Explore Australia

Courthouse Crafts: displays relating to the gold rush, plus arts and crafts; High St. Pink Cliffs: eroded soil from gold sluices gave the cliffs their remarkable pink colour; Pink Cliffs Rd, off Hospital Rd. McIvor Range Reserve: walking tracks; off Barrack St; details of walks from visitor centre. Heathcote Winery: this winery, in the old Thomas Craven Stores building, has an art gallery and cellar-door sales; High St.

Heathcote–Graytown National Park Compared with many of Victoria's national parks, Heathcote–Graytown was declared quite late as part of a statewide plan to preserve box-ironbark forest. Now protecting the largest forest of this type in the state, the park is not only an important nature reserve but also has a long history of settlement. Take one of the many walks or scenic drives to explore evidence of Aboriginal, goldmining and pioneering history, or take in scenic views from the lookouts at Mt Black, Mt Ida and Viewing Rock (just near Heathcote). Contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963; access from Northern Hwy and Heathcote–Nagambie Rd.

Heathcote wine region Heathcote shiraz makes wine lovers go weak at the knees. Its depth is the result of the dark, red Cambrian soil and the continental climate. Jasper Hill is the most exclusive name in the area. Its elegant red wines can be hard to come by, so if you manage to find a bottle, it is worth purchasing it on the spot. Other good wineries include Heathcote Winery with its cellar door located on the town’s main street, Shelmerdine Vineyards, Wild Duck Creek Estate and Red Edge. To find most of the region’s wines under one roof, head to Cellar and Store, which also stocks a full range of local gourmet produce. Lake Eppalock: one of the state's largest lakes, great for fishing, watersports and picnics; 10 km W.

Goulburn River 96 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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Maribyrnong River 99 km

The age-old adage about the grass supposedly being greener somewhere else applies to fishing around Melbourne. Many anglers who head out of town do so because they don’t believe any serious fishing is possible... Find out more

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Yarra River 103 km

Mulloway are one of the most sought and least caught Victorian species. Anglers often put in hundreds of hours in unsuccessful quests for a trophy of this enigmatic species. During autumn, reports tell of mulloway being... Find out more

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Rubicon River 106 km

The Rubicon, one of Victoria’s legendary trout waters, is popular with trout anglers who fish using all methods available. Rising in forested hills with a steep gradient in the headwaters, the river varies from... Find out more

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Altona to Williamstown 106 km

The skyline stretching around the shore from Altona to Williamstown provides an unlikely backdrop for top fishing. Industry dominates, in particular refineries, with flames burning off gases. However, anglers who fish... Find out more

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St Kilda 108 km

St Kilda Marina gives boat anglers easy access to excellent snapper and whiting grounds. Inshore there is plenty of seagrass and sand areas for whiting while the deeper waters offer reef areas for snapper. The St Kilda... Find out more

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Eildon Pondage 113 km

Boating is not allowed on Eildon Pondage, which is just below the dam wall at Eildon. Nevertheless, it is one of the most heavily fished waters in the state and is an ideal family spot, with barbecues and toilet... Find out more

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Lake Eildon 114 km

Lake Eildon is Victoria’s most popular freshwater fishing spot. Part of its popularity is due to its proximity to metropolitan Melbourne. Lilydale is just a 90 min drive away, either over the Black Spur or via Yea.... Find out more

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Werribee 117 km

The Werribee River is popular, both as an access point to the bay and the estuary itself. Excellent catches of whiting and flathead are made inshore near the weed beds. Further offshore, the deeper reefs have a big... Find out more

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Point Wilson 131 km

Opposite Clifton Springs, the long Commonwealth Explosives Pier easily distinguishes Point Wilson. Boaters need to stay at least  300 m away from the pier at all times. The waters surrounding the pier produce... Find out more

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Indigenous tour - Shepparton 86 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 98 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 102 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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Indigenous tours - Melbourne 102 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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Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 103 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 around Melbourne 104 km

Melbourne has an active cycling community that has helped develop and establish some great routes and a network of cycle paths. One of the best sources of information is Bicycle Victoria. One option is to hop on the Main... Find out more

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Bicentennial National Trail - Healesville starting point 108 km

Acclaimed as the longest-marked, nonmotorised, multi-use trekking route in the world, this track traverses an incredible 5330 kilometres from Healesville to Cooktown in north Queensland, passing through 18 national... Find out more

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Brisbane Ranges National Park 112 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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Dandenong Ranges National Park 118 km

About an hour’s drive out of Melbourne, some 35 kilometres east of the city, this park has forests of towering mountain ash and lush, damp fern gullies. Around 300 kilometres of walking tracks crisscross the park,... Find out more

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Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff 149 km

Primarily set up to educate school children about the marine environment, this government-run facility also has an interesting holiday program and an interactive aquarium and touch tanks. Holiday activities include... Find out more

