Echuca - historic, fastinating & entertaining

Echuca - only a 45 minute drive and well worth it!

Kennington Reservoir

Picturesque Kennington Reservoir is surrounded by reserves of indigenous vegetation and linked to a 1.36km sealed walking and cycling track that encircles it. The surrounding bush allows for peaceful bush walking.

The reservoir is a very popular fishing spot. Rainbow trout are regularly stocked by Fisheries Victoria, Redfin, and Tench are also good catches. The shoreline is accessible to anglers and deeper sections of water are along the northern bank. Fishing is not permitted in an established conservation area at the southern end of the lake, which offers a hide for bird-watching enthusiasts.

Kennington Reservoir may be subject to occasional closures due to poor water quality.

Facilities

• BBQs, picnic tables and toilets

Wedderburn

The quiet rural town of Wedderburn was once a populous and very rich goldmining settlement and retains one of Victoria's few remaining active goldmines. Wedderburn is located 240Kms north of Melbourne.

Presently, the town is mainly a farming community. It is still a popular spot for hopefuls with gold detectors who are still finding the occasional nugget.

One of the major tourist attractions is Hard Hill Reserve. On site is an original battery used for crushing ore and removing gold from the ore back in the Gold Rush era. A puddler is also located at Hard Hill. A demonstration of it working can be seen during the annual Gold and Heritage Festival held round about the end of February and the beginning of March.

Things to do

• See Hard Hill
• Go fossicking
• Explore the quaint town with its unique shops
• See the rural land of Victoria
• Sample some of the local produce

Bendigo, Victoria

Known as the ceramic centre of Victoria - now a major regional city - displays an opulent heritage, and is considered one of the most impressive examples of 19th century 'boom town' architecture in the country.

The gleaming-white Alexandra Fountain, magnificent post office and law courts, the ornate Shamrock Hotel as well as numerous shops, hotels, churches and ostentatious mansions are evidence of huge wealth generated by mines deep under the city.

The area is home to many wineries and their exceptional and diverse wines guaranteed to satisfy any palate. Tour just some of them to indulge in some fine gold fields wines.

Getting there - Just under 2 hours from Melbourne on the Calder Highway. V/Line trains operate daily services to Bendigo.

Things to do

• Visit the restored Central Deborah mine, take a high speed ride to the bottom of the main shaft
• Enjoy browsing through the Dja Dja Aboriginal Association Museum
• View a collection of Australian art dating back to 1850 at the Bendigo Art Gallery
• Central Deborah gold mine - discover some gold mining history
• Take a ride on Bendigo's talking tram, an hour long journey of Bendigo's history
• Explore the Dragon Museum, features worlds oldest & longest Chinese dragon 'Sun loong'

Terrick Terrick National Park

Situated north of Bendigo, this park contains the most significant remaining area of the once extensive native grasslands of northern Victoria. The wooded and open grasslands are home to over 100 species of birds, including the Plains wanderer, Grey-crowned babbler, Bush stone curlew, Barking owl, Spotted nightjar and Brolga. The park is also home to a variety of native mammals and reptiles such as the Black wallaby, Fat-tailed dunnart, Striped legless lizard, Hooded scaly foot and the Tree goanna.

Flora & FaunaThe park supports over 200 species of native flora including many rare and threatened species. Significant flora includes buloke, rock correa, snowy mint bush, swan greenhood, woolly cloak fern dwarf bluebush and rye beetle-grass. The plains area of the park carry a grassy woodland community dominated by white cypress-pine, yellow box and grey box. The newly acquired grassland property supports the largest known Victorian populations of the endangered species Leptorhynchos scabrus, Swainsona murrayna, Prauphyllum suaveolens and Panicum laevinode. Through further surveys this list of significant species will almost certainly increase.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities Camping Ground, Carpark, Picnic Area, Public Toilets, Information Booth(s)

Activities Birdwatching, Bushwalking, Camping, Picnicking, Walking

Kooyoora State Park

European settlement of the area was established by the 1840s and mining for alluvial gold had begun by the late 1850s. Substantial finds in the late 1860s began a gold rush which lasted several years. Relics of settlement history can be seen mostly in the eastern section of the park

