Explore Australia

Historic buildings: Beaufort Manor, High St; General Store, now a restaurant, High St. Wetlands Walk: sightings of abundant birdlife and glider possums; eastern outskirts of town.

Murrindindi Reserve: see the impressive Murrindindi Cascades and a variety of wildlife including wombats, platypus and lyrebirds; 11 km SE. Ibis Rookery: Kerrisdale; 17 km W. Flowerdale Winery: Whittlesea–Yea Rd; 23 km SW. Grotto: a beautiful old church set in the hillside; Caveat; 27 km N. Berry King Farm: pick your own fruit; Two Hills Rd, Glenburn; 28 km S. Wilhelmina Falls: spectacular falls and a great spot for walks and picnics; access via Melba Hwy; 32 km S. Kinglake National Park: 32 km S; see Yarra Glen. Mineral springs: Dropmore, off back road to Euroa; 47 km N. Scenic drives: many in the region. Best time is Aug–Sept when wattles are in bloom; maps from visitor centre.

Goulburn River 25 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 35 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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Eildon Pondage 44 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 45 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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Maribyrnong River 80 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 84 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 84 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 88 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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Patterson River 98 km

The Patterson River is well known for bream, and walking and bike tracks on both sides of the river offer ease of access for bank fishing. The most productive waters are in the marinas between the Mornington Peninsula... Find out more

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Carrum 100 km

The Launching Way boat ramp facility at Carrum is the best in the bay but during snapper season anglers who haven’t launched their boats and parked their cars by about 6am have to go elsewhere. Managed by Parks... Find out more

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Bicentennial National Trail - Healesville starting point 50 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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Dandenong Ranges National Park 70 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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Melbourne Zoo 76 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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Indigenous tours - Melbourne 78 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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Mountain-biking around Melbourne 79 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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Cycling around Melbourne 79 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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Indigenous tour - Shepparton 92 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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Baw Baw National Park 106 km

This 13 300-hectare national park cradles the low-key ski resort at Mount Baw Baw, the closest downhill ski resort to Melbourne. Near the resort are 10 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails (and you can hire gear at... Find out more

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Cycling - Murray to the Mountains and High Country Rail Trails 124 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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Brisbane Ranges National Park 128 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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RACV Healesville Country Club 49 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) 58 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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Riversdale Golf Club 78 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 83 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 84 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 85 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 86 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 86 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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Kingston Heath Golf Club 88 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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Victoria Golf Club 90 km

Strategy wins out over brute strength every time at Victoria Golf Club, acclaimed worldwide as a fantastic shot-makers’ course. This is probably why the club has produced so many fine players. Peter Thomson... Find out more

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Marmalades

This rustic cafe and produce store is housed in a charming 1880s heritage-listed building, which was once a bustling general store in this former goldmining town. High ceilings, original long counter benches and open... Find out more

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Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company 50 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 63 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 70 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) 76 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 77 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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Holgate Brewhouse 81 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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2 Brothers Brewery 87 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 94 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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Red Hill Brewery 136 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 147 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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Molesworth camping ground 11 km

There are decent facilities in the Molesworth camping ground, including a laundry, showers and barbecues. This riverside reserve is signposted north off the highway to the west of the bridge over the Goulburn River.... Find out more

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Brooks River Reserve camping area 22 km

To reach this compact camping area, head north-west out of historic Alexandra township on the Maroondah Hwy and turn west on Swanns La, which leads down to the banks of the Goulburn River. There are fireplaces here but... Find out more

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SEC camping and picnic area (walk-in camping) 23 km

The SEC camping area is a walk-in site. It’s signposted off Murrindindi Rd.... Find out more

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Suspension Bridge camping area 23 km

The Suspension Bridge camping area is signposted off Murrindindi Rd about 200 m north of the Blackwood access. This site can accommodate smaller caravans.... Find out more

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Blackwood camping area 23 km

Less than 0.5 km north of the Pine Tree camping area along Murrindindi Rd is signposted access to the Blackwood campsites.... Find out more

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Falls Creek Reservoir camping area 23 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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Pine Tree camping area 23 km

About 2.8 km north of Water Gauge, you’ll see signposted access off Murrindindi Rd to the Pine Tree camping area.... Find out more

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Freemans picnic and camping area 24 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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No. 1 Camp camping area 26 km

Gatherings of horseriders and other large groups often base themselves at No. 1 Camp, which is a spacious open site – you’re likely to have company if you stay here. Turn east on North Mountain Rd at... Find out more

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Goulburn River Tourist Park 33 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 52 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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Crystal Brook Tourist Park 64 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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Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park 69 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 69 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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Wantirna Park 73 km

This is a large park with a limited number of tourist sites. Located in the eastern suburbs, its facilities include tennis courts and a recreation room. It is good value. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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BIG4 Shepparton Parklands 87 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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BIG4 Shepparton East Holiday Park 91 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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Victoria Lake Holiday Park 91 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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Cheviot Glen Cottages

Located on a 170-hectare beef and sheep property in the Cheviot Hills near Yea, these two country cottages enjoy a peaceful aspect over the lovely countryside, with cattle and sheep grazing as far as the eye can see.... Find out more

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Alto Hotel on Bourke 79 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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MillDuck, Harcourt North 108 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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The Buckland, Bright 140 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 146 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 231 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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Arthur’s Cottage, Cudgewa 238 km

This historic mudbrick, two-bedroom cottage was built around 1897, but now has solar-powered lights and a gas kitchen. It sits quietly on the Cudgewa Creek, with platypus drifting past. You will need to bring your own... Find out more

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Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology 245 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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Yea East Rest Area 1 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 10 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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King Parrot Creek Rest Area 16 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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Claires Rest Area 22 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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Trawool Rest Area 24 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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Grass Tree Rest Area 35 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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Coach Road Rest Area 35 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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Taungurung Rest Area 38 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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Balmattum Rest Area 58 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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Calder Woodburn Rest Area 71 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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Nalinga Rest Area 90 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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Mooroopna Rest Area 91 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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Stanhope Park Area 93 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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Casey Weir Rest Area 94 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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Gumbuya Rest Area 98 km

77 km E of Melbourne (L) or 40 km W of Yarragon (R) Small secluded area well off the highway. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S38 04.274 E145 39.807... Find out more

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Mokoan Rest Area 99 km

27 km SW of Wangaratta (L) or 15 km NE of Benalla (L) Large areas on both sides of the highway. Excellent facilities but only limited shade. GPS: S36 30.078 E146 06.206... Find out more

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Green Lake Recreation Reserve Camp Area 101 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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Bunyip Rest Area 103 km

29 km W of Yarragon (L) westbound only Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S38 05.446 E145 48.423... Find out more

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Goornong Park Area 105 km

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

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Aysons Reserve Camp Area 107 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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Vaughan Springs Camp Area 108 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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Jessie Kennedy Rest Area 111 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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Ravenswood Rest Area 112 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 113 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 North Park Area 113 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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Mount Franklin Rest Area 113 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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Huntly Rest Area 115 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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Bendigo South Park Area 115 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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Wunghnu Park Area 117 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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Goulburn River Rest Area 118 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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