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Donald

Population 1429

Donald is on the scenic Richardson River and referred to by locals as 'Home of the Duck', owing to the many waterbirds that live in the region. The town also features Bullocks Head, a tree on the riverbank with a growth that looks like its namesake. The 'bull' is also used as a flood gauge – according to how high the waters are, the 'bull' is either dipping his feet, having a drink or, when the water is really high, going for a swim.

Visitor Information

Council Offices, cnr Houston and McCulloch sts; (03) 5497 1300

Nearby national parks

  • Grampians National Park

    The weathered ranges that form the Grampians rise abruptly from the sweeping Wimmera plains, protecting a remarkable landscape of peaks and...more

  • Little Desert National Park

    The soil is poor, there is little water and low rainfall, yet Little Desert National Park supports a surprising wealth and diversity of...more

  • Wyperfeld National Park

    In the state’s arid north-west, Wyperfeld is a vast park of open plains and spreading mallee eucalypts. The usually bone-dry bed of...more

Nearby towns

  • St Arnaud

    A former goldmining town surrounded by forests and scenic hill country, St Arnaud is a service centre for the district's farming...more

  • Wycheproof

    Wycheproof is renowned for the long wheat trains that travel down the middle of the main street, towing up to 60 carriages behind them....more

  • Warracknabeal

    The town's Aboriginal name means 'the place of the big red gums shading the watercourse', a name that is both beautifully descriptive and...more

In Town

Bullocks Head Lookout: beside Richardson River; Byrne St. Steam Train Park: a restored steam locomotive, an adventure playground and barbecue facilities; Cnr Hammill and Walker sts. Historic Police Station: dates back to 1865; Wood St. Shepherds hut: built by early settlers; Wood St. Agricultural Museum: an impressive collection of agricultural machinery; Hammill St. Scilleys Island: reserve on the Richardson River featuring wildlife, walking tracks and picnic facilities; access by footbridge from Sunraysia Hwy. Kooka's Country Cookies: tours and sales; Sunraysia Hwy.

Nearby

Lake Buloke The lake is filled by the floodwaters of the Richardson River, so its size varies greatly with the seasons. This extensive wetland area is home to a variety of birdlife and is a popular venue for fishing, picnicking and bushwalking. The end of the park closest to town is a protected bird sanctuary. 10 km N.Fishing There is good fishing for redfin and trout in the many waterways close to town. Good spots include Lake Cope Cope, 10 km S; Lake Batyo Catyo and Richardson River Weir, both 20 km S; Watchem Lake, 35 km N; and the Avoca River, which runs through Charlton, 43 km NE.Mt Jeffcott: flora, kangaroos and views over Lake Buloke; 20 km NE.

Fishing spots near town

Dimboola 86 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


Lake Wartook 92 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


Swan Hill 123 km

From Mulwala to Swan Hill there are excellent fishing opportunities. Some of the top spots along this stretch include Barmah, Echuca and the famous Torrumbarry Weir. The huge Murray cod mounted near the park in Swan... Find out more


Lake Bolac 152 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


Konong Wootong Reservoir 172 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


Boyanda 183 km

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


Tol Tol 190 km

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


Robinvale 200 km

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


Euston 200 km

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


Lake Bullen Merri 208 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


Eco-friendly activities around town

Indigenous tours, Grampians National Park 96 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


Grampians National Park 113 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


Little Desert National Park 130 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


Golden Nugget Discovery Tours, Ballarat 154 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


Brisbane Ranges National Park 198 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


Wine-tasting - Robinvale 199 km

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


Mount Eccles National Park 213 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


Indigenous tour - Shepparton 217 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


Picnicking at Lake Pertobe Reserve 228 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


Melbourne Zoo 235 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


Golf courses around town

Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort 126 km

What follows is one of the success stories of golf along the Murray River. Set in the heart of Kidman Reid’s historic Murray Downs sheep station, the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Resort was constructed... Find out more


Eynesbury Golf Club 211 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


Port Fairy Golf Club 229 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


Sanctuary Lakes Resort 232 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


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


Thirteenth Beach Golf Links (Creek Course) 248 km

Sir Nick Faldo won six major titles, playing himself into winning positions on the back of strong shot-making, a trait that is highly prized on the courses he now designs. The Creek course at Thirteenth Beach, created... Find out more


Thirteenth Beach Golf Links (Beach Course) 249 km

After all the accolades Tony Cashmore received for his design work at The Dunes, on the Mornington Peninsula, he must have felt some pressure to produce an equally fine layout when it came time for his next project:... Find out more


Nearby breweries

Holgate Brewhouse 176 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


Purrumbete Brewing Company (Red Duck) 212 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


