It’s become increasingly apparent that our children are more focused on their social media feeds and Xbox Live than they are bothered with outdoor activities. Danielle Wilcock provides some alternative trips the whole family can enjoy and they’re all within a few hours’ drive. So let’s get your children off the phones, games and tablets and outdoors among the bush, dirt and sites of significance our region has to offer.
Kings Billabong – 10 minutes from Mildura
If canoeing is something your children love, or it’s an activity you’re keen for them to experience, then the answer could quite literally be on your doorstep. Psyche Bend at Kings Billabong is home to Victoria’s first ever all-accessible floating pontoon and canoe launcher.
The facility provides a stable platform on the static jetty and a secure ramp to help launch canoers into the water. It’s particularly beneficial to those with mobility limitations or for young canoers. It’s secured with hand rails and supportive rollers that help guide people easily in and out of the water. The accessible canoe launcher is located on the northern side of the King Billabong feeder channel, about 100 metres from Psyche Pumps. Easiest access to the canoe launcher is via Psyche Pumps Road.
Canoes and kayaks can be hired from various suppliers in the Mildura area and there is easy access to the Psyche Bend and carpark right next to the canoe launcher.
So for parents wanting to venture onto the water this summer holiday, but want to do so safely and easily, Kings Billabong could be an ideal summer holiday spot.
There is ample native flora and fauna to admire and experience, as well as some pretty incredible Murray sunsets and sunrises for those willing to stretch the day out a little.
Prepare a picnic and make the most the glorious Sunraysia sunshine with your family.
Wyperfeld National Park – 2h 50mins
The Wyperfeld National Park is undoubtedly Mallee country.
A four wheel drive is absolutely a necessity in order to truly enjoy and explore the park, so it would pay to organise your trip in the right vehicle.
There are several different camping sites within the national park, one of the most popular is the Wonga Camp Area. Located at the southern end of the park, this is one of the largest campgrounds with plenty of space and facilities for large and also small groups.
There is an information hut that provides ample information about the park itself and the many walking and off road tracks to explore.
The native flora and fauna within the park is in abundance and kangaroos have been known to frequent the various campsites at dusk.
There’s also the Casuarina campgrounds, which provide pit toilets, tables and fire pits. An overnight stay in the park provides some bush serenity and amazing night skies.
Murray-Sunset National Park – 2h
The Murray-Sunset National Park is the second largest national park in Victoria, located between Ouyen and Mildura and the South Australian border.
Here you can explore the islands of the Murray River by four-wheel drive during dry weather and camp under the starry Australian skies.
This remote and unspoilt corner of northwest Victoria is home to the famously photographic Pink Lakes.
The area draws photographers from far and wide, so take the family along and get some picture perfect snaps.
There are also fantastic walking trails and the campground means you can incorporate an overnight stay. Marvel at the local native wildlife as you wander – there are plenty of kangaroos, emus and echidnas to keep your eye out for.
If bird watching is your thing, then be on the lookout for Rumped Parrots, Mallee Ringnecks, Spotted Pardalotes and White-Fronted Chats who all call this region home.
Turning it into a competition could be a really great way to get your kids more involved. Whoever spots the most birds wins. It’s a great way to get them off the technology and amongst the outdoors, enjoying what nature has to offer.
It’s a really great place to get away from it all and enjoy the serenity of the bush.
Go camping, bushwalking and birdwatching in the wide, open landscape.
If camping isn’t your thing or you’re seeking an alternative experience, then book a stay in the Shearers Quarters cottage.
The cottage was once the sleeping quarters of men who herded livestock through the region.
The self-contained cottage sleeps up to 10 people and offers some delightful home comforts, including a gas fridge and bathroom with hot shower.
It’s worth noting though that there is a limited supply of non-potable water for showering and drinking water needs to be supplied by yourself.
This is definitely a rustic experience and you will need to supply all your own linen, cooking equipment, food and also firewood.
Explore the dry forest and woodlands as you take a bushwalk along the 3.5km Sunset Nature Walk, which begins at the camping area.
You can see a variety of dry country birdlife in the region, including the endangered Malleefowl.
On a warm afternoon, you may be lucky enough to spot a bearded dragon or Mallee dragon basking in the sun.
Fletchers Lake, Coomealla – 40mins
Fletchers Lake is an oval-shaped natural lake or basin located about 20km north west of Mildura. Its residual waters naturally link it with other lakes in the greater Murray River floodplain system.
Depending on conditions, backwaters from the Murray River feed the lake via Tuckers Creek and its tributary of Fletchers Creek.
For most of the year, Fletchers Lake is a dry salt pan but after some rain it transforms it into an ephemeral puddle that’s 2km wide and a few centimetres deep. During the summer months, when rain is scarce, it can still be enjoyed. There’s plenty of local birds to spot and with a light breeze the scent of salt is apparent. The sunsets and sunrises are truly incredible and afford the most amazing opportunities for budding photographers.
The landscape around the lake also makes for some good bush walking or off road activities. Fletchers Lake really is an overlooked part of the region’s landscape and it’s merely a short drive from Mildura.
Wentworth Gaol – 45mins
Work began on Old Wentworth Gaol in 1879 with building finalised in 1881.
It’s a small, single-storey brick gaol with a unique bluestone trim. The design was engineered by colonial architect James Barnett and was the first of the Australian designed gaols.
The gaol replaced over-crowded lock-ups and was used by the state until its closure in 1927. After the doors closed and it was no longer used as a gaol, the building was utilised by the local school.
It had this purpose until 1963 and today, because of its remarkable condition, it’s open to public.
Visitors claim to have heard ghostly voices and a photograph taken during a tour shows an unexplained white haze which seems to be an apparition of two figures.
If you want to immerse yourself in 19th century prison life and get a feel for what it was like to be incarcerated back then, Wentworth Goal is perfect.
