Winter in Loddon Valley

Published on 26 May 2020

Through all the challenges this year has thrown at us, one thing is clear: the outdoors is never cancelled, and there is no better way to gain mental and physical health than enjoying nature. Loddon Valley has so much to offer when it comes to outstanding natural beauty and what better way to leave everyday stresses behind this winter than to explore Victoria’s backyard!

Our National and State parks offer an abundance of space and opportunity to reconnect with Mother Nature. Immerse yourself in unique forests, wetlands, waterways, 460-million-year-old granite outcrops and rare grasslands. Pitch a tent or roll out your swag at one of the many camping sites available, and take in a few million stars overnight. The stars in the Loddon Valley are visible from the horizon, and the curve of the earth can be seen from the top of Kooyoora State Park. The peak of Mount Kooyoora also showcases 360-degree views across the valley and, on the journey up – if you look closely – you will find the smooth, shallow rock wells used by local Indigenous people to collect water.

The Loddon Valley has one of the state’s most extensive water systems – with wetlands, lakes and Victoria’s second longest river. Experienced canoers can set their own pace on any of the Loddon Valley’s picturesque waterways, from the Loddon River in the south to the Boort Wetlands in the north. The recent launch of three self-guided canoe trails along the Serpentine Creek, the Laanecoorie Reservoir and the Loddon River, means there’s the opportunity for anyone and everyone to try a spot of peaceful paddling.

Little Lake Boort, a great spot for canoeing and boating, also offers a 3.7km loop around the lake for walking or riding where the Dja Dja Wurrung people would once camp, and where well-preserved middens and scar trees are still evident. The boardwalk, completed in 2012, offers a wonderful opportunity to view bird and animal life.

The wetland area hosts many species including Fairy Martins, Black Swans, Dusky Moorhens, turtles, water rats and at least six types of frog. Further afield, many rare and endangered birds and animals have taken sanctuary in the Loddon Valley – some, like the Plains Wanderer, that exist nowhere else in the world.

The Loddon Valley is the perfect place to indulge in a little birdwatching, with Terrick Terrick National Park considered a real hotspot for twitching. Australian Ringneck, Gilberts Whistler, Reigels, Painted and Black Honeyeaters and even Wedge-tail Eagles are on view throughout the seasons.

With 6,700 square kilometres of State and National Parks, pristine waterways, forests, mountains and farmland to explore, there has never been a better time to switch off from everyday life, reconnect with nature and visit the Loddon Valley.

For more information about Loddon Valley, contact the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5494 3489 or www.visitloddonvalley.com.au