Explore Australia

Cohuna Historical Museum: housed in the former Scots Church, the museum features memorabilia relating to explorer Major Mitchell; Sampson St.

Gunbower Island This island, surrounded by Gunbower Creek and the Murray River, is an internationally recognised wetland, with a great variety of waterbirds and stands of river red gum forest. A 5 km canoe trail flows through Safes Lagoon and bushwalking is another highlight.Grove Patchwork Cottage and Tearooms: for local art and craft; Murray Valley Hwy; 4 km SE. Mathers Waterwheel Museum: features waterwheel memorabilia and outdoor aviary; Brays Rd; 9 km W. Murray Goulburn Factory: cheese factory; Leitchville; 16 km SE. Kow Swamp: bird sanctuary with picnic spots and fishing at Box Bridge; 23 km S. Section of Major Mitchell Trail: 1700 km trail that retraces this explorer's footsteps from Mildura to Wodonga via Portland. From Cohuna, follow the signposted trail along Gunbower Creek down to Mt Hope; 28 km S. Torrumbarry Weir: during winter the entire weir structure is removed, while in summer waterskiing is popular; 40 km SE.

Swan Hill 71 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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Balranald 163 km

The drive from the Monaro to Wagga Wagga and on to Balranald gives some idea of the Murrumbidgee’s length and also of how much a river can change over the course of its flow. Near Balranald, the river has been... Find out more

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Lake Mulwala 165 km

Lake Mulwala separates the Victorian and NSW towns of Yarrawonga and Mulwala. It is a little over three hours’ drive from Melbourne and is popular with anglers seeking native fish such as Murray cod and... Find out more

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Tol Tol 177 km

I made my first serious Murray cod trip on the Murray River near Robinvale and for years was asked not to write about such a special stretch of river that produces a higher-than-average proportion of big cod. It... Find out more

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Boyanda 184 km

The red ochre cliff near the Boyanda grape farm is a popular launch site for anglers fishing the Murray River midway between Robinvale and the small horticultural town of Wemen. A track follows the river from Happy... Find out more

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Robinvale 189 km

We trolled at little more than a fast walking pace, the electric motor giving off a light humming noise. Behind the boat, a couple of large bibbed lures were swimming deep, about a metre off the bottom, their action... Find out more

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Euston 191 km

Euston began as Boomiarcool Station in 1847, growing into a small township and subsequently a busy inland port, from which a fleet of paddlesteamers and barges transported the consignments of wool and wheat along the... Find out more

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Goulburn River 208 km

The Goulburn River from Eildon Pondage to Alexandra is one of the most popular stretches of trout water in Victoria. Places like Thornton, ‘Gilmore’s Bridge’ and the Breakaway, where the Acheron River... Find out more

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Dimboola 210 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 Wartook 212 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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Indigenous tour - Shepparton 124 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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Wine-tasting - Robinvale 189 km

Robinvale Wines, near Robinvale, produces a wide variety of wines, certified organic and biodynamic, with no chemicals used.... Find out more

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Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 197 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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Cycling - Murray to the Mountains and High Country Rail Trails 199 km

With 100 kilometres of safe, sealed bitumen surface to pedal on, the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail is the most developed rail trail in the state, and therefore very popular, with more than 40 000 people estimated to... Find out more

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Wine-tasting - Rutherglen region 204 km

The Rutherglen region in the far north of the state is renowned particularly for its fortified ports and muscats, perfect for a winter’s night. There are no organically certified wineries in the area, although... Find out more

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Indigenous tours, Grampians National Park 213 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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Brisbane Ranges National Park 227 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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Melbourne Zoo 229 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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Grampians National Park 231 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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Mountain-biking around Melbourne 232 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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Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort 75 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 222 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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The Heritage Golf & Country Club (St John course) 233 km

Jack Nicklaus, the golfer, was the most powerful player of his generation and also its finest strategist, a man who could win a tournament based on smart play and at other times on pure heroics. Jack Nicklaus, the... Find out more

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RACV Healesville Country Club 234 km

Of the 120 golf courses featured throughout these pages, the new layout at Healesville is the odd one out. It could, in fact, be considered a minnow among giants, for this par-68 measures only 4872 metres from the... Find out more

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Sanctuary Lakes Resort 237 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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Riversdale Golf Club 243 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 246 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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Huntingdale Golf Club 247 km

Huntingdale – Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath aside – is arguably the most famous of Melbourne’s sandbelt courses, home to the Australian Masters for 30 years. A parade of the game’s best... Find out more

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Yarra Yarra Golf Club 248 km

First-time visitors to Yarra Yarra Golf Club, expecting the river with the similar name to play a pivotal role, might be surprised. The closest the Yarra gets to this acclaimed sandbelt course is the spot where it... Find out more

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Commonwealth Golf Club 248 km