Flora & FaunaArboreal mammals and tree-nesting birds live in the open forests. Rainbow bee-eaters nest in the granite soils and wedge-tailed eagles among the granite tors. Kangaroos and wallabies browse the native grasslands. Areas with shrubby understorey and abundant ground litter give shelter to many ground-dwelling animals such as the yellow-footed antechinus. Some 130 bird species have also been recorded.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities BBQ Area, Camping Ground, Picnic Area, Public Toilets

Attractions Caves, Lookout

Activities Animal Viewing, Camping, Walking

Displays Native Wildlife

One Tree Hill Regional Park

One Tree Hill Regional Park (1090 hectares), one of Bendigo's major open space recreational areas, is known for its colourful wildflower displays featuring wattles, wax-flowers and a variety of daisies. The large varieties of orchids found in the park are of great interest to wildflower enthusiasts.

The One Tree Hill Regional Park is now a part of the Greater Bendigo National Park.

Flora & FaunaNative fauna found in the park includes wallabies, lace monitors and other species including the rare Brush-tailed Phascogale. Many bird species can also be observed.

The forest is a result of 100 years of regrowth including open forests of Red Stringybark, Red Ironbark, Yellow Gum, Red Box and Long-leaf Box. An understorey of shrubs, annuals and grasses is also present.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities BBQ Area, Carpark, Picnic Area, Public Toilets

Attractions Lookout

Activities Cycling, Walking

Heathcote Wine Region

The region, like so many in Victoria was primarily used for sheep grazing in its earliest white history, followed by gold mining and then in the twentieth century, wine production.

Heathcote sits on the north side of the Great Dividing Range at elevations between 160m and 320m. The soil, known as Cambrian is red and deep with good water holding capacity.

Rainfall is evenly distributed between the seasons and the temperature range is defined as temperate, with cooling winds originating in the south.

The Heathcote region is a premium shiraz producing area, home to some big brands in Australian Shiraz. Wild Duck Creek Estate is home of the famed and expensive Duck Muck. Jasper Hill Vineyard uses organic growing techniques to produce premium fruit for it's wines and Red Edge is a fine producer of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The local tourism industry caters well to the wine traveller, with a range of accommodation and eateries in the main town of Heathcote and surrounds.

Bendigo Reional Park

Diamond Hill Historic Area displays evidence of a range of gold mining activities from last century.

The area is reserved so you can discover more about Bendigo’s history. Mullock, mud, dust, tailings, water-races and erosion form a realistic picture of early mining activities.

Remnant gardens and the foundations of old buildings can also be found. In fact, Diamond Hill once supported a bustling township with hotels, churches, cottages and a gold commissioner’s camp.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities Picnic Area

Attractions Extensive Gardens, Wildlife

Activities Gold Fossicking, Walking

Displays Native Wildlife

Whipstick State Park

They are the product of intensive use over the past 150 years from gold mining, land selection, forestry, and eucalyptus oil production. Many significant relics of these industries, particularly the gold mining and eucalyptus oil industries, remain in the parks today.

The Whipstick State Park is now a part of the Greater bendigo National Park.

Flora & FaunaSongbirds such as the grey shrike-thrush are numerous and are among the 170 species of birds likely to be seen or heard in the parks. The mammals you are most likely to see (usually early in the morning and later in the evening) are the eastern grey kangaroo, black wallaby and echidna.

The main vegetation types within Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks within the Greater Bendigo Park are: Whipstick mallee, with blue, green and bull mallees, and in the north of the parks, Kamarooka mallee. Grey box and red ironbark forests characteristic of north-central Victoria

Facilities

The Whipstick Environment Centre has accommodation for schools and environmental study groups.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities BBQ Area, Camping Ground, Picnic Area

Attractions Wildlife

Activities 4W Driving, Birdwatching, Gold Fossicking, Horse Riding

Kamarooka State Park

The park conserves some of north-central Victoria's outstanding natural features. It is the product of intensive use over the past 150 years from gold mining, land selection, forestry, and eucalyptus oil production. Many significant relics of these industries, particularly the gold mining and eucalyptus oil industries, remain in the parks today.

