Explore Australia

Self-guide historic tour: brochure available from visitor centre. Queen Mary Gardens: great spot for a picnic; Napier St. Old Post Office: now a B&B and restaurant; Napier St. Police lock-up: built in 1862; Jennings St.

St Arnaud Range National Park The park protects an oasis of dense box-ironbark forest and woodland surrounded by agricultural land. Over 270 different species of native flora have been recorded here and provide a glimpse of what the area would have looked like before the land-clearing that occurred during and after the gold rush. Within the park are the Teddington Reservoirs, popular for brown trout and redfin fishing. The rugged terrain throughout provides a great opportunity for keen bushwalkers or 4WD enthusiasts. Wedge-tailed eagles can be seen soaring above the steep, forested ranges. Contact Parks Victoria on 131 963. Sunraysia Hwy; 15 km S.

Great Grape Rd: wine-themed circuit through Stawell and Ballarat; details from visitor centre.

 

Lake Wartook 88 km

Drought and changes to irrigation have left dry many of Victoria’s former favourite fishing lakes. Drive through the cropping plains of the Wimmera and you come across once-famous lakes, including Toolondo,... Find out more

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Dimboola 111 km

At first sight the Wimmera River didn’t look special. Barely flowing, it consisted of sandbars and fallen trees interspersed with shallows and a few deeper holes below the timber. I was fishing with local anglers... Find out more

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Lake Bolac 129 km

One of my favourite fishing activities after a hot summer day is to wander along the banks of the Barwon River in Geelong, casting lures for redfin. Redfin are feisty, competitive fish that bite readily and taste great.... Find out more

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Swan Hill 140 km

From Mulwala to Swan Hill there are excellent fishing opportunities. Some of the top spots along this stretch include Barmah, Echuca and the famous Torrumbarry Weir. The huge Murray cod mounted near the park in Swan... Find out more

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Konong Wootong Reservoir 172 km

Coleraine in the Western District is in the heart of prime wool- growing country. The small town is famous for its chocolate factory, but less well known is the trout fishery in the picturesque 60 ha impoundment just out... Find out more

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Lake Bullen Merri 181 km

Lake Bullen Merri at Camperdown is less than 20 mins drive from Lake Purrumbete. A deep, volcanic lake with saline water, it is stocked with brown and rainbow trout, Atlantic and Chinook salmon, and Australian bass.... Find out more

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Lake Purrumbete 185 km

The bulk of the serious trout-fishing action in Victoria is in the Western District crater lakes. Of these, Lake Purrumbete near Camperdown ranks in the top half a dozen trout lakes in the state in terms quality,... Find out more

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Inner Harbour 191 km

Following the inner harbour around from Bird Rock you pass Avalon Beach, which is little more than a collection of old huts. There is a boat ramp at the west end of Avalon Beach and the seagrass beds between the old... Find out more

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Bird Rock 195 km

An area on the north side of the outer harbour, opposite Point Henry, from Bird Rock east to an area known as the ‘Quarries’ (due to the large quarry on the shore), produces snapper most of the year. Anglers... Find out more

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Western Shore 195 km

Taking a southerly route around the bay from the lagoon you pass a large industrial and waterfront area. The next fishable water from shore is North Shore rocks, just outside the entrance to Corio Quay. During winter,... Find out more

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Indigenous tours, Grampians National Park 89 km

Brambuk, the Grampians National Park and Cultural Centre, houses an Aboriginal cultural centre explaining much of the history and stories associated with the area. There is also a bushfoods cafe, where you can try emu,... Find out more

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Grampians National Park 106 km

There are many, many reasons to go to this remarkable 1680-square-kilometre national park: its spectacular spring wildflowers, its dramatic cliffs and sandstone features, its bushwalking, the stunning views from its... Find out more

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Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 118 km

This carbon-neutral business in Ballarat runs small, personalised tours of no more than six people in the Goldfields region, with three themes – wild nature, gold history and heritage, and food and wine.... Find out more

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Little Desert National Park 152 km

This park contains one-fifth of all flowering plant species in Victoria. The elusive mallee fowl and rare scrub robin live amid the 600 kilometres of tracks that go out to remote sections of the park near the South... Find out more

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Brisbane Ranges National Park 161 km

With a vibrant koala population, this relatively small national park only 80 kilometres west of Melbourne has picnic areas, walking tracks through rocky gorges and a basic camping area.... Find out more

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Indigenous tour - Shepparton 193 km

A free, short, bush-tucker tour is available from the Bangerang Cultural Centre in Shepparton. You will need to book, but you can visit the centre on weekdays to see the wide range of artefacts from the area, and from... Find out more

