Explore Australia

Historic buildings: many along High St are National Trust–classified, including the Church of England, the Band Rotunda, the former Imperial Hotel, the Glasgow Buildings and the Whistle Stop. Take the High St Heritage Walk to see these and others; map from visitor centre. History Museum: housed in the old mechanics institute with displays relating to the town's goldmining heritage; Cnr High and Parker sts. Growlers Hill Lookout Tower: views of the town, Rushworth State Forest and the surrounding Goulburn Valley; Reed St.

Rushworth State Forest The largest natural ironbark forest in the world, Rushworth State Forest is also renowned for the orchids and wildflowers that blossom here in spring. Picnics and bushwalks are popular activities in this attractive reserve where over 100 species of birds, along with echidnas and kangaroos, can be seen. Access via Whroo Rd; 3 km S.Jones's Eucalyptus Distillery: eucalyptus oil is extracted from blue mallee gum; Parramatta Gully Rd, just south of town. Waranga Basin: an artificial diversion of the Goulburn weir constructed in 1916, now a haven for boating, fishing, swimming and watersports; 6 km NE. Whroo Historic Reserve: Balaclava Hill, an open-cut goldmine, along with camping and picnic facilities, the Whroo cemetery and an Aboriginal waterhole; 7 km S. Murchison: a small town picturesquely set on the Goulburn River. Town attractions include the Italian war memorial and chapel; Meteorite Park, the site of a meteorite fall in 1969; Longleat Winery; and Campbell's Bend Picnic Reserve; 19 km E. Days Mill: a flour mill with buildings dating from 1865; 39 km NE via Murchison. Town ruins: goldmining played a huge role in the development of this region, but not all towns survived the end of the gold rush. Ruins of Angustown, Bailieston and Graytown are all to the south of Rushworth.

Goulburn River 95 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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Rubicon River 105 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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Lake Eildon 107 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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Eildon Pondage 108 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 Mulwala 113 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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Maribyrnong River 135 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 139 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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St Kilda 143 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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Altona to Williamstown 143 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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Lake Buffalo 148 km

Two productive lakes in this region are Lake Buffalo, 20 km south of Myrtleford, and Lake William Hovell, 60 km south of Wangaratta. Both waters have boat-launching facilities, but fishing here can be difficult during... Find out more

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Indigenous tour - Shepparton 41 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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Cycling - Murray to the Mountains and High Country Rail Trails 119 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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Bicentennial National Trail - Healesville starting point 126 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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Melbourne Zoo 133 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 136 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 137 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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Cycling around Melbourne 138 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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Wine-tasting - Rutherglen region 142 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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Dandenong Ranges National Park 143 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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Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 149 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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RACV Healesville Country Club 126 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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The Heritage Golf & Country Club (St John course) 128 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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Eynesbury Golf Club 140 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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Riversdale Golf Club 143 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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Sanctuary Lakes Resort 147 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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Metropolitan Golf Club 147 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 148 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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Commonwealth Golf Club 149 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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Yarra Yarra Golf Club 149 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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Spring Valley Golf Club 152 km

The story of Spring Valley Golf Club’s early days is not dissimilar to that of many clubs which now call Melbourne’s sandbelt home. Spring Valley began its existence outside the sandbelt, as Forest Hills... Find out more

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Holgate Brewhouse 96 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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Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company 123 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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Jamieson Brewery 126 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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3 Ravens Brewing Company 130 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) 136 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 137 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 151 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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Bridge Road Brewers 152 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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Matilda Bay Garage Brewery 162 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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Bright Brewery 175 km

The original Bright Brewery shut down in 1916 and this modern incarnation was started by a quartet of ‘ale changers’ – couples David and Julie Cocks, and Scott Brandon and Fiona Reddaway – some 90... Find out more

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Greens Campground 7 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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Major Creek Reserve camping area 30 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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Dargile camping and picnic area 39 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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Englishs Bridge camping area 41 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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Strayleaves Caravan Park 42 km