Flying Horse Brewery 227 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


Otway Estate Brewery 236 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


3 Ravens Brewing Company 238 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


Foster's Group (Abbotsford Brewery) 240 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


Mountain Goat Brewery 242 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


Campsites around town

Teddington camping area 58 km

You can camp beside the Upper Teddington Reservoir as long as you set up your tent no closer than 40 m to the water. Fishing and canoing are popular pursuits here, but note that swimming is not allowed in the reservoir.... Find out more


Melville Caves camping area 69 km

This campground is off Melville Caves Rd, signposted off the Wedderburn–Dunolly Rd; the caves were once used as a hideout by bushranger Captain Melville. From the picnic area there’s a short walk to the... Find out more


Mountain Creek camping area 76 km

This campground is a few hundred metres north of the small town of Moonambel in Victoria’s Pyrenees, which encompasses a wine-making district. In the vicinity of Mountain Creek is the Warrenmang Vineyard, which... Find out more


Lake Lonsdale camping area 77 km

Signposted on the Western Hwy about 4 km north of Stawell, just before Deep Lead, is the turn-off to Sandbar Rd. This road winds its way along the northern edge of compact Lake Lonsdale, providing access to a number of... Find out more


Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort 80 km

The Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort is out on the Western Highway about 4 km south-east of Horsham. While the comfort and amenities offered by the park are already reasons to stay, the best rationale is that the spectacular... Find out more


Stapylton camping area 81 km

This large campground has a mixture of sheltered and open sites, and is situated in the far north of the national park. You can take a short, self-guided walk to Ngamadjidj Shelter, a one-time Aboriginal campsite where... Find out more


Camerons Track Campground 85 km

This camping area, located on Camerons Track some 20 km from Avoca, is suitable for camper trailers, but the Waterfalls camping area is a better option for caravans. Camerons Track is the midpoint of the Pyrenees... Find out more


Green Lake camping area 87 km

The campsites at Green Lake are surrounded by gum trees. There are also some barbecues here, which are coin-operated. Nearby is a patch of mallee woodland that makes for a nice walk. Follow the sign off the... Find out more


Plantation camping area 87 km

The Plantation area is the Grampians’ biggest campground, providing around 30 sites in a pine forest at the northern edge of the national park (technically, just outside it), at the foot of the Mt Difficult Range.... Find out more


Caravan parks around town

Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort 80 km

This is a spacious park on the fringe of Horsham, 4 km south-east of town on the Western Highway. It has a range of facilities including a tennis court and spa. It is a good base for exploring the local area. Bookings... Find out more


Horsham Caravan Park 80 km

Located on the banks of the Wimmera River, close to the town centre, this good quality park is council owned but operated by the YMCA. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies.... Find out more


Lake Fyans Holiday Park 91 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


Parkgate Resort 94 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


Halls Gap Caravan and Tourist Park 95 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


Ibis Caravan Park 109 km

This park is 3 km south of Kerang, with nice shady spots and a tennis court. It is an excellent overnight stop at a budget price. Bookings are required in peak periods and a minimum-length stay applies in all holidays.... Find out more


Lake Boga Caravan Park 117 km

Squeezed between the Murray Valley Highway and the shores of Lake Boga, this is ideal for an overnight stop or a restful few days; sailing, water-skiing and swimming are popular activities. The park has good basic... Find out more


Nhill Caravan Park 120 km

This is a convenient park on the Western Highway, on the western outskirts of Nhill. It has good basic amenities and is conveniently located midway between Melbourne and Adelaide.... Find out more


Swan Hill Riverside Caravan Park 125 km

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


BIG4 Swan Hill 127 km

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


Eco-friendly places to stay around town

Pomponderoo Bush Retreat, Dimboola 87 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


Grampians Eco YHA 94 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


Little Desert Nature Lodge, Nhill 118 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


MillDuck, Harcourt North 131 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


Alto Hotel on Bourke 238 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


Rest areas around town

Donald Park Area

North side of town Parking area at Richardson River. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 22.03 E142 58.44... Find out more


Wooroonook Lake Camp Area 23 km

T/O at Charlton via Borung Highway Large camp area on shores of the lake 14 kilometres west of Charlton. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 15.37 E143 11.44 ... Find out more


Lake Watchem Camp Area 27 km

T/O 20 km S of Birchip (R) or 34 km N of Donald (L) Large area around a few trees on the edge of the lake 1 kilometre west of Watchem. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 08.51 E142 50.52 ... Find out more


Teddywaddy Rest Area 38 km

23 km SE of Wycheproof (L) or 9 km N of Charlton (R) Small area just off the highway among some trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 12.48 E143 21.35 ... Find out more