Flora & FaunaSongbirds such as the grey shrike-thrush are numerous and are among the 170 species of birds likely to be seen or heard in the parks. The mammals you are most likely to see (usually early in the morning and later in the evening) are the eastern grey kangaroo, black wallaby and echidna.

Site Description National Park

Site Facilities BBQ Area, Camping Ground, Picnic Area

Activities Gold Fossicking, Horse Riding, Walking

General Pet Friendly

Bendigo Wine Region

The Bendigo region is a small but growing region with many fine boutique wineries. The modern industry emerged in the late 1960s and grew rapidly over the next 25 years. There are three sub-regions within Bendigo region; Granite Slopes is to the south east and includes the towns of Mandurang, Harcourt and Castlemaine; Loddon Valley to the north west has a cluster of wineries around Kingower and Marong and Golden Waters sub-region to the south west with the towns of Bet Bet and Maryborough.

The first grapes were planted in the region in 1856 just after the start of the massive goldrushes which brought tens of thousands of hopeful diggers from all over the world to seek their fortunes.They brought with them a lust for gold, but also the wine and food knowledge of Europe.

The region is divided by a number of rivers and creeks the most significant being the Loddon, Avoca and Campaspe rivers. The region is gently undulating with brown loams deposited by the rivers and sandy granitic soils on higher ground.

Although the latest technology is used to ensure consistently high quality wine, visitors will not find mechanical harvesters, tank farms or massive metal catwalks. Traditional hands on techniques include open stainless steel fermentation, small barrel maturation in French and American oak, egg white fining and hand bottling and labeling.

The Bendigo Region is warm and freindly, welcoming travellers. There is an fantastic range of accommodation, restaurants,cafes, and many a cellar door. The Bendigo Winemaker's Festival at harvest end and Bendigo Heritage Uncorked in October middles the region's wine, food and heritage.

Features Wine Varieties

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Shiraz
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Viognier

Heathcote

South-east on the McIvor Highway, Heathcote is a quaint town waiting to be found. During the goldrush era the area grew to a population of 35,000 supporting 22 hotels, 3 breweries, 2 flour mills and a bacon factory. Many of these historical sites can still be seen today.

Walk through the box ironbark forests surrounding Heathcote. Discover native flora and fauna in their natural habitat and a realm of wildflowers.

Visit Lake Eppalock which holds more than 300,000 megalitres of water. Inspect the pumping station which lifts water 120 metres by pumps connected to hydraulic turbines.

The wine region of Heathcote is regarded as the finest area for shiraz in Australia. Check out some of the many superb wineries that dot the surrounding landscape.

Things to do

• Wander through the miniature gorges of the Pink Cliffs and see evidence of years of mining
• Visit Mount Ida Lookout and enjoy an unencumbered view of a vast area of Central Victoria
• Heathcote Bush Market - first Saturday of the month
• Emu Inn Restaurant, B&B and Wine Centre - a showcase of over 75 local wines. The
• restaurant and luxury B&B are recommended by the Age Good Food Guide
• Meet winemakers and taste at cellar doors at one of the nearby wineries

Inglewood

Inglewood is a historic goldmining town situated on the Calder Highway 45 km north west of Bendigo and 195 km west of Melbourne. It is famed as one of the most important and lucrative gold mining towns of the 1850s and 1860s goldrushes.

The town has many historic buildings dating back to its goldrush days. Now the town primarily acts as a service town for the surrounding district which boasts some lovely wineries and picturesque state and national parks.

Things to do

• Fish & waterski or sample the local wines at the Water Wheel Vineyard at Bridgewater-on-Loddon 8 km se of Inglewood
• Visit the eucalyptus factory on Eucy Still Road where production has taken place for the last 100 years - west of Inglewood towards Melville Caves.
• Stroll around the many historic buildings dating back to the mid 1800s including St Marys Church of England, Kingower St Augustine's Church of England, St Mary's Anglican Church Kingower
• Enjoy a picinic & fine wines at the Passing Clouds Winery 11 km west of Inglewood at Kingower
• See the Blanche Barkly gold nugget (49.5kg) and sample great wines at Blanche Barkly Wines
• Enjoy the tranquility of Kangderaar Vineyard in Kooyoora State Park

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