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Eynesbury Golf Club 97 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) 103 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 107 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 108 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 111 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 115 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 116 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 117 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 117 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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Kingston Heath Golf Club 119 km

Kingston Heath has long been regarded as the second best course in Australia, only marginally behind nearby Royal Melbourne’s West course. Both layouts call on players to be strategically smart from tee to... Find out more

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Emeu Inn

The atmospheric Emeu Inn restaurant is housed in one of the town’s oldest buildings (1857) in a region renowned for its first-class red wines. The seasonal menu is an eclectic mix of regional produce, with a... Find out more

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Holgate Brewhouse 51 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 97 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 101 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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Foster's Group (Abbotsford Brewery) 102 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 103 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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2 Brothers Brewery 118 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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Matilda Bay Garage Brewery 131 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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Jamieson Brewery 133 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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Red Hill Brewery 165 km

Becoming hop farmers wasn’t part of their business plan when David and Karen Golding first applied to develop a microbrewery and cafe from their Mornington Peninsula property. Ultimately, though, they were advised... Find out more

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Bridge Road Brewers 188 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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Dargile camping and picnic area 8 km

The Dargile camping area is accessed from the Heathcote–North Costerfield Rd. On the way there, head up Mt Ida or to the Viewing Rock Lookout in the McIvor Range for some great views; from the latter you can hike... Find out more

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Major Creek Reserve camping area 33 km

The camping area at Major Creek Reserve is accessed via Mitchellstown Rd, which departs the Goulburn Valley Hwy about 6 km south of Nagambie and heads west through an old quartz mining area. There’s plenty of flat... Find out more

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Englishs Bridge camping area 36 km

The Campaspe River, which flows out of the Great Dividing Range to eventually join the Murray River to the north, makes a nice setting for an overnight stop. The camping area in the English’s Bridge Streamside... Find out more

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Mount Alexander camping area (bush camping) 37 km

You can go bush camping throughout this park. Talk to the ranger about the best places to pitch a tent on the slopes of Lanjanuc, which is the Aboriginal name for the mountain. Along with Dog Rocks, the Langs and... Find out more

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Greens Campground 42 km

From Rushworth, follow the Rushworth–Nagambie Rd and then turn onto Green Rd to reach the campground. Once you’ve settled in, walk through the Balaclava open-cut mine and past the remains of puddling machines... Find out more

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Falls Creek Reservoir camping area 48 km

You’ll need a 4WD to get out to Falls Creek Reservoir, an old water storage at the northern edge of the forest. Drive along Main Rd and turn onto East Falls Rd. For some good views of the surrounding area, head up... Find out more

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Freemans picnic and camping area 48 km

Formerly the site of a forestry camp, Freemans is now regularly occupied by picnickers and other daytrippers. The open nature of the site makes it good for families and other large groups. Get onto Main Rd from Ennis Rd,... Find out more

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Loeser picnic and camping area 50 km

The Loeser camping area is located on Loeser Rd, which runs off Hartlands Rd. For some great views over Bendigo and the surrounding region, head across town into the Mandurang section of the park and scale the steep... Find out more

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Notley picnic and camping area 50 km

Notley is the only overnight option in Greater Bendigo National Park that has pull-through sites suitable for caravans. You’ll find this camping area off Nuggety Rd, which branches off the... Find out more

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Warburtons Bridge camping area 50 km

This basic campground is accessed off the Vaughan–Drummond Rd. It’s in the same part of the park as the Vaughan Springs camping area, which may prove useful if Warburtons Bridge is full. Up in the north of... Find out more

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Goulburn River Tourist Park 40 km

This park is about 1 km from the town centre in a quiet off-highway location on the banks of the Goulburn River. The park offers good clean facilities and is easily accessible. There are canoes for hire. Bookings... Find out more

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Euroa Caravan Park 80 km

Just a short walk to the centre of town, this park stretches along the banks of the creek. It is a good spot in a lovely setting and has a large number of tourist sites. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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BIG4 Shepparton Parklands 82 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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Victoria Lake Holiday Park 85 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 East Holiday Park 88 km

On the Midland Highway 5 km to the east of Shepparton, and close to the Shepparton bypass, this quality park in a rural setting has great amenities and facilities including a tennis court. As with most parks in this... Find out more

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Echuca Holiday Park 89 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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Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park 92 km

This is a tourist park in a quiet area of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, just 9 km from Melbourne’s CBD. The park has relatively easy access to the Hume Highway and other northern approaches and is a popular... Find out more

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Honeysuckle Caravan Village 96 km

Easily accessible from the Hume Freeway, this smaller park has good facilities and is ideal for a one- or two-night stay in this quiet rural environment.... Find out more

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Crystal Brook Tourist Park 101 km

This park is undergoing a transformation and will cater for tourists. It has good facilities and is located in a leafy area of the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne. A minimum-length stay applies during holiday periods.... Find out more

