Victoria is small by Australian standards; ‘only’ about the size of the British Isles. But – rather like the UK – what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in terms of importance. And diversity. And culture. And sensational experiences.

Being smaller is actually a big advantage for you, as a visitor. It means you spend less time travelling between destinations, and more time in them – immersing yourself in whatever is going on. In the case of Melbourne, that means world class restaurants, a buzzing night market with phenomenal street food and architecture that ranges from quaint, traditional tin-roofed houses to soaring office buildings. Even the streets have a story. When the city was originally laid out, the planners couldn’t agree on wide, handsome boulevards, or tiny, twisting lanes. The result? The city now benefits from a rich mix of both.