Our pick of Victoria's best spring-time festivals

It's the last day of winter, which only means one thing: the blooms won't be far behind, with great travel opportunities, starting with Bendigo. The Victorian city will come alive with Bendigo Bloom, a three-month-long festival with more than 60 exciting experiences in the Bendigo and Heathcote regions. Walk along the historic Pall Mall lined with thousands of tulips before heading to the Conservatory Gardens for Sonic Bloom - an immersive sound show that allows you to disconnect from digital screens and stimuli, and reconnect with the region's lush parks and gardens.

There's plenty of spring-time fun to be had in Ballarat, too, with the inaugural Food, Fire and Light Festival taking place over two weekends (October 11-12; 18-19) at Sovereign Hill, and offering colourful light displays and delicious food cooked over naked flames. Meanwhile, if you're in the mood for cherry blossom displays, make your way to Coldstream, where CherryHill Orchards - spread over 40 hectares - is hosting Blossom Festival from September 14 to October 6. bendigoregion.com.au; sovereignhill.com.au; cherryhill.com.au

"Port immersive" seem to be the buzz words taking the world of cruising by storm. Norwegian Cruise Line has just announced 225 new voyages in the northern hemisphere for its 2026 spring/summer season - 180 of those cruises are spending longer than usual in ports such as Reykjavik, Copenhagen and Istanbul.

MSC is at it, too. Its summer 2025 program in the eastern and western Mediterranean offers 14-night cruises with "overnight and longer stays in almost every port", including the Greek island of Mykonos. Meaning, you don't have to rush back to the ship come sunset, and can spend a night on the island if you really want to explore its buzzing nightlife. Immersive port experiences come in small packages, too. Take for instance, European Waterways' Barge Kir Royale, which has just emerged from a significant renovation and is offering cruises in France's Champagne region for a maximum of eight guests at a time. ncl.com; msccruises.com.au; europeanwaterways.com

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Sustainable and slow, train journeys are so hot right now, with plenty of options in Australia and overseas. Journey Beyond, which recently acquired Vintage Rail Journeys, has launched a number of all-inclusive itineraries for 2025. One of the best is the four-day Sydney-return trip, which visits places such as the Hawkesbury, Hunter Valley, Werris Creek, Bathurst and Mudgee. On the overseas front, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains is making news this week with the announcement its eight-day inaugural journeys between Istanbul and Paris will kick off in May 2025. journeybeyondrail.com.au; goldeneagleluxurytrains.com

Wotif has just announced the winners of its 2024 Uniquely Aussie Awards, with the National Wool Museum in Geelong, Victoria, winning the Best Regional Museum gong, and the Wineglass Bay Lookout in Tasmania's Freycinet receiving the Best Lookout Point honour. There are some "fun" entries, too, with Kenilworth Bakery in Queensland's Kenilworth picking up the prize for the best sausage roll. Add it the list if you're planning a road trip along the state's Sunshine Coast.