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Melbourne Zoo 198 km

Melbourne has a choice of two excellent zoos: Melbourne Zoo, with more than 320 species on display; and the 225-hectare open range zoo at Werribee, about 30 minutes drive from the city centre (access from the Princes... Find out more

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Mountain-biking around Melbourne 201 km

With 20 kilometres of tracks developed by the Mountain Bike Association of Australia, Lysterfield Lake Park has something for all standard of mountain-biker, including family-friendly loops and exciting single-track... Find out more

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Mount Eccles National Park 202 km

At Mount Eccles you can walk for 2 kilometres around the rim of a volcanic crater then descend for a swim in the lake at its heart. It is a great spot for a picnic, with koalas and kangaroos, and the camping facilities... Find out more

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Indigenous tours - Melbourne 202 km

To grasp what Melbourne was like before the skyscrapers arrived you can take a two-hour Koori Heritage Trust walking tour. You will gain an insight into Indigenous history and the natural and cultural landscape of the... Find out more

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Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort 144 km

What follows is one of the success stories of golf along the Murray River. Set in the heart of Kidman Reid’s historic Murray Downs sheep station, the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort was constructed... Find out more

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Eynesbury Golf Club 174 km

Some golf courses, Graham Marsh believes, are created not with strategy in mind, but simply with the aim of penalising bad shots. ‘We are pitching golf at a level that is just too difficult,’ he says.... Find out more

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Sanctuary Lakes Resort 195 km

Greg Norman stood on the balcony of a second-storey building in the late 1990s and surveyed the vast plain of salty wasteland before him. Beside him was Bob Harrison, chief course architect of Greg Norman Golf Design.... Find out more

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The Sands, Torquay 211 km

Sands by name . . . Sands by nature. It doesn’t take long to figure out the overwhelming feature of a round at Torquay. Standing on the 1st tee of this Stuart Applebydesigned layout, a blanket of white is... Find out more

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Port Fairy Golf Club 212 km

An endearing quality of the great links layouts of Britain and Ireland is their natural setting. Wild, windswept holes rolling between sand dunes that have stood tall for centuries are the norm. The links of Port... Find out more

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Thirteenth Beach Golf Links (Creek Course) 212 km

Sir Nick Faldo won six major titles, playing himself into winning positions on the back of strong shot-making, a trait that is highly prized on the courses he now designs. The Creek course at Thirteenth Beach, created... Find out more

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Thirteenth Beach Golf Links (Beach Course) 213 km

After all the accolades Tony Cashmore received for his design work at The Dunes, on the Mornington Peninsula, he must have felt some pressure to produce an equally fine layout when it came time for his next project:... Find out more

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Barwon Heads Golf Club 215 km

From the moment you pull up at the car park in front of the Barwon Heads clubhouse, it is as if you have travelled back in time to a more genteel era. The old-world charm is present not only in the architecture of the... Find out more

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Riversdale Golf Club 216 km

Victoria’s second oldest club, formed 18 months after Royal Melbourne, began life in humble circumstances as the Surrey Hills Golf Club. After a brief stint at Camberwell the club moved to its present location... Find out more

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Metropolitan Golf Club 217 km

Metropolitan has changed dramatically over the past century but has never been short of plaudits. The club, the second oldest on the Melbourne sandbelt, was established in 1908. J. B. Mackenzie was one of the founding... Find out more

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Holgate Brewhouse 140 km

Paul and Natasha Holgate have travelled a decidedly different path to most other craft-brewery operators over the past decade or so. They started brewing ales from a shed adjacent to their family home in Woodend in the... Find out more

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Purrumbete Brewing Company (Red Duck) 183 km

Scott and Vanessa Wilson-Browne are another couple of ‘ale changers’ who swapped busy Melbourne careers to move to the country, bring up their young family, and brew and market craft ales. Along the way, they... Find out more

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3 Ravens Brewing Company 202 km

This microbrewery began operating from the basement of the successful Thornbury-based engineering company Zetkin and has proved to be an interesting diversion or sideline for the principal business. Some of the company... Find out more

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Foster's Group (Abbotsford Brewery) 204 km

Re-branded as the Foster’s Group in the 21st century, Carlton & United Breweries was formed in 1907 through an amalgamation of the city’s six largest beer-makers: McCrackens City Brewery, Victoria... Find out more

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Otway Estate Brewery 205 km

Located 12 kilometres from Colac, Otway Estate Winery was established in 1983, specialising in cool-climate wines; a microbrewery was added in 2007. Head brewer Luke Scott oversees the production of up to 15 different... Find out more