Wycheproof Park Area 39 km

Middle of town Parking area just off the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 04.44 E143 13.33 ... Find out more


Birchip Park Area 42 km

South side of town Small area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. Good facilities. GPS: S35 59.23 E142 54.53... Find out more


Skinners Flat Rest Area 54 km

26 km SE of Charlton (L) or 4 km NW of Wedderburn (R) Small secluded area located 1 kilometre north of the highway in the scrub on the shores of the reservoir. Good shade. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S36 21.55... Find out more


Wedderburn Park Area 57 km

Opposite the bowls club Small town park just off the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 25.04 E143 36.48... Find out more


Teddington Reservoir Camp Area 58 km

T/O 24 km S of St Arnaud (R) or 38 km S of Avoca (L) Large secluded camp area in the forest 6 kilometres south- west of Stuart Mill via Teddington Road. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S36 50.36 E143 15.46... Find out more


Stuart Mill South Rest Area 60 km

28 km S of St Arnaud (R) or 34 km N of Avoca (L) Large area just off the highway behind bushes and trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 50.23 E143 19.10 ... Find out more


Brim Rest Area 61 km

20 km N of Warracknabeal (L) or 41 km S of Hopetoun (R) Large secluded area located among numerous small trees 1 kilometre off the highway via the main street of Brim. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S36 04.32 E142... Find out more


Ryans Creek Rest Area 67 km

12 km SE Wedderburn (R) or 24 km NW of Bridgewater (L) Small area just off the highway among a few large trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 29.11 E143 42.57... Find out more


Melville Caves Camp Area 69 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


Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve Rest Area 75 km

57 km SE of Horsham (L) or 10 km NW of Stawell (R) Large area just off the highway. Good shade. GPS: S37 00.21 E142 42.30 ... Find out more


Lake Green Rest Area 77 km

12 km SE of Horsham (R) or 55 km NW of Stawell (L) Large parking bay adjacent to the highway overlooking Lake Green. Limited shade. GPS: S36 47.05 E142 17.38  ... Find out more


Burnt Creek Rest Area 79 km

7 km SE of Horsham (L) or 60 km NW of Stawell (R) Large area just off the highway among a few large trees. Good shade. GPS: S36 45.38 E142 15.00  ... Find out more


Wail Rest Area 80 km

10 km SE of Dimboola (L) or 26 km NW of Horsham (R) Small area just off the highway near the railway overpass. Reasonable shade. GPS: S36 30.25 E142 06.18  ... Find out more


Berriwillock Park Area 81 km

Middle of town Small town park opposite the hotel on the service road through town. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S35 38.11 E142 59.44... Find out more


Stapylton Camp Area 82 km

T/O 18 km SE of Horsham (R) or 49 km NW of Stawell (L) Large area located 15 kilometres south of the highway via Northern Grampians Road and Plantation Road in a natural bush setting in Grampians National Park. Good... Find out more


Horseshoe Bend Camp Area 86 km

T/O at Dimboola Large area located 7 kilometres south of the highway on the banks of the Wimmera River with good facilities and shade in a natural bush setting in Little Desert National Park. NOTE: Access road part... Find out more


Green Lake Camp Area 87 km

T/O at Sea Lake (R) or Berriwillock (L) Large shady campground located 10 kilometres south of Sea Lake or north west of Berriwillock among numerous large trees on the shores of the lake. Some powered sites available.... Find out more


Great Western Rest Area 87 km

13 km S of Stawell (L) or 17 km N of Ararat (R) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S37 08.41 E142 50.33  ... Find out more


Troopers Creek Camp Area 87 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


Plantation Camp Area 87 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


Ackle Bend Camp Area 87 km

T/O at Dimboola Large area located 6 kilometres south of the highway on the banks of the Wimmera River with good facilities and shade in a natural bush setting in Little Desert National Park. NOTE: Access road part... Find out more


No.2 Creek Rest Area 88 km

59 km S of St Arnaud (L) or 3 km N of Avoca (R) Large area just off the highway among the trees. Good shade. GPS: S37 03.39 E143 27.39  ... Find out more


Bridgewater Park Area 90 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


Wimmera River Rest Area 90 km

32 km E of Nhill (L) or 6 km W of Dimboola (R) Large open area just off the highway near the river. Good shade and facilities. GPS: S36 25.07 E141 58.53  ... Find out more


Hopetoun Camp Area 90 km

On the shores of Lake Lascelles Large area well off the highway on the shores of Lake Lascelles. Good facilities. Limited shade. NOTE: Powered sites available for a fee. Showers available (donation requested). GPS:... Find out more


Smith Mill Camp Area 96 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


What's on around town

Scottish Dancing Country Weekend: June.

Donald Cup: Nov.

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