Western (Grampians)

Set against the backdrop of the Grampians’ craggy peaks and multi-syllable vistas, Seppelt Great Western sits in the heart of the oldest continuously producing wine regions in Australia. Producing super-premium, cool-climate shiraz, the winery lays claim to the birth of Australia’s sparkling red wine style. Below ground, Seppelt has further surprises. Under the original vineyard is a three-kilometre network of underground tunnels, “drives”, laboriously dug out between 1868 and 1932 for wine maturation. Underground tours provide good reason for an exception to the drink and ‘drive’ rule with opportunity to wine and dine within these unusual ‘drives’.

Noojee Trestle Bridge, Noojee (Gippsland)

Originally constructed in 1919 for the railway line from Noojee to Warragul, the Noojee Trestle Bridge is the tallest surviving wooden trestle bridge in Victoria. In 1939 the bridge was completely burnt down but it was rebuilt the same year, so that’s all water under the bridge. The historical trestle bridge spans 102 meters high. Set amid eucalypt and fern forest, it’s a lovely spot for a wander – the bridge walk is six kilometres return.

Nightingale Bros Alpine Apples, Wandiligong (High Country)

Dating back to 1954, Nightingale Bros Alpine Apples is now one of the biggest apple growers in the southern hemisphere. The vast, family-run orchard has a welcoming farm gate open seven days a week – and the good, honest folk who run it just expect a little honesty in return.

Gulgurn Manja (Flat Rock), Grampians National Park

A wander in the northern end of the majestic Grampians National Park may reveal art as old as the hills. The ancient rock site of Gulgurn Manja, which means ‘hands of young people’ features handprints as well as paintings that were part of a unique local art style used to tell stories and pass on the law of the Jardwadjali people. Also named Flat Rock, Gulgurn Manja is near the Hollow Mountain camping ground from which there’s plenty more to discover in the breath-taking surrounds of the Grampians National Park (often literally with some steep climbing/walking/cycling routes as well as figuratively with its spectacular views).

Lake Crosbie, Murray-Sunset National Park

Life can look pretty rosy lakeside in the Murray-Sunset National Park. Lake Crosbie is one of the park’s four “Pink Lakes” – joining a niche club worldwide. The rosy hue is caused by the release of a red pigment called carotene by algae in the water. The vivid colour is best viewed at dawn, in the late afternoon or under a cloudy sky during spring when the wildflowers are also in season. Over summer, the lakes evaporate and the concentrated salt crusts over the mud in glistening white. Walking tracks provide plentiful opportunities to wander this unusual wilderness, passing through Murray River billabongs, wetlands, woodlands, semiarid sand dunes and salt pans, which are also home to Victoria’s largest flower and Australia’s rarest bird as well as spectacular wildflowers in spring. With so much to see, the main campground at Lake Crosbie is pitch perfect for an overnight or longer stay.

Thurra River Dunes, Croajingolong National Park (Gippsland)

While undoubtedly one of Australia’s most spectacular parks, Croajingalong National Park is one of the country’s best kept secrets. Hard to pronounce, extraordinary to explore, the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve serves up surprises at every turn. Perhaps the biggest – most certainly in terms of scale – is the dramatic landscape of spectacular sand dunes towering some 30 meters above the Thurra River. Climbing the track that winds through coastal banksias to the summit of these spectacular sand dunes in the Croajingalong National Park is a Thurra-ly good idea for a wander.

Aire Crossing, Great Otway National Park (Great Ocean Road)

A remote river crossing deep amongst the ancient rainforests and fern gullies of the Great Otway National Park, perfect for taking in the fresh Aire.  The crossing is just north of Triplet Falls, the three distinct cascades that make up on of the most impressive waterfalls in the Otways. Among the tall trees, ancient plant life and lush ferns,  there’s a remote bush campground, providing an ideal base for exploring nearby attractions in the park.  Further up, the Otway Fly allows for wandering among the treetops, 30 meters above ground, and zip-lining between cloud stations.

Razorback Ridge, Mount Hotham (High Country)

Cutting across the Victorian Alps, Razorback Ridge offers breathtaking views – literally as well as metaphorically at times – over the alpine landscape from Mount Hotham to Mount Feathertop, the State’s second highest mountain. Beginning at Diamantina Hut, a track descends to a saddle called Big Dipper, passing through open snow grass, low shrubs and snow gum woodlands on its way to the rocky bluffs of Twin Knobs and Mount Feathertop beyond. The stunning 360-degree views from the peak that extend across the Alps are well worth the wander.

Gibsons Steps, Port Campbell National Park (Great Ocean Road)

A wander here promises knee-knocking drama and epic encounters along the way. 86 steps carved into a 70-meter-high cliff face lead down to this spectacular Great Ocean Road beach. Down on the sand awaits an up-close-and-personal encounter with local heroes now world-renowned icons, Gog and Magog (named after fellow giants who were taken to London to serve as porters at the royal palace), two giant limestone stacks rising out of the sea.

Forges Beach (number one), Yarawonga (The Murray)

Seven kilometres west of Yarrawonga, on the beachy banks of the Murray River, Forges Beach is in fact two beaches, imaginatively named Number One and Number Two. The beaches sit on a flood plain forest of River Red gums, billabongs and swamps. Popular with birds, it’s a veritable twitchers paradise. Popular with people too, beach number one is one of the most sought-after spots on the Murray. Number two is a favourite for caravaners and anglers. The Murray’s warm, dry climate and wide choice of water-based activities makes its beaching banks a top spot for a camping holiday.

Additional information will be uploaded to this page as the campaign rolls out and reveals more of regional Victoria’s  ‘wander-ful’ destinations and experiences so please come back to visit.