MELBOURNE.- Prospective tourists from all over the world will be able to experience virtual versions of Victoria’s key tourist attractions after Tourism Victoria partnered with Google to bring the latest Google Street View mapping and imaging system, the Street View Trekker, to Victoria.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher said the Victorian Coalition Government, through Tourism Victoria, had secured the use of the Street View Trekker system, with testing underway in Melbourne.

“We are using the Street View Trekker technology to capture 360 degree panoramas of some of Melbourne and regional Victoria’s most visited attractions, including Federation Square, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Great Ocean Road and the Yarra Valley,” Ms Asher said.

“Over the coming weeks, Tourism Victoria will also take the Trekker to tourist attractions, national parks and trails right across the state.

“This innovative use of cutting-edge technology will ultimately enable people across the globe to use Google Street View to undertake immersive virtual tours of many of Victoria’s world class attractions, just as they can now for the Grand Canyon and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.”

Introduced in 2012, the Street View Trekker is Google’s newest Street View camera platform and is comprised of a wearable backpack with a camera system on top that features 15 lenses.

The Trekker is worn by an operator and is walked through pedestrian walkways or trails, where it automatically gathers images, which are then stitched together to create a 360 degree panorama.

Ms Asher said Tourism Victoria would continue to harness cutting-edge technologies to promote Melbourne and regional Victoria.

“This latest project follows the success of stage two of the innovative Play Melbourne campaign, which featured ‘Remote Control Tourists’ equipped with wearable cameras and microphones who were directed to explore the city by prospective visitors via a purpose-built website,” Ms Asher said.

“Melbourne Remote Control Tourist has enhanced Melbourne’s profile as an innovative and creative city globally, with the campaign website attracting more than 180,000 visits from over 175 countries and the campaign’s videos receiving almost 1.6 million views on YouTube.”