KERANG Victoria’sCOHUNA Nature Based Tourism Destination... KOONDROOK Visitor Guide Victoria’s Nature Based Tourism Destination... Visitor Guide THE REGION... to Mildura Kyalite to Hay Kyalite State Letwa NEW Forest State Forest Lake SOUTH Coonaroop Piangil Tooleybuc WALES ➘ to Adelaide 506km Moulamein Lake Poon Boon Koraleigh Edward River Nyah to Deniliquin 42km 87km Werai Murray Downs Lake Niemur River State Forest Swan Hill Murray Downs d Donald R / l il Wakool River H Murray River an w S Campbells to Donald Island State Wakool 115km Lake Boga Forest Lake Tutchewop Loddon River Murrabit Lake Whymoul VICTORIA Kangaroo Lake Lake Lake Lalbert Lake Charm Cullen M Third Barham u r Lake The ra Koondrook y V Marsh a Middle to Deniliquin Lalbert lle Lake Duck y Gunbower 87km Sandhill H Reedy State Forest Lake w 26km Lake Lake Lake Bael Lake y Bael Elizabeth Koondrook to State Forest Kerang 23km Moama d R 33km g an Cohuna er K Gunbower t r Johnson y National Park o w Swamp o H Quambatook B G y u n e l l b a o w V e r Hird n C o Swamp Leitchville re d e d k o L Kow Gunbower to Melbourne Avoca River Swamp via Bendigo Lake 285km Meran to Echuca Mt Hope Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre 90 King George Street, Cohuna. Phone: 03 5456 2047 Web: www.visitkck.com.au For further information contact: Gannawarra Shire Council - 47 Victoria St, PO Box 287, KERANG VIC 3579. Phone: (03) 5450 9333 2 www.visitkck.com.au VISITOR GUIDE CONTENTS WELCOME Our towns ______________________________4 Our lakes and rivers _______________________9 Welcome to the Gannawarra Shire! Boat ramps and launching places _____________14 Just a three hour drive from Melbourne and you can RV free camping and dump points ____________14 experience a region loaded with natural features, Our Industry Manufacturing _________________________ rivers, lakes, wetlands and forests. 15 Agriculture ___________________________17 Your perfect destination for relaxing on the river Activities close to nature __________________26 bank, water skiing with friends or just soaking up the Gunbower National Park __________________28 ambience of the majestic red gum forests. Other forests and reserves _________________30 Visitors can choose from the many freshwater lakes, The Kerang Lakes ________________________31 the Murray River or the Gunbower Creek to create Touring Map ____________________________32 a unique holiday . close to nature, close to water. Explore the Murray River further ____________34 Be sure to visit the many towns across the region, VISITOR SERVICES all with their appealing qualities and welcoming Activity guide ___________________________18 hospitality. Sir John Gorton Library & Info Centre ________22 There are many attractions such as beautiful golf Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre _______23 courses, red gum sawmills, national parks, wetlands, Major Events ____________________________35 diverse shopping centres and special places of Dining _________________________________36 interest. Accommodation _________________________43 Visitor Service summary ___________________52 This visitor guide has been developed to assist you Doctors and health services ________________52 with your next adventure into northern Victoria – ‘Murray Region'. MAPS Kerang ________________________________53 Enjoy the change of pace and the opportunity to get Cohuna ________________________________54 close to nature. There is no time to hurry . just time Koondrook ____________________________55 to relax and have fun! Murrabit _______________________________56 Quambatook ___________________________57 Lalbert ________________________________58 Leitchville ______________________________59 Distances Barham (km) Koondrook Kerang Cohuna Swan Hill 84 59 91 Echuca 87 96 63 Bendigo 151 129 127 Ballarat 251 226 243 Melbourne 290 285 266 Adelaide 631 606 639 Sydney 805 830 829 www.visitkck.com.au 3 OUR TOWNS Kerang Located on the banks of the Loddon River between Swan Hill and Echuca, Kerang is a regional service centre with a catchment of more than 14,000 people. The Kerang commercial centre offers an attractive landscaped shopping centre including major supermarket chains, hotels and many speciality stores. The Kerang Lakes to the north of Kerang are some of Victoria’s best recreational lakes hosting hundreds of visitors annually. Lake Charm and Kangaroo Lake are large, freshwater lakes popular with water skiers and fishermen. The lakes are popular with boating enthusiasts and regularly host the Victorian Ski Racing Titles and powerboat races. The lakes, waterways and wetlands are valuable environmental assets that provide habitat for the many species of water birds including the water bird featured in the Gannawarra Shire Council logo – the Ibis. Many rivers, lakes and