Explore Australia

Peter Francis Points Arboretum Two thousand species of native flora are found here, including 500 species of eucalyptus. 'The Points' sprawls up the hillside behind the town, with great views from the top, on Portland–Coleraine Rd. In town is the Eucalyptus Discovery Centre, designed to complement the arboretum and give an insight into the natural history and commercial applications of eucalypts. Whyte St.

Glenelg Fine Confectionery: immerse yourself in the rich aroma of German-style continental chocolates; tastings available; Whyte St. Historic Railway Station: also site of the visitor centre, it displays and sells local arts and crafts; Pilleau St. Coleraine Classic Cars: open by appt; Whyte St.

Bochara Wines: wine-tasting available Fri–Sun; Glenelg Hwy. Glacier Ridge Redgum: gallery of wooden products for sale; open by appt. Balmoral: historic township west of the Grampians; 49 km N. Nearby features include the Glendinning Homestead, just east of town, with gardens and a wildlife sanctuary. The town is also the gateway to Rocklands Reservoir, for watersports and fishing, and Black Range State Park, for bushwalking. It also holds the Balmoral Annual Show in Mar.

Konong Wootong Reservoir 12 km

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

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Nelson 78 km

The Glenelg River is situated at Nelson near the border with SA. The long river is one of the state’s premier fisheries for bream to 1.8 kg, estuary perch and mulloway to about 20 kg. Victoria has some excellent... Find out more

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Portland 82 km

‘I reckon Portland is Victoria’s best kept angling secret,’ local angler Bob McPherson told me in 2004. At the time, I believed he was right. Within two years Portland was no longer a secret, becoming... Find out more

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Lake Wartook 89 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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Port Fairy 100 km

Port Fairy is an unimposing historic seaport between Warrnambool and Portland. While it might come across as a sleepy, seaside resort, Port Fairy always seems to attract exciting piscatorial headlines. During the 1960s... Find out more

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Lake Bolac 104 km

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

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Warrnambool 113 km

Warrnambool is a big, tidy city. It’s a great place to take the family for a holiday, particularly if you have fishing on your mind. All forms of angling are available, but the most popular water is the Hopkins... Find out more

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Dimboola 129 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 Bullen Merri 143 km

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

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Peterborough 151 km

Peterborough has beach and estuary fishing. The estuary system is Curdies River, a noted bream river with fish to 1.5 kg common. The best place to access the river is upstream at a place called Boggy Creek – a name... Find out more

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Mount Eccles National Park 59 km

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

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Grampians National Park 71 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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Picnicking around Mount Gambier 84 km

Mount Gambier has some extraordinary picnic spots around collapsed caves that are now beautiful sinkhole gardens. Try Cave Gardens or the stunning Umpherston Sinkhole, which has free barbecues and good facilities.... Find out more

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Indigenous tours, Grampians National Park 89 km

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

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Picnicking at Lake Pertobe Reserve 111 km

Lake Pertobe Reserve on Warrnambool’s foreshore is known as one of the best adventure playgrounds around, with plenty for kids of all ages. There are paddleboats and canoes, a maze and flying fox, free barbecues... Find out more

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Little Desert National Park 115 km

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

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Diving and snorkelling - Port Campbell, Peterborough and Warrnambool 161 km

Best known in diving circles for its multitude of shipwrecks, most of which are reached by boat dives, this area also has some great snorkelling and shore dives. Recommended spots include the Port Campbell jetty, Wild... Find out more

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Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 192 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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Canoeing on Lake Elizabeth 209 km

For a fantastic dawn or dusk paddle in which you have a 95 per cent chance of seeing a platypus, join Otway Eco Tours on Lake Elizabeth. Half-day trips to this remote lake in the ranges depart from the small hamlet of... Find out more

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Sea-kayaking in Marengo Marine Sanctuary 217 km

In an exciting two-hour guided paddle, head out from Apollo Bay to Marengo Marine Sanctuary to get a close-up view of an Australian fur-seal colony. The seals often come out to swim around the kayaks.... Find out more

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Port Fairy Golf Club 99 km

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

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The Sands, Torquay 247 km

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

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Flying Horse Brewery 114 km

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

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Purrumbete Brewing Company (Red Duck) 154 km

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

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Otway Estate Brewery 189 km

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

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Wannon River picnic and camping area 16 km

A short trail connects this campground with Wannon Falls, the end result of ancient lava flows, while another walking track leads to the nearby Thomas Clark Viewing Area, which also has views of the waterfall. The large... Find out more

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Hiscocks Crossing camping area 42 km

A rewarding nature trail does a 2.5 km loop from this camping area along the Crawford River and through several types of forest. It’s located off The Boulevard. To get here, head north from Hotspur towards... Find out more

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Glendinning camping area 43 km

This campground is on the south-western edge of Rocklands Reservoir. It’s permissible to collect firewood from the nearby Claude Austin State Forest for use here. Also nearby is the handsome Glendinning homestead,... Find out more