It is nearly 90 years since the first rounds were played where the Commonwealth Golf Club now lies. The club was constituted in 1920 and land – regarded as scrub country, and comprising only 89 acres – was... Find out more

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Gunbower Family Hotel

This unassuming hotel just a few kilometres from the Murray River has created quite a buzz with the quality of its meat. It is not so hard to understand why when you realise that publican Richard McGillivray is also a... Find out more

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Holgate Brewhouse 174 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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3 Ravens Brewing Company 228 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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Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company 230 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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Bridge Road Brewers 231 km

Ben Kraus originally trained as a winemaker but his head was turned in the direction of craft brewing during a stint working in Western Australia’s Margaret River region. The cluster of microbreweries in this... Find out more

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Foster's Group (Abbotsford Brewery) 233 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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Mountain Goat Brewery 234 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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Jamieson Brewery 237 km

Looking for a drawcard to attract tourists to their Victorian High Country pub, owners Jeff and Jeanette Whyte installed a microbrewery into the Jamieson Hotel and started knocking out house beers in 2001. The equipment... Find out more

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William Bull Brewery 244 km

The high-profile, family-run De Bortoli Wines diversifying into craft beer has been one of the longest-running stories around. In the late 1990s they acquired a brewhouse that originally belonged to the ... Find out more

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2 Brothers Brewery 249 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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Gunbower Island camping area (bush camping) 7 km

Only a few of the many bush camping sites on Gunbower Island have any facilities – one to note is the toilet with disabled access near Twin Bridges. Canoeing and swimming in the (often cold) water of the Murray... Find out more

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Koondrook State Forest camping areas 14 km

This is actually the western end of what’s known as Gunbower–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest: Gunbower (soon to be a national park) is on the Victorian side of the border; Perricoota forest is on the... Find out more

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Perricoota State Forest camping areas 19 km

This forest is adjacent to Koondrook State Forest, accessible via Nineteen Mile Rd, Yarraman Access Rd or Belbins Rd from Perricoota Forest Rd.... Find out more

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Guttrum camping area (bush camping) 26 km

Bush camping sites are scattered throughout Guttrum State Forest, where campers while away the hours, and the days, by swimming, canoeing and fishing in the waters of the Murray River. From Koondrook, follow Cassidys La... Find out more

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Benwell camping area (bush camping) 32 km

Follow Murray Rd from Murrabit township, or Hall or Watsons Lanes from the Koondrook–Murrabit Rd, and you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by river red gums. Fishing in the river is focused on Murray cod and... Find out more

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Middle Reedy Lake camping area 35 km

This is one of the 3 freshwater bodies that make up the Reedy Lakes system, which in turn is part of the renowned Kerang Lakes wetlands. Middle Reedy Lake is famous for its extensive ibis rookery, but it also attracts... Find out more

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Campbells Island State Forest camping areas 36 km

This state forest is about 5 km downstream of Barham via Little Murray Rd off North Barham Rd.... Find out more

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Lake Meran picnic and camping area 39 km

The only camping area in Leaghur State Park is at the southern end of Lake Meran, at the northern edge of the park. You get here by following the Chamberlain and Lake Meran tracks from the park entrance, and then turning... Find out more

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Terrick Terrick camping and picnic area 40 km

This is the only place in the national park where you are allowed to camp. Nearby is a granite outcrop known as Mt Terrick Terrick, the summit of which affords some wonderful views – the walk up here is short but... Find out more

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Ibis Caravan Park 27 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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Echuca Holiday Park 58 km

This is a popular, quality riverside park just a short walk from Echuca’s historic port precinct on the Murray River. The spacious park has a range of accommodation and great facilities. With its excellent... Find out more

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Lake Boga Caravan Park 65 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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Swan Hill Riverside Caravan Park 79 km

Within walking distance to the centre of town, and with large expanses of green lawn and a long frontage to the Murray River, this place boasts a heated pool, undercover barbecues and a well-stocked shop. Bookings are... Find out more

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BIG4 Swan Hill 81 km

On the northern edge of town, this is a very good quality park that will satisfy the most fastidious traveller. The owner-operated establishment has a range of accommodation and good facilities including a six-hole golf... Find out more

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Boomerang Way Tourist Park 122 km

This well-cared-for, owner-operated park is 500 metres from the centre of Tocumwal and away from the highway noise. There is a large swimming pool, covered barbecues and the place is ideal for an overnight stay or an... Find out more

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BIG4 Tocumwal Tourist Park 122 km

This owner-operated park with great facilities, in a quiet off-highway location close to the centre of town, is developing into a top-rate park. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies at... Find out more

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Victoria Lake Holiday Park 124 km

Set on the shores of Victoria Park Lake, this picturesque place is centrally located on the main highway 1 km south of the city centre. With good facilities and great waterfront sites, it is the park we like to stay at... Find out more

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BIG4 Shepparton Parklands 126 km

