Explore Australia

Uncle Fred & Aunty Val's Lolly Shop & Produce Store: old-fashioned candy store; 8 Murchison St; (03) 5963 3644. Bruno’s Art & Sculpture Garden: gardens featuring sculptures by artist Bruno Torfs; open 10am–5pm daily; (03) 5963 3513.

Cathedral Range State Park The word 'imposing' does not do justice to the 7 km rocky ridge that forms the backbone of this park. Challenging hikes up the ridge to lookout points offer unparalleled views to the valley below. Walks can include overnight stays at the Farmyard, so named because lyrebirds imitate the noises of the domestic animals in the farmyards below. Contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963; 15 km N.Lake Mountain Renowned for first-rate cross-country skiing, the area is also great for tobogganing, snow tubing and sled rides. When the snow melts and the wildflowers bloom, hikers can take the Summit Walk (4 km return) over the mountain. Ski and walk brochure available from visitor centre.Lady Talbot Forest Drive: this 46 km route begins east of town. Stop en route to enjoy picnic spots, walking tracks and lookouts. Buxton Trout & Salmon Farm: drop a line in one of the well-stocked ponds, purchase smoked fish or enjoy a barbecue lunch; open 9am–5pm daily; 2118 Maroondah Hwy, Buxton; (03) 5774 7370; 12 km SE. Scenic walks: many tracks in the area, including a short walk to Steavenson Falls, from Falls Rd; 4 km loop walk in Cumberland Memorial Scenic Reserve, 16 km E; 4 km Beeches Walk through ancient beech and mountain ash forests (accessed via Lady Talbot Forest Dr). Big River State Forest: camping, fishing and gold fossicking; 30 km E.

Rubicon River 25 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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Goulburn River 30 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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Eildon Pondage 34 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 37 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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St Kilda 79 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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Maribyrnong River 81 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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Patterson River 82 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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Yarra River 83 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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Carrum 84 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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Altona to Williamstown 87 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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Bicentennial National Trail - Healesville starting point 26 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 48 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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Baw Baw National Park 63 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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Indigenous tours - Melbourne 76 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 77 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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Melbourne Zoo 77 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 77 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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Kayaking on Phillip Island 114 km

For a great way to start the day, join a kayaking breakfast tour at Phillip Island Holiday Hire, which starts with a 45-minute paddle from Cowes and includes a civilised breakfast at a cafe. There is also a Devonshire... Find out more

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Wildlife-watching - Phillip Island 119 km

Phillip Island is best known for the little penguins that come ashore every night (bookings essential). But spend time exploring the area and you will find Seal Rocks, with Australia’s largest colony of fur-seals,... Find out more

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Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff 127 km

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

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RACV Healesville Country Club 27 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) 46 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 69 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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Huntingdale Golf Club 73 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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Metropolitan Golf Club 73 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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Spring Valley Golf Club 73 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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Commonwealth Golf Club 75 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 76 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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Southern Golf Club 76 km

Southern is one of the Melbourne sandbelt’s least-known courses, but in recent years its star has been on the rise. The original layout was created by Sam Berriman, a British expat who began his working life in... Find out more

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Kingston Heath Golf Club 77 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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Black Spur Inn

Country-style restaurant.... Find out more

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Fraga’s Cafe

Stop for lunch or a coffee.... Find out more

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Marysville Country Bakery

Country-style bakery and cafe.... Find out more

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My Chef Mike

Restaurant serving excellent pizza.... Find out more

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Hargreaves Hill Brewing Company 37 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 42 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 69 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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Mountain Goat Brewery 73 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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Foster's Group (Abbotsford Brewery) 74 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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Matilda Bay Garage Brewery 76 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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2 Brothers Brewery 77 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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Grand Ridge Brewery 105 km

One of the country’s longest-running craft breweries began life as the Strzelecki Brewery in 1988, but operated for only a brief period before being re-branded as Grand Ridge under new ownership. Over the ensuing... Find out more

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Holgate Brewhouse 109 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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Red Hill Brewery 117 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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Keppel Hut camping area 11 km

The original Keppel Hut was built on this site around 1940 but burned down in 1983, as did its predecessor on Black Saturday 2009. At the time of writing, the hut was being rebuilt and an information board and toilet... Find out more

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The Farmyard camping area (walk-in camping) 14 km

To reach the small camping area at The Farmyard, you need to walk in from Jawbone carpark on Cerberus Rd along the steep Jawbone Creek Track, which will take you about an hour. The park’s ultimate physical... Find out more

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Cooks Mill camping area 15 km

This camping area is off Little River Rd in the centre of the park and can accommodate a handful of caravans. The Friends Nature Trail is an easy route through manna gum forest, while the Saint Bernards Track to Jawbone... Find out more

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Neds Gully camping area (walk-in camping) 17 km

Neds Gully is off Little River Rd at the northern entrance to the park; it’s a 50 m walk from the carpark to the campsites via a swingbridge. An easy walk leads from Neds Gully to Cooks Mill along Little River. If... Find out more

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Married Mens camping area (bush camping) (upper section) 17 km

This may well once have been a place where a fraternity of married men gathered to indulge in some bromance. Regardless, everyone is now welcome here – bar those towing caravans or camper trailers, which are not... Find out more

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Big River Camp camping area (upper section) 18 km