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Mountain Goat Brewery 205 km

Kicking off in 1997, home-brewer Dave Bonighton and music industry booking agent Cam Hines proved that two good mates can start a successful microbrewery with no money, but with unlimited enthusiasm, dogged perseverance... Find out more

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Flying Horse Brewery 207 km

Whales and ales are now the twin attractions for the pretty seaside Victorian city of Warrnambool, following the development of the sprawling Flying Horse Bar & Brewery complex by joint owners Matt Monk, Matt Stewart... Find out more

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2 Brothers Brewery 218 km

A microbrewery is not exactly what you might expect to find tucked away among panel-beaters and sheet-metal fabricators in the industrial estates of Moorabbin, 20 minutes south-east of Melbourne. While the location may... Find out more

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Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company 221 km

Craft brewers come from all sorts of different backgrounds but classical pianist Simon Walkenhorst and his opera singer wife Beth Williams are among the more exotic. Together, they started Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company... Find out more

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Matilda Bay Garage Brewery 233 km

Previously operating as the Stockade Brewery, this South Dandenong-based microbrewery was acquired by the Foster’s-owned Matilda Bay Brewing in 2004 and re-badged as their ‘garage’ brewery. Then head... Find out more

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Teddington camping area 25 km

You can camp beside the Upper Teddington Reservoir as long as you set up your tent no closer than 40 m to the water. Fishing and canoing are popular pursuits here, but note that swimming is not allowed in the reservoir.... Find out more

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Melville Caves camping area 39 km

This campground is off Melville Caves Rd, signposted off the Wedderburn–Dunolly Rd; the caves were once used as a hideout by bushranger Captain Melville. From the picnic area there’s a short walk to the... Find out more

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Mountain Creek camping area 42 km

This campground is a few hundred metres north of the small town of Moonambel in Victoria’s Pyrenees, which encompasses a wine-making district. In the vicinity of Mountain Creek is the Warrenmang Vineyard, which... Find out more

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Camerons Track Campground 53 km

This camping area, located on Camerons Track some 20 km from Avoca, is suitable for camper trailers, but the Waterfalls camping area is a better option for caravans. Camerons Track is the midpoint of the Pyrenees... Find out more

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Waanyarra Recreation Area 53 km

This recreation area is sited between the original Waanyarra town site, where gold-rush miners set up their tents, and the cemetery. Over spring and summer, wildflowers will burst into colour here. To take a close look... Find out more

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Waterfalls picnic and camping area 54 km

The Waterfalls site, on the eastern fringe of the forest, is easily accessed from Avoca. Several easy bushwalks start here, including the 1 km Valley Walk along No. 2 Creek, and another that heads towards Sugarloaf... Find out more

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Newbridge River Reserve camping area 59 km

You’ll find the compact Newbridge River Reserve camping area next to the township’s main street, the Bendigo–St Arnaud Rd. Anglers set themselves up on the riverbank, while canoeists occasionally push... Find out more

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Karri Track camping area 65 km

There’s not much space at this camping area in the west of the park, so it’s best to contact the ranger beforehand to check the availability of sites, particularly if you have a caravan. You can walk across... Find out more

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Lake Lonsdale camping area 70 km

Signposted on the Western Hwy about 4 km north of Stawell, just before Deep Lead, is the turn-off to Sandbar Rd. This road winds its way along the northern edge of compact Lake Lonsdale, providing access to a number of... Find out more

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Lake Fyans Holiday Park 81 km

This is a spacious waterfront park on the shores of Lake Fyans, a popular watersports area to the south-west of Stawell. The park has a cafe and also canoes for hire. It is just a short drive to nearby Halls Gap and is... Find out more

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Parkgate Resort 87 km

This is a very good quality tourist park less than 1.5 km from Halls Gap. With great recreational facilities including a tennis court, this is a popular holiday destination and a great base from which to explore the... Find out more

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Halls Gap Caravan and Tourist Park 88 km

We find this large park ideal for a holiday at any time of the year and regularly stay here. Located in the centre of town, it is within easy reach of most of the area’s attractions and makes a good base for... Find out more

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Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort 94 km

This is a spacious park on the fringe of Horsham, 4 km south-east of town on the Western Highway. It has a range of facilities including a tennis court and spa. It is a good base for exploring the local area. Bookings... Find out more

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Horsham Caravan Park 95 km

Located on the banks of the Wimmera River, close to the town centre, this good quality park is council owned but operated by the YMCA. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies.... Find out more