Located on the southern approaches to Shepparton, this park has undergone substantial redevelopment and is now a tourist park with great facilities. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Cobram Oasis Tourist Park 128 km

This has developed into a great park with unique multi-sided ensuite amenities being a feature. Situated about 4 km west of the Cobram town centre, it is ideal for a few days exploring this great area. Bookings are... Find out more

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MillDuck, Harcourt North 124 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 211 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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Grampians Eco YHA 212 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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Alto Hotel on Bourke 232 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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Little Desert Nature Lodge, Nhill 241 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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Cohuna Park Area

Middle of town Parking area adjacent to the highway on the west side of town. Good facilities. GPS: S35 48.510 E144 13.266... Find out more

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Gunbower Park Area 21 km

Middle of town Small town park just off the highway on the banks of the creek. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S35 57.329 E144 22.222... Find out more

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Kerang Park Area 29 km

West side of town Parking area adjacent to the highway on the west side of town. Good facilities. GPS: S35 44.115 E143 54.914... Find out more

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Apex Park Area 33 km

36 km SE of Lake Boga (L) or 8 km NW of Kerang (R) Large grassed area well off the highway around a few trees on the shores of the lake. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S35 41.162 E143 53.188... Find out more

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Ibis Rookery Park Area 35 km

32 km SE of Lake Boga (L) or 10 km NW of Kerang (R) Large area well off the highway near the bird observatory. GPS: S35 40.261 E143 52.393... Find out more

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Lake Charm Rest Area 45 km

22 km SE of Lake Boga (R) or 20 km NW of Kerang (L) Large area just off the highway on the shores of the lake. GPS: S35 36.104 E143 47.749... Find out more

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Wharparilla Flora Reserve Rest Area 48 km

93 km SE of Kerang (L) or 3 km W of Echuca (R) Large area just off the highway among the trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 07.20 E144 43.10... Find out more

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Lake Boga Park Area 66 km

South side of town Large grassed area around a few trees on the shores of the lake. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S35 27.192 E143 37.695... Find out more

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Aysons Reserve Camp Area 83 km

T/O 31 km W of Stanhope (R) or 5 km E of Elmore (L) Large camp area 3 kilometres north-east of the highway on the banks of the river. Good shade. GPS: S36 27.621 E144 40.116 ... Find out more

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Skinners Flat Rest Area 84 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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Wedderburn Park Area 87 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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Ryans Creek Rest Area 88 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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Green Lake Recreation Reserve Camp Area 89 km

T/O 12 km W of Stanhope (R) or 24 km E of Elmore (L) Large open camp area located 2.5 kilometres north of the highway around a few trees. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S36 26.310 E144 49.702... Find out more

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Teddywaddy Rest Area 90 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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Goulburn River Rest Area 91 km

38 km E of Echuca (L) or 19 km S of Nathalia (R) Large area just off the highway around a few trees on the banks of the river. Good shade. GPS: S36 10.714 E145 06.937... Find out more

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Bridgewater Park Area 92 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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Goornong Park Area 93 km

Middle of town Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S36 36.923 E144 30.273... Find out more

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Wycheproof Park Area 95 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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Huntly Rest Area 96 km

35 km S of Elmore (R) or 11 km N of Bendigo (L) Small parking area just off the highway among some large trees. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 40.203 E144 19.635... Find out more

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Stanhope Park Area 99 km

East side of town Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S36 26.842 E144 59.213... Find out more

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Melville Caves Camp Area 100 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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Nyah Park Area 104 km

Middle of town Parking area in the middle of town. Good facilities. GPS: S35 10.547 E143 22.648... Find out more

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Nyah Rest Area 104 km

North side of town Large grassed area on the riverbank behind the Nyah Sporting Complex. GPS: S35 10.183 E143 22.737... Find out more

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Morgans Beach Camp Area 104 km

T/O 27 km NE of Nathalia (L) or 29 km W of Cobram (R) Secluded area 10 km north of the highway (via Bearii) on the riverbank. Good shade. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S35 51.521 E145 22.150... Find out more

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Bendigo North Park Area 105 km

North side of town Parking area adjacent to the highway near the lake. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 44.820 E144 17.575... Find out more

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Nyah Camp Area 105 km

T/O at Nyah Large area located well off the highway among the trees on the riverbank in Nyah State Forest. Good shade. NOTE: Unsealed access. GPS: S35 10.547 E143 22.648... Find out more

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Wooroonook Lake Camp Area 105 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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Bendigo South Park Area 109 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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Wood Wood Camp Area 111 km

T/O at Wood Wood Large area located just off the highway among trees on the riverbank in Nyah State Forest. Good shade. NOTE: Unsealed access. GPS: S35 06.359 E143 20.952... Find out more

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Wood Wood Park Area 111 km

Middle of town Large area just off the highway on the riverbank. Good shade. GPS: S35 06.239 E143 20.749... Find out more

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