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Melbourne might have just been named the world’s best city for runners, but according to new research, there’s a lot more to Victoria’s outdoor credentials than the capital city’s run clubs. A new study from sports equipment company Net World Sports has ranked Australia’s regions according to how well they cater to an active outdoor lifestyle, and a solid handful of Victorian spots have made the cut.
The Outdoor Adventure Index ranked all 88 Australian SA4 regions (those are the sub-state geographic areas used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) across seven measures: hiking and trail-running trails, parkrun events, paths and tracks, mountain-bike trails, access to national parks and protected areas, suitable outdoor days and rock-climbing locations. Each category was given a 14 per cent weighting, producing an overall score out of 100.
The highest-ranking Victorian region is Hume, which came in at ninth nationally with an outdoor adventure score of 55.95 out of 100. The region recorded 24.8 kilometres of hiking and trail-running trails per 1,000 square kilometres, 390 kilometres of paths and tracks per 1,000 square kilometres and 25.8 rock-climbing locations per 100,000 residents.
Melbourne’s Outer East also made an appearance high up on the list, ranking 18th nationally overall with an outdoor adventure score of 46.77. It recorded 112.24 kilometres of mountain-bike trails per 1,000 square kilometres. Melbourne’s Outer East was followed by Latrobe-Gippsland, which ranked 24th nationally with a total score of 43.25 out of 100.
Our beloved Mornington Peninsula came in at 27th place nationally, scoring 42.68 out of 100. As one of the state's top hiking spots, it’s not really a surprise that this one made the list – with 101.2 kilometres of hiking and running trails per 1,000 square kilometres, plus 561.42 kilometres of paths and tracks and 68.22 kilometres of mountain-bike trails per 1,000 square kilometres.
Elsewhere, Bendigo came 34th nationally with a score of 39.79, and Shepparton ranked 37th with 38.66. Geelong came 45th with an overall score of 36.02, and Warrnambool and South West ranked 46th with 34.73.
There are some particularly interesting numbers buried in the results if you're interested on what really makes a place tick when it comes to maximising your time outdoors. Hume recorded 25.8 rock-climbing locations per 100,000 residents, and North West Victoria had 15.6 and Latrobe-Gippsland had 11.2. And when it comes to outdoor weather, Victoria performed particularly well. The research found that Melbourne’s North West has suitable outdoor conditions on 61.7 per cent of days, while Geelong recorded outdoor adventure-friendly conditions 65.3 per cent of the time.
Nationally, Sydney dominated the top of the table, with the Northern Beaches, Sutherland and North Sydney and Hornsby taking the first three spots. Hobart was the highest-ranked region outside Sydney. But here in Vic, there are lots of outdoor-friendly places to call home. Wondering where your region ranks? We’ve listed the top-scoring Victorian regions below.
These are the best regions in Victoria for an outdoor lifestyle
Hume
National ranking: 9
Outdoor adventure score: 55.95/100
North West Victoria
National ranking: 16
Outdoor adventure score: 46.96/100
Melbourne, Outer East
National ranking: 18
Outdoor adventure score: 46.77/100
Latrobe, Gippsland
National ranking: 24
Outdoor adventure score: 43.25/100
Mornington Peninsula
National ranking: 27
Outdoor adventure score: 42.68/100
Bendigo
National ranking: 34
Outdoor adventure score: 39.79/100
Shepparton
National ranking: 37
Outdoor adventure score: 38.66/100
Melbourne, Inner East
National ranking: 42
Outdoor adventure score: 37.16/100
Geelong
National ranking: 45
Outdoor adventure score: 36.02/100
Warrnambool and South West
National ranking: 46
Outdoor adventure score: 34.73/100
Melbourne, North East
National ranking: 50
Outdoor adventure score: 34.12/100
Ballarat
National ranking: 54
Outdoor adventure score: 32.30/100
Melbourne, North West
National ranking: 56
Outdoor adventure score: 31.63/100
Melbourne, Inner
National ranking: 63
Outdoor adventure score: 29.86/100
Melbourne, West
National ranking: 68
Outdoor adventure score: 27.09/100
Melbourne, South East
National ranking: 74
Outdoor adventure score: 25.35/100
Melbourne, Inner South
National ranking: 84
Outdoor adventure score: 20.11/100