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Henrys camping area 44 km

Henrys is a very basic campground located near the southernmost point of Rocklands Reservoir, where the shoreline of the sprawling water storage makes a ragged U-turn. From Henty Hwy, just south of Victoria Lagoon... Find out more

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Fergusons camping area 46 km

The only boat ramp on the eastern shoreline of Rocklands Reservoir is at Fergusons, so it’s one of the area’s most popular sites when there’s enough water in the lake to make watersports possible. From... Find out more

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Annya Camp camping area 48 km

This quiet spot is nestled in the forest just off the Portland–Casterton Rd, between Drumborg and Casterton. Plentiful shade is provided by the surrounding trees, while an abundance of sites on relatively level... Find out more

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Brodies camping area 48 km

Brodies is a popular campground on the north-western shoreline of Rocklands Reservoir, between Black Range State Park and the Claude Austin State Forest. If the redfin aren’t biting here, head north to Toolondo... Find out more

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Bush camping (walk-in camping) 48 km

Those who want to go further afield than the established camping areas in Rocklands State Forests are permitted to go bush camping in the area. The only exceptions are where signage says otherwise. Contact the local... Find out more

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Fort O’Hare camping area 51 km

Set on the northern bank of the Glenelg River in the low-key town of Dartmoor, this camping area is where canoeists set off on a popular four-day, 75 km paddle through Lower Glenelg National Park to the river mouth... Find out more

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Fulham Streamside Reserve camping area 51 km

A 4WD vehicle is needed to reach this camping area. The access road is signposted off the Natimuk–Hamilton Rd, just south of Kanagulk. There are no facilities to speak of, but the campground’s pleasant... Find out more

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Narrawong Holiday Park 73 km

This pretty park is in a fabulous, quiet beachside and riverfront position off the Princes Highway. Offering a range of accommodation, it is close to Portland and has good fishing and swimming, and a range of facilities... Find out more

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Kywong Caravan Park 77 km

Located on the northern side of town, this large budget-priced park has good facilities. It is about 1.5 km from the centre of the small township. There is good value here. Bookings are required at Christmas, Easter and... Find out more

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Henty Bay Beachfront Van and Cabin Park 78 km

This large, spacious park is located on the beachfront 6 km north-east of the centre of town. The park has a well-stocked shop with takeaway food and a good selection of fishing tackle and bait. Bookings are required at... Find out more

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Portland Tourist Park 82 km

Set in a residential area of town about 1.6 km from the town centre, this owneroperated park has good facilities and a corner store is conveniently located opposite the park. Bookings are required at Christmas, Easter... Find out more

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Kalganyi Holiday Park 82 km

This is a very good park set in a quiet, treed area on the northern outskirts of Mount Gambier. It has extensive facilities including ensuite sites. This is a good base from which to explore the Mount Gambier region.... Find out more

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Blue Lake Holiday Park 86 km

Located south of the city centre, this wellshaded quality park adjoins the golf course and is adjacent to Mount Gambier’s premier attraction, the spectacular Blue Lake. This is a fabulous base for exploring the... Find out more

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Halls Gap Caravan and Tourist Park 89 km

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

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Parkgate Resort 90 km

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

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Lake Fyans Holiday Park 98 km

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

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Belfast Cove Caravan Park 98 km

This is a lovely boutique park with magnificent gardens. It has very good facilities including a tennis court and a boat parking area. Bookings are required at Christmas, Easter and long weekends, with a minimum-stay... Find out more

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Grampians Eco YHA 90 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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Little Desert Nature Lodge, Nhill 127 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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Pomponderoo Bush Retreat, Dimboola 128 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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Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology 210 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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Apollo Bay Youth Hostel 216 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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MillDuck, Harcourt North 241 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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Wannon Falls Camp Area 16 km

Henty Highway, Portland to Calder Highway - 16 km W of Hamilton via Glenelg Highway Glenelg Highway, Princes Highway to Ballarat - 46 km E of Casterton (R) or 17 km W of Hamilton (L) Large secluded area well off... Find out more

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Nigretta Falls Camp Area 22 km

Henty Highway, Portland to Calder Highway - T/O 8 km N of Hamilton (L) or 124 km S of Horsham (R) Glenelg Highway, Princes Highway to Ballarat - T/O 46 km E of Casterton (L) or 17 km W of Hamilton (R) Large open... Find out more

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Casterton Park Area 25 km

East side of town Large grassed area under trees on the eastern bank of the Glenelg River. Good shade. GPS: S37 34.938 E141 24.600  ... Find out more

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Branxholme Park Area 30 km

Middle of town Large area just off the highway adjacent to the recreation area. Limited shade. Good facilities. GPS: S37 51.29 E141 48.09  ... Find out more

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Cavendish Rest Area 32 km

North side of town Large area 300 metres off the highway among the trees adjacent to the recreation area. Good facilities and reasonable shade. Fees payable to caretaker for overnight stay. GPS: S37 31.22 E142 02.46... Find out more

