80,000 travel vouchers will be released so treat yourself to a little adventure in Victoria.
The current lockdown has made it tough for a lot of Victorians. Being at home all day, watching your plans get cancelled, missing out on events… it’s been rough. The Victorian Government has decided to try and boost morale in the best way they can. Regional travel vouchers.
This time, 80,000 vouchers will be up for grabs. Each voucher is valued at $200, and when it’s safe, Victorians are encouraged to travel around the state and support the struggling tourism industry.
This will be the fourth time the Victorian Government has implemented the travel scheme. The travel period for round three of the voucher, which was meant to end on May 31, has been extended by an additional three weeks to accommodate those who’ve had their travel plans affected by current restrictions.
In addition to the travel vouchers, $11.8 million will be given to support the tourism industry. A further $4.4 million will be given to support businesses in the alpine regions, which have been particularly affected by past lockdowns.
While these vouchers have been announced, further details about when to get them, who is eligible and what they can be spent on have yet to be confirmed.
In the meantime, why don’t we daydream about where to go? Given the support for the alpine industry, we’re going to keep our fantasies around winter destinations.
1. Sleep in an igloo at Mt Hotham
As well as skiing and snowboarding, Mt Hotham has the only igloo village in Australia. Enjoy a 30 minute snowshoe walk to an idyllic eco-village. Then, sit by the fire and drink some hot chocolate or a glass of Glühwein, or hot spiced red wine. After that, enjoy a three course meal and sleep in an actual igloo made of real snow! Don’t worry, even if it gets chilly, you’ll stay toasty warm under some sheepskin blankets. If the igloo isn’t your style, there is also a snow dome, with a warm fireplace inside and a clear view of the night sky.
For more information, visit their website here.
SEE ALSO: 4 Melbourne Venues With Magical Igloo Pop-Ups
2. Enjoy the views at Mt Buller and Mt Stirling
At just a three hour drive from Melbourne, Mt Buller is a favourite winter destination. Hop on a scenic chair lift and enjoy the pristine views. When you’re not skiing, try out their dog sled tour and embrace your inner musher. If Mt Buller is too crowded and you’d like to go off the beaten track, Mt Stirling is literally right next to it and offers skiing, snowboarding and hiking.
3. Relax at Falls Creek
Experience a bit of luxury in the Falls Creek village. Head to the Day Spa at the Astra Hotel and find out why it was a 2020 winner at the World Luxury Spa Awards. When you’ve finished getting pampered, slip into Apartment 3, an intimate cocktail bar hidden behind an emerald curtain. Grab a signature cocktail, lounge on the velvet seats and keep the chill vibes going.
4. Meet dingoes at Mt Baw Baw
Meet the resident dingoes of Mt Baw Baw, Rowdy and Warragul. Book a dingo walk, where you’ll walk with the dingoes for about an hour or hour and a half, and learn more about dingoes in Australia. If that’s not up your alley, why don’t you try Japanese Snow Fighting? Don a helmet, grab your friends and jump into the arena for a thrilling snow ball fight.
5. See whales on The Great Ocean Road
Not into snow? No problem!
Winter is an unexpectedly good time to travel to the Great Ocean Road. Migrating whales are usually visible from the coastlines, as they socialise, breed and give birth to calves in the sheltered bays. Between June and September, female Southern Right Whales travel to Logans Beach in Warrnambool to calve. There’s a watching platform on the beach that’s the perfect viewpoint to see whales splashing and frolicking in the water.