wetlands are accessible from Kerang which is a popular destination for fishing, camping, bushwalking, bird watching and outdoor recreation. A range of local accommodation options are available including motels, caravan parks and guest homes, along with local dining in the many hotels and cafes. Kerang has a strong mix of retail shops and manufacturing industries. Businesses such as Mac’s Shortbread Company, Faucet Tapwear, Pickering Transport, Dunstan Farmers Engineering and Kerfab are located in Kerang. The area is agriculturally focused with a diverse enterprise mix, including livestock, dairy, hay and grain, horticulture, viticulture and stonefruit. One of Victoria’s larger vineyards, owned by the renowned Brown Brothers, is located north of Kerang at Kangaroo Lake. The Sir John Gorton Library in Kerang is a great local resource and provides internet access and visitor information. The Library hosts many exhibitions and displays in the exhibition foyer. Attractions include the old water tower for a scenic view of Kerang, Kerang Museum, the Kerang Lakes and Loddon River, and day trips to nearby towns. Local events are held throughout the year including horse racing, show 'n' shine, an art show and sporting events such as tennis and lawn bowls. Be sure to check out the community and tourism event guides. Cohuna Cohuna, situated on the Murray Valley Highway between Echuca and Swan Hill, is a bustling township with a strong commercial centre. The picturesque main street is situated opposite the Gunbower Creek (which forms Gunbower Island) and is one of the prettiest places along the Murray River. With the Murray River only a stone’s throw away, Cohuna caters for fishing, camping, bushwalking and outdoor recreation in a magnificent natural environment. 4 www.visitkck.com.au OUR TOWNS Cohuna The majestic Gunbower National Park and Gunbower State Forest provide a picturesque natural bush setting for campers who regularly visit the area. The majority of visitors spend time relaxing in their riverside camps, bushwalking, fishing, bird watching or canoeing along the creek. Gunbower Creek is popular for water skiing, just upstream of the town or for a more relaxed water experience visitors take a Cohuna Nature Cruise. For accommodation, visitors will receive a warm welcome from the motel, caravan park, guest houses or hotel/motel, all located close to shops and services. Cohuna has some great dining and coffee shops, together with a wide range of retail premises. Golfers will not be disappointed with one of Australia’s unique golf courses carved out of the red gum forest. Home course of Australian champion Stuart Appleby, the Cohuna golf course features towering red gums that host a plethora of wildlife and birdlife. Local attractions include the local historical society’s collection of memorabilia and old wares, Island Road drive and Cohuna Art Gallery and Rock and Roll Museum. Cohuna has a strong dairy industry on the riverine plains and supports related industries including Northern Herd Development, AWMA, Mawson’s Concrete and Quarry Products, Ellwaste, G & M Poly Irrigation, Pentagon Feeds and Archard’s Irrigation. Cohuna is renowned Australia-wide as a producer of advanced irrigation components. Koondrook Koondrook is a historic village on the Murray River where paddle steamers and river transport were a hive of activity in the early 1900’s. Today Koondrook is a growing river town supporting a strong tourism sector from the Gunbower State Forest and nearby Gunbower National Park. Established in 1889, Arbuthnot Sawmills has been supplying quality timber from the red gum forests for over 100 years. The Koondrook Wharf was opened in November 2016 and is a contemporary design that allows paddle steamers and large water craft to berth and pick up passengers. The floating pontoon is also suited to recreational pursuits such as kayaking and fishing. Constructed alongside where the original wharf was located the new facilities will also cater for a range of community events in the picturesque river precinct. Back in the early 1900’s the Koondrook wharf was a major link to the river towns of Swan Hill and Echuca. The "Historic Walk" of the town can be enjoyed at any time and is designed to help visitors reflect on a time when the paddlesteamers and steam trains were a common mode of transport. Visit the old Kerang–Koondrook tramway or explore the red gum statue walk www.visitkck.com.au 5 OUR TOWNS Koondrook along the Murray River and see the magnificent red gum sculptures. Just out of town on the southern boundary is the Gunbower Island Canoe Trail and forest walking track. Take time to try both of these great attractions. Further tracks and trails are planned! A trip to Koondrook isn’t complete without a cruise on the “Wetlander”. Take in