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Annya Road Rest Area 48 km

T/O km 81 km E of Mt Gambier (L) or 7 km W of Heywood (R) Large secluded area located 7.5 kilometres north of the highway among numerous trees in the forest. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S38 01.07 E141... Find out more

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Fort O'Hare Camp Area 51 km

T/O at Dartmoor Large grassed area well off the highway among numerous large trees. Very good shade and facilities. GPS: S37 55.33 E141 17.06 ... Find out more

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Glenelg River Park Area 52 km

48 km SE of Mt Gambier (L) or 40 km NW of Heywood (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 55.40 E141 16.37 ... Find out more

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Lake Surprise Camp Area 55 km

T/O at Port Fairy Large campground located 48 kilometres north of the highway (9 kilometres east of Macarthur) in a pleasant open forest setting near Lake Surprise in Mount Eccles National Park. Good facilities and... Find out more

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Hynes Reservoir Camp Area 55 km

T/O 68 km N of Hamilton (L) or 64 km S of Horsham (R) Large secluded campground located 9 kilometres west of the highway near the reservoir. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S37 13.29 E142 06.18  ... Find out more

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Penshurst Park Area 61 km

Middle of town Parking area just off the highway adjacent to the caravan park. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S37 52.438 E142 17.509... Find out more

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Buandik Camp Area 65 km

T/O 65 km N of Hamilton (L) or 67 km S of Horsham (R) Small secluded area located 9 kilometres east of the highway in a pleasant bush setting in Grampians National Park. Good facilities and shade. NOTE: Access road... Find out more

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South Australian-Victorian Border Rest Area 69 km

18 km SE of Mt Gambier (L) or 70 km NW of Heywood (R) Small area just off the highway among some large trees. Good shade. GPS: S37 50.29 E140 58.42 ... Find out more

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Fitzroy River Rest Area 69 km

35 km SE of Heywood (R) or 48 km W of Port Fairy (L) Large area just off the highway near the river. Limited shade. GPS: S38 13.15 E141 45.48 ... Find out more

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Cherrypool Rest Area 70 km

82 km N of Hamilton (R) or 50 km S of Horsham (L) Large area just off the highway on the banks of the river. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S37 06.33 E142 11.11  ... Find out more

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Nine Mile Creek Rest Area 70 km

41 km E of Hamilton (R) or 33 km W of Lake Bolac (L) Small area just off the highway under some large trees. GPS: S37 38.141 E142 28.953... Find out more

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The Sawpit Camp Area 71 km

T/O at Narrawong Large secluded area located 3 kilometres north the highway in the forest among numerous large trees. Good shade and facilities. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S38 14.06 E141 41.14  ... Find out more

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Princess Margaret Rose Caves Camp Area 75 km

T/O 12 km SE of Mt Gambier (R) or 76 km NW of Heywood (L) Small area located in a pleasant natural bush setting near the river 19 kilometres south of the highway in Lower Glenelg National Park. Good facilities and... Find out more

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Penola South Rest Area 77 km

12 km S of Penola (R) or 39 km N of Mt Gambier (L) Large area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S37 28.586 E140 49.717... Find out more

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Forestry Info Rest Area 78 km

16 km S of Penola (L) or 35 km N of Mt Gambier (R) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 30.652 E140 49.105  ... Find out more

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Greenrise Lake Park Area 79 km

3 km S of Penola (R) or 48 km N of Mt Gambier (L) Large open grassed area around a few trees just off the highway on the shores of the lake. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S37 23.802 E140 50.194... Find out more

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Mount Gambier Park Area 84 km

North-east side of town Parking area at the Lady Nelson Visitor Information Centre. GPS: S37 49.570 E140 47.267... Find out more

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Coonawarra Rest Area 84 km

38 km S of Naracoorte (R) or 13 km N of Penola (L) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 16.128 E140 50.215  ... Find out more

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Smith Mill Camp Area 85 km

T/O at Stawell to Halls Gap Small area located 16 kilometres north of Halls Gap via Mt Victory, Lake Wartook and Old Mill roads. Good facilities and shade in a natural bush setting in Grampians National Park. NOTE:... Find out more

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Borough Huts Camp Area 86 km

T/O at Stawell to Halls Gap Small area located 11 kilometres south of Halls Gap via Grampians Road in Grampians National Park. Good facilities and shade in a natural bush setting.  GPS: S37 06.28 E142 25.24 ... Find out more

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Father Woods Rest Area 87 km

31 km S of Naracoorte (L) or 20 km N of Penola (R) Large area just off the road. Good shade. GPS: S37 11.757 E140 50.645  ... Find out more

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Wickliffe Park Area 92 km

Middle of town Parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S37 41.446 E142 43.381... Find out more

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Troopers Creek Camp Area 92 km

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

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Plantation Camp Area 94 km

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

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Bool Lagoon Turnoff Rest Area 97 km

18 km S of Naracoorte (L) or 33 km N of Penola (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S37 06.163 E140 47.576... Find out more

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