Strayleaves is a peaceful park in Shepparton with flat, grassy campsites that are scrupulously tended, and – as befits the name – lots of foliage. Each of the sites has sullage, and there’s a... Find out more

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Christies Beach camping area 55 km

There are lots of shaded bush camping options on flat ground at Christies Beach, which makes it a good choice for large groups. There’s also easy access to the river here, and it’s only a short trip into... Find out more

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Mulga Dam picnic and camping area 58 km

Small Mulga Dam is in the far north of the national park. A short walk past old charcoal pits starts from the picnic area here. Along the way you may hear some of the many songbirds that thrive in the region. To reach... Find out more

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Rush Dam picnic and camping area 61 km

Like its neighbour Mulga Dam, Rush Dam is up near the northern boundary of the park. Closer to Bendigo, near the Shadbolt picnic area, you can check out some gold-mining history at Old Tom Mine; if you’d like to do... Find out more

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Bama State Forest camping areas 61 km

This 2800 ha forest is downstream of Barmah Town. Access is via Barmah Forest Rd (it’s adjacent to the Barmah–Millewa Forest), 13 km north-east of Moama.... Find out more

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BIG4 Shepparton Parklands 38 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 40 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 44 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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Goulburn River Tourist Park 50 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 53 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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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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Honeysuckle Caravan Village 64 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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RACV Cobram Resort 93 km

This is a very highly rated resort complex with some 35 powered sites. Set on sprawling but well-cared-for lawns, there is a selection of accommodation; the park is a picture and we highly recommend it. Bookings are... Find out more

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Cobram Oasis Tourist Park 93 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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Cobram Barooga Golf Resort 97 km

Adjacent to one of the Murray Valley’s renowned golf courses, this park is very good quality and just 1.5 km from the town centre. The park’s facilities include a tennis court. This would be a great base for... Find out more

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MillDuck, Harcourt North 76 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 137 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 169 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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The Odd Frog, Bright 174 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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Grampians Eco YHA 231 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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Stanhope Park Area 16 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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Green Lake Recreation Reserve Camp Area 24 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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Calder Woodburn Rest Area 29 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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Aysons Reserve Camp Area 34 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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Mooroopna Rest Area 37 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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Taungurung Rest Area 42 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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Coach Road Rest Area 43 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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Grass Tree Rest Area 44 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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Goornong Park Area 46 km

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

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Goulburn River Rest Area 46 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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Balmattum Rest Area 57 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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Trawool Rest Area 58 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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Wunghnu Park Area 61 km

Middle of town Small parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S36 09.170 E145 25.894... Find out more

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Huntly Rest Area 62 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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Nalinga Rest Area 63 km

33 km NW of Benalla (L) or 28 km SE of Shepparton (R) Large area just off the highway around a few trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 25.769 E145 41.763 ... Find out more

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Wharparilla Flora Reserve Rest Area 66 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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King Parrot Creek Rest Area 66 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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Bendigo North Park Area 67 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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Bendigo South Park Area 73 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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Sheepwash Lagoon Rest Area 78 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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Yea East Rest Area 79 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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Jock Comini Rest Area 79 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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Ravenswood Rest Area 80 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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Happy Jacks Rest Area 82 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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Casey Weir Rest Area 84 km

9 km NW of Benalla (L) or 52 km SE of Shepparton (R) Large secluded area well off the highway among some large trees on the banks of Broken River. Good shade. GPS: S36 28.526 E145 56.633 ... Find out more

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Claires Rest Area 86 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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Morgans Beach Camp Area 87 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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Gunbower Park Area 91 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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Scotts Beach Camp Area 94 km

T/O at Cobram Secluded area on the riverbank 3 kilometres north-east of Cobram via Barooga Road and River Road. Good shade. GPS: S35 55.611 E145 40.601... Find out more

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Jessie Kennedy Rest Area 94 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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