This is one of the first camping areas you’ll encounter after entering the upper section of Big River State Forest from Marysville. It’s also one of only 3 places in the area that can comfortably accommodate... Find out more

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Bull Creek camping area 18 km

From the Melba Hwy, turn east on Murrindindi Rd to the south of Devlins Bridge. The Bull Creek camping area is signposted off this road at the southern end of the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve.... Find out more

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The Ferns camping area 18 km

This camping area beside the Murrindindi River is signposted off Murrindindi Rd about 400 m north of the Bull Creek campground.... Find out more

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Reids camping area (bush camping) (upper section) 18 km

The turn-off to the Reids camping area is only a short distance east down Big River Rd from Big River Camp. Bring your own firewood to use in the fireplace provided. You can also build fires using deadwood collected from... Find out more

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Petroffs camping area (bush camping) (upper section) 19 km

There are a half-dozen or so camping spots in the upper part of Big River State Forest that can only be accessed with a 4WD. Petroffs is the first that you’ll come to if you’re travelling east along Big River... Find out more

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Crystal Brook Tourist Park 57 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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Wantirna Park 60 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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Glen Cromie Caravan Park 64 km

In a large, park-like setting on the banks of a stream, this is a popular caravan park during weekends and holiday periods. It is a great place for a family break and just a short drive from the greater Melbourne area.... Find out more

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Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park 71 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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Warragul Gardens Holiday Park 74 km

This owner-operated park has spacious grassy sites, good facilities and great amenities. However, the focal point is the magnificent gardens; these alone make the park worth a visit. Bookings are required in peak... Find out more

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BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park 76 km

Just 6 km south of Dandenong, this is a good quality park, ideal for those wanting to stay on the eastern side of Melbourne. It is very close to the Jayco factory. Bookings are required in peak times and a minimum-stay... Find out more

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Rawson Caravan Park 76 km

Close to Walhalla, Thomson Dam, the forests and the mountains, this little-known park is an excellent base for exploring the local area. It has good facilities, including a bistro. Bookings are required in peak periods... Find out more

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Goulburn River Tourist Park 76 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 85 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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Delderfield

Two private suites.... Find out more

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Black Spur Inn

Country-style suites.... Find out more

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Chestnut Glade Cottage

Two self-contained cottages.... Find out more

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Woodlands Rainforest 
Retreat

This award-winning retreat offers a beautiful and secluded nature escape, located between Healesville and Marysville. Sprawled across 16 hectares of rainforest, stringy-bark, peppermint and blackwood trees, it comprises... Find out more

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Alto Hotel on Bourke 78 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 132 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 138 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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MillDuck, Harcourt North 146 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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Apollo Bay Youth Hostel 229 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 232 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 243 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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Claires Rest Area 40 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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Yea East Rest Area 43 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 43 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 59 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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Gumbuya Rest Area 63 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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Bunyip Rest Area 65 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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Trawool Rest Area 67 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 79 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 79 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 82 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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Trafalgar Park Area 85 km

Middle of town Parking adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS S38 12.481 E146 09.272... Find out more

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Balmattum Rest Area 89 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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Traralgon Park Area 101 km

32 km E of Trafalgar (L) or 7 km W of Traralgon (R) Large area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S38 12.670 E146 29.230 ... Find out more

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Calder Woodburn Rest Area 110 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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Blind Joe Creek Park Area 115 km

21 km E of Traralgon (R) or 2 km W of Rosedale (L) Large grassy area just off the highway. GPS: S38 09.306 E146 45.890... Find out more

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Willows Rest Area 116 km

1 km NE of Rosedale (L) or 25 km SW of Sale (R) Large grassed area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S38 08.504 E146 47.481... Find out more

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Casey Weir Rest Area 116 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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Mokoan Rest Area 116 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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Nalinga Rest Area 120 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 129 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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Information Board Park Area 133 km

35 km SE of Bright (L) or 74 km NW of Omeo (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S36 56.432 E147 03.684... Find out more

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Dannys Lookout Park Area 134 km

51 km SE of Bright (L) or 58 km NW of Omeo (R) Small area adjacent to the road. GPS: S36 59.089 E147 06.849... Find out more

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Harrietville Park Area 136 km

Middle of town Small parking area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities. GPS: S36 53.404 E147 03.893 ... Find out more

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Stanhope Park Area 136 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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Myrtleford Park Area 136 km

West side of town Parking area on the west side of town. Good facilities. GPS: S36 33.276 E146 42.774... Find out more

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Pioneer Bridges Rest Area 137 km

T/O 19 km SE of Wangaratta (R) or 27 km NW of Myrtleford (L) Shady area on the bank of a river 2 kilometres south of the highway on the road to Markford. Good shade. GPS: S36 26.553 E146 31.448 ... Find out more

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Burgoigee Creek Rest Area 138 km

29 km SE of Wangaratta (L) or 17 km NW of Myrtleford (R) Small area adjacent to the highway. Good shade. GPS: S36 28.291 E146 35.691 ... Find out more

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Eurobin Rest Area 138 km

17 km SE of Myrtleford (L) or 15 km NW of Bright (R) Small area just off the highway at the old railway station site. Good facilities. GPS: S36 38.353 E146 51.794... Find out more

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Freeburgh Park Area 140 km

North side of town Parking area adjacent to the highway. GPS: S36 46.285 E147 01.768... Find out more

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Vaughan Springs Camp Area 141 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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