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BIG4 Ballarat Windmill Holiday Park 112 km

This well-established, quality park is in a quiet rural area 6 km west of the city on the old Western Highway. It has a great range of facilities including a spa, sauna and tennis court. Bookings are required at Easter... Find out more

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Ibis Caravan Park 113 km

This park is 3 km south of Kerang, with nice shady spots and a tennis court. It is an excellent overnight stop at a budget price. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies in all holidays.... Find out more

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A Welcome Stranger Holiday Park 119 km

Located 2.5 km east of Ballarat, this is a good quality park in a quiet, easily accessible area. The park has a large number of sites, a heated pool, a spa, minigolf, an adventure playground and a tennis court. We... Find out more

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Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park 119 km

Centrally located (2 km from the city centre) and easily accessible, this quality park has a wide range of accommodation and very good facilities, including a heated pool and spa, and bathrooms for children and families.... Find out more

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Lake Boga Caravan Park 132 km

Squeezed between the Murray Valley Highway and the shores of Lake Boga, this is ideal for an overnight stop or a restful few days; sailing, water-skiing and swimming are popular activities. The park has good basic... Find out more

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Grampians Eco YHA 87 km

At this eco-hostel you sleep under roof tiles that are actually solar panels. Any extra power generated is fed back to the electricity grid. The passive solar building, featuring rammed earth walls, also has solar... Find out more

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MillDuck, Harcourt North 97 km

This strawbale house won a Most Energy Efficient Home award (North West Region) when it was built. More than 1000 trees have been planted on the property since it was purchased, and it is now an alpaca stud. The B&B,... Find out more

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Pomponderoo Bush Retreat, Dimboola 112 km

With solar power, rainwater tanks and tree planting to offset carbon emissions, these three self-contained timber cabins are a great accommodation option near the north-eastern edge of Little Desert National Park.... Find out more

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Little Desert Nature Lodge, Nhill 144 km

Set on 117 hectares of bushland beside Little Desert National Park, the lodge has 24 rooms with ensuite bathrooms, or 16 bunkrooms with shared facilities. By staying here, you are helping support projects such as the... Find out more

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Alto Hotel on Bourke 201 km

Although it is not doing anything radical, this plush hotel on Bourke Street is one of the most ecologically aware in Melbourne, and should be commended for its power-saving measures, garbage sorting, supply of... Find out more

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Apollo Bay Youth Hostel 240 km

This relatively new hostel was built with an eco-friendly design, including thermal storage banks and other passive solar heating and cooling. It also has solar hot water, rainwater tanks, a worm farm, drought-tolerant... Find out more

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Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology 246 km

There are not many better-thought-out ecotourism ventures than this superb multi-award-winning facility on Cape Otway. It has its own 66-hectare wildlife refuge and doubles as a shelter for injured and orphaned wildlife,... Find out more

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Teddington Reservoir Camp Area 25 km

T/O 24 km S of St Arnaud (R) or 38 km S of Avoca (L) Large secluded camp area in the forest 6 kilometres south- west of Stuart Mill via Teddington Road. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S36 50.36 E143 15.46... Find out more

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Stuart Mill South Rest Area 25 km

28 km S of St Arnaud (R) or 34 km N of Avoca (L) Large area just off the highway behind bushes and trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 50.23 E143 19.10 ... Find out more

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Donald Park Area 37 km

North side of town Parking area at Richardson River. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 22.03 E142 58.44... Find out more

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Wedderburn Park Area 39 km

Opposite the bowls club Small town park just off the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 25.04 E143 36.48... Find out more

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Melville Caves Camp Area 39 km

T/O 29 km SE of Wedderburn (R) or 7 km NW of Bridgewater (L) Large area among the trees in Kooyoora State Park, located 21 kilometres west of Inglewood via Kingpower Road. Good facilities. GPS: S36 36.03 E143... Find out more

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Wooroonook Lake Camp Area 40 km

T/O at Charlton via Borung Highway Large camp area on shores of the lake 14 kilometres west of Charlton. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 15.37 E143 11.44 ... Find out more

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Skinners Flat Rest Area 40 km

26 km SE of Charlton (L) or 4 km NW of Wedderburn (R) Small secluded area located 1 kilometre north of the highway in the scrub on the shores of the reservoir. Good shade. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S36 21.55... Find out more

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Ryans Creek Rest Area 43 km

12 km SE Wedderburn (R) or 24 km NW of Bridgewater (L) Small area just off the highway among a few large trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 29.11 E143 42.57... Find out more

