We’re lucky to have so many incredible towns around Victoria, with pretty towns for getaways, charming spots near Melbourne, underrated coastal towns and more. And if you’re looking to get away from the crowds, the team at ROLLiN’ have crunched the numbers to find the best hidden gem towns in Victoria that still have plenty to offer. To do this, they looked at towns with low online visibility that had scenic appeal, driveability and with enough things to do for a visit.
“We know that the joy of hitting the road isn’t just in getting from A to B, it’s in the places you discover along the way,” said Brendan Griffiths, Executive Manager at ROLLiN’. “Australia’s hidden gems are perfect for spontaneous escapes and road trips off the beaten track. Whether you’re weaving through coastal drives, rural backroads, or scenic country highways, the less-travelled the route, the bigger the rewards.”
The team judged its ‘hiddenness’ based off Google search demand, with queries like “[Place] accommodation”, as well as visibility across social media, using data from Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
The best hidden gem towns around Victoria
Boort
Distance from Melbourne: 3 hours
This lakeside town in the Loddon Valley had a high ‘hiddenness’ score across both search (86/100) and social media (88.9/100). Despite this, Boort still had a huge range of things to do. Head out on the water and go fishing, paddle boarding, canoeing, water skiing and more. Stretch your legs on a lakeside trail. Take in the landscape, and see First Nations Scarred trees. Along the lake, you’ll also find installations along a sculpture trail.
Across Australia, Boort was also the 8th most hidden town on social media, and the 3rd best town for perfect weather. It was also the 11th best hidden gem around the country.
Port Albert
Distance from Melbourne: 3 hours
Drive out to Gippsland and check out the coastal town of Port Albert. This historic town had a low search score (61.8/100) and relatively low visibility on social media (71.1/100). This town was the first established port in Gippsland, and has plenty to see and do, with a maritime museum, historic walks and outdoor activities like fishing and kayaking. Sandwiched between Wilsons Promontory National Park and 90 Mile Beach, this town is also great as a pit stop, or as a base for your adventures. Port Albert ranked 6th in Australia as a hidden gem for things to do and see.
Taggerty
Distance from Melbourne: 2 hours
Just a short drive away from Marysville, you’ll find the lightly visited town of Taggerty. This location had a search hiddenness score of 78.1, and a social media hiddenness score of 75.3. Stay at the Big4 Holiday Park, and enjoy plenty of outdoor adventures. Go hiking around Cathedral Range State Park, look out for local wildlife, chill out by the river and search for waterfalls.
Cape Conran
Distance from Melbourne: 5 hours
If you’re looking to get away from it all, why don’t you visit Cape Conran? Located in East Gippsland, this remote coastal area is definitely a hidden gem, with a search hiddenness score of 88, and hiddenness score of just 67.1 on social media. Learn about its Indigenous history, and find plenty to do with coastal walks, secluded beaches, swimming spots and more.
If you’d like to see the full list of hidden gem destinations around Australia, click here.