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Emeu Inn

Accommodation at Emeu Inn comprises six comfortable suites – some with open fires, some with double spas and some with both – and one self-contained cottage that can sleep four and is accessed through a... Find out more

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Hut on the Hill

This country ‘hut’ is really a well-equipped two-bedroom luxury cottage with private solar-heated outdoor pool and Endless Swimspa that massages travel-weary bodies as you relax in it – perhaps while... Find out more

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Olive Grove Retreat

This retreat is a luxurious boutique establishment offering tranquil Mediterranean living from its secluded location in the Australian bush. The guesthouse sleeps two and guests have a chef, housekeeper and masseuse at... Find out more

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MillDuck, Harcourt North 39 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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Alto Hotel on Bourke 102 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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The Buckland, Bright 196 km

With the same architect as The Odd Frog, The Buckland’s four luxury studio retreats have similar eco-design principles, and thousands of trees have been planted on the site. They are also powered by green energy.... Find out more

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Grampians Eco YHA 196 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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The Odd Frog, Bright 202 km

This place comprises five funky new luxury studios on a 4-hectare Land for Wildlife property. The studios have been architecturally designed to have minimal impact on the environment, with thought even given to their... Find out more

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Apollo Bay Youth Hostel 223 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 235 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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Pomponderoo Bush Retreat, Dimboola 245 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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Goornong Park Area 39 km

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

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Taungurung Rest Area 39 km

19 km S of Nagambie (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 56.894 E145 08.707... Find out more

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Bendigo North Park Area 42 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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Grass Tree Rest Area 42 km

25 km NE of Seymour (L) northbound only Large area just off the highway. Excellent facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 57.783 E145 10.839 ... Find out more

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Ravenswood Rest Area 44 km

20 km S of Bendigo (R) or 130 km N of Melbourne (L) Large open area just off the motorway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 54.589 E144 13.296... Find out more

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Jock Comini Rest Area 44 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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Bendigo South Park Area 44 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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Huntly Rest Area 44 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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Coach Road Rest Area 45 km

90 km S of Benalla (L) southbound only Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 56.537 E145 12.767... Find out more

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Trawool Rest Area 48 km

10 km SE of Seymour (L) or 28 km NW of Yea (R) Small area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 05.445 E145 12.149... Find out more

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Happy Jacks Rest Area 50 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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Jessie Kennedy Rest Area 51 km

6 km S of Castlemaine (R) or 30 km N of Daylesford (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S37 06.621 E144 11.057... Find out more

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Vaughan Springs Camp Area 51 km

T/O 9 km S of Castlemaine (L) or 27 km N of Daylesford (R) Small campground 6 kilometres east of the highway via Vaughan Springs Road. Good facilities at nearby picnic area. GPS: S37 09.576 E144 12.861... Find out more

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Aysons Reserve Camp Area 51 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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Green Lake Recreation Reserve Camp Area 55 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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King Parrot Creek Rest Area 56 km

21 km SE of Seymour (L) or 17 km NW of Yea (R) Large area well off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 08.741 E145 16.08... Find out more

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Stanhope Park Area 58 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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Mount Franklin Rest Area 63 km

26 km S of Castlemaine (L) or 10 km N of Daylesford (R) Large secluded area located 1 kilometre off the highway in a very pleasant forest setting. Good shade. GPS: S37 15.937 E144 09.044... Find out more

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Calder Woodburn Rest Area 69 km

31 km N of Nagambie (L) northbound only Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 34.425 E145 20.558 ... Find out more

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Yea East Rest Area 72 km

1 km E of Yea (R) or 30 km W of Alexandra (L) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 12.758 E145 26.283... Find out more

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Sheepwash Lagoon Rest Area 77 km

11 km E of Yea (R) or 20 km W of Alexandra (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 09.841 E145 31.421  ... Find out more

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Bridgewater Park Area 77 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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Mooroopna Rest Area 82 km

Middle of town Large town park adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 23.726 E145 21.246 ... Find out more

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Balmattum Rest Area 86 km

67 km NE of Seymour (L) northbound only Large area just off the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 42.821 E145 38.131  ... Find out more

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Claires Rest Area 89 km

25 km E of Yea (L) or 6 km NW of Alexandra (R) Large area adjacent to the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 09.466 E145 39.699 ... Find out more

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Goulburn River Rest Area 90 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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Creswick South Rest Area 93 km

3 km S of Creswick (R) or 16 km N of Ballarat (L) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 26.581 E143 53.335... Find out more

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Wharparilla Flora Reserve Rest Area 93 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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Slatey Creek Camp Area 93 km

T/O at Creswick Small secluded campground located 6 kilometres south- east of Creswick via Bungaree Road, Slatey Creek Road, and Petticoat Road. NOTE: Access road part unsealed GPS: S37 27.744 E143 54.246... Find out more

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Melville Caves Camp Area 97 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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