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Teddywaddy Rest Area 46 km

23 km SE of Wycheproof (L) or 9 km N of Charlton (R) Small area just off the highway among some trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 12.48 E143 21.35 ... Find out more

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No.2 Creek Rest Area 52 km

59 km S of St Arnaud (L) or 3 km N of Avoca (R) Large area just off the highway among the trees. Good shade. GPS: S37 03.39 E143 27.39  ... Find out more

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Wycheproof Park Area 60 km

Middle of town Parking area just off the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 04.44 E143 13.33 ... Find out more

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Bridgewater Park Area 61 km

North west side of town via Dunolly Road and Brewery Lane   Large area on the banks of the Loddon River. Good shade. GPS: S36 36.04 E143 56.18   ... Find out more

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Lake Watchem Camp Area 64 km

T/O 20 km S of Birchip (R) or 34 km N of Donald (L) Large area around a few trees on the edge of the lake 1 kilometre west of Watchem. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 08.51 E142 50.52 ... Find out more

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Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve Rest Area 65 km

57 km SE of Horsham (L) or 10 km NW of Stawell (R) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 00.21 E142 42.30 ... Find out more

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Great Western Rest Area 69 km

13 km S of Stawell (L) or 17 km N of Ararat (R) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 08.41 E142 50.33  ... Find out more

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Birchip Park Area 76 km

South side of town Small area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. Good facilities. GPS: S35 59.23 E142 54.53... Find out more

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Mount Langi Ghiran Camp Area 76 km

T/O 13 km E of Ararat (L) or 31 km W of Beaufort (R) Small but secluded area located 5 kilometres north of the highway in a natural bush setting in Mount Langi Ghiran State Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE:... Find out more

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Bailes Camp Area 78 km

T/O 32 km SE of Ararat (L) or 12 km NW of Beaufort (R) Small secluded area 9 kilometres north of the highway in the forest in Mt Buangor State Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S37... Find out more

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Lexton South Rest Area 79 km

27 km S of Avoca (L) or 43 km N of Ballarat (R) Large area just off the highway. Only limited shade. GPS: S37 17.21 E143 32.50 ... Find out more

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Middle Creek Camp Area 79 km

T/O 32 km SE of Ararat (L) or 12 km NW of Beaufort (R) Large camp area located 8 kilometres north of the highway. Good facilities and shade in an open forest setting in Mt Buangor State Park. NOTE: Access road... Find out more

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Greenhill Lake Camp Area 80 km

4 km E of Ararat (L) or 40 km W of Beaufort (R) Large grassed area just off the highway on the shores of the lake. Good facilities and limited shade. GPS: S37 17.53 E142 58.52 ... Find out more

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Mount Langi Ghiran Rest Area 81 km

17 km E of Ararat (L) or 27 km W of Beaufort (R) Large area adjacent to the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 20.14 E143 06.09 ... Find out more

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Plantation Camp Area 83 km

T/O at Stawell to Halls Gap Large area located 10 kilometres north of Halls Gap via Mt Zero Road in a natural bush setting in Grampians National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS:... Find out more

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Happy Jacks Rest Area 84 km

At Lockwood on Alt Calder Hwy (A790) Large grassed area around a few trees just off the highway. Good facilities located 100 metres south. GPS: S36 50.29 E144 09.20  ... Find out more

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Stapylton Camp Area 85 km

T/O 18 km SE of Horsham (R) or 49 km NW of Stawell (L) Large area located 15 kilometres south of the highway via Northern Grampians Road and Plantation Road in a natural bush setting in Grampians National Park. Good... Find out more

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Troopers Creek Camp Area 86 km

T/O 42 km SE of Horsham (R) or 25 km NW of Stawell (L) Small area located 17 kilometres south-east of the highway via Roses Gap Road in a natural bush setting in Grampians National Park. Good facilities and shade. ... Find out more

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Lake Green Rest Area 88 km

12 km SE of Horsham (R) or 55 km NW of Stawell (L) Large parking bay adjacent to the highway overlooking Lake Green. Limited shade. GPS: S36 47.05 E142 17.38  ... Find out more

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Bendigo South Park Area 90 km

South side of town Parking adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 47.308 E144 14.721... Find out more

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Jock Comini Rest Area 91 km

18 km S of Bendigo (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S36 53.57 E144 13.07... Find out more

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Burnt Creek Rest Area 92 km

7 km SE of Horsham (L) or 60 km NW of Stawell (R) Large area just off the highway among a few large trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 45.38 E142 15.00  ... Find out more

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