Victoria is the wettest Australian state after Tasmania. Rainfall in Victoria increases from north to south, with bigger falls in areas of high altitude. Median annual rainfall exceeds 1,800 millimetres (71 inches) in some parts of the north-east but is less than 250 millimetres (10 inches) in the Mallee. Rain is heaviest in the Otway Ranges and Gippsland in southern Victoria and in the mountainous north-east. Snow generally falls only in the mountains and hills in the centre of the state. Rain falls most frequently in winter but summer precipitation is heavier. Rainfall is most reliable in Gippsland and the Western District, making them both leading farming areas. Victoria's highest recorded daily rainfall was 375 millimetres (14.7 in) at Tanybryn in the Otway Ranges on 22 March 1983^{[citation needed]}.

Average January temperatures: Victoria's north is always hotter than coastal and mountainous areas.

Average July temperatures: Victoria's hills and ranges are coolest during winter. Snow also falls there.

Average yearly precipitation: Victoria's rainfall is concentrated in the mountainous north-east and coast.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Primary Industries, Australian Natural Resources Atlas

The climate of Victoria's capital Melbourne, which is located on Victoria's central south coast, as measured and recorded at the Regional Office (altitude 31.2m).

The climate of Mildura on the Murray River on the north-western border of Victoria as measured and recorded at the Airport (altitude 50m).

The climate of Wilsons Promontory which constitutes the southernmost tip of Victoria and the Australian mainland as measured and recorded at the Lighthouse (altitude 88.7 m/291 ft).

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Tourism

Some major tourist destinations in Victoria are:

• The metropolis of Melbourne, particular its inner city suburbs (known also for shopping tourism) and the attractions of the city centre such as Crown Casino, Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Museum, the Melbourne Aquarium, tourism precincts such as Melbourne Docklands, Southbank and St Kilda as well as cultural and sporting tourist icons such as The Arts Centre, National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, also known as the MCG, and the Eureka Tower, tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, with its Skydeck 88.
• The former Goldfields region featuring the historic cities of Ballarat, Beechworth, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon and Daylesford.
• Natural attractions, such as The Twelve Apostles, Wilson's Promontory, The Grampians, the Fairy Penguins (particularly at Phillip Island and St Kilda), the Buchan Caves and the Gippsland Lakes.
• The Dandenong Ranges (in particular the Puffing Billy Railway).
• Towns along the Murray river and Riverina including Echuca and Mildura including waterskiing.
• Geelong (particularly the city's waterfront) and the Australian International Airshow
• The Bellarine Peninsula which features historic resort towns such as Queenscliff.
• The Surf Coast which features famous beaches such as Bells Beach, Torquay and Lorne
• Mornington Peninsula, particularly for its wineries and secluded beaches, Arthur's Seat and the coastal attractions of Portsea and Sorrento.
• Yarra Valley (in particular Healesville Sanctuary and wineries).
• Great Ocean Road, which features The Twelve Apostles, historic towns of Port Fairy and Portland, cliffs and whale watching and resort towns such as Lorne.
• The Victorian Alpine Region, part of the Australian Alps, particularly for skiing
• The Central Victorian Highlands, 'Highcountry' are very well known for winter sports and bushwalking

Other popular tourism activities are gliding, hang-gliding, hot air ballooning and scuba diving.

Major events also play a big part in tourism in Victoria, particularly cultural tourism and sports tourism. Most of these events are centred around Melbourne, but others occur in regional cities, such as the V8 Supercars and Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool and the Australian International Airshow at Geelong and numerous local festivals such as the popular Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Bells Beach SurfClassic and the Bright Autumn Festival.

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Culture and sport

Main article: Sport in Victoria

Victoria is the home of Australian rules football, with ten of the sixteen clubs of the Australian Football League based in Victoria, and the traditional Grand Final held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground usually on the last Saturday in September.

Victoria's cricket team, the Victorian Bushrangers play in the national Pura Cup cricket competition, and is represented in Football by Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Victoria also has one team each represented in the National Rugby League and the Australian Rugby Championship, the Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Rebels respectively.

Victoria has held the 1956 Summer Olympics, 2006 Commonwealth Games, FINA World Swimming Championship, and is home to the annual Australian Open tennis tournament, and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Victoria is also home to Bells Beach, which is the home of the world's longest-running surfing competition, the Bells Beach SurfClassic, which is part of The ASP World Tour.

Possibly Victoria's most famous island, Phillip Island, is home of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit which regularly holds V8 Supercars events and Moto GP (the world's premier motorcycling class^{[citation needed]}).

Australia's most prestigious footrace, the Stawell Gift, is an annual event.

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is not only one of the biggest horse racing events in the world, it is one of the world's largest sporting events with the main race the $6million Melbourne Cup; with total crowds for the carnival in excess of 700,000.

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See also

• 2003 Melbourne thunderstorm
• List of highways in Victoria
• List of localities (Victoria)
• Protected areas of Victoria (Australia)
• Victorian Alps

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References

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External links

• State Government of Victoria website
• Official Government tourism website
• Tourism Victoria's Online Image Library

v • d • e State of Victoria, Australia History · Geology · State Government · State Parliament · State Politics · Local Government · Energy · Road transport · Rail transport · Sport

v • d • e Cities of Victoria, Australia Melbourne Ararat · Ballarat · Benalla · Bendigo · Geelong · Hamilton · Horsham · Moe · Morwell · Mildura · Portland · Sale · Shepparton · Swan Hill · Traralgon · Wangaratta · Warrnambool · Wodonga

v • d • e States and territories of Australia States and mainland territories Australian Capital Territory · New South Wales · Northern Territory · Queensland · South Australia · Tasmania · Victoria · Western Australia · Jervis Bay Territory External territories Ashmore and Cartier Islands · Australian Antarctic Territory · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · Coral Sea Islands · Heard Island and McDonald Islands · Norfolk Island

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