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If you love nature, you’ll love Wimmera Mallee. There is a never-ending selection of adventures to choose from — whether you enjoy peaceful fishing and quiet walks or wild four-wheel driving and water skiing.

Whatever way you enjoy your daily dose of nature, be prepared to have your breath taken away at every turn.

Day 1 of your Wimmera Mallee Nature Escape

Baileys Rocks

The first stop on your Nature Escape is Baileys Rocks, a cluster of giant green granite boulders in Dergholm State Park. The rock formation was formed over 500 million years ago and you can explore the area via the short 500m walk.

If you really want to immerse yourself in nature, there’s a campsite here too. Baileys Rocks is a great place for bushwalking, picnicking, and enjoying the sounds and sights of nature. Visit in spring for spectacular wildflowers.

Apsley Wetlands

West Wimmera Shire accounts for an incredible 25% of Victoria’s individual wetlands. In fact, there are over 3,000 wetlands in the whole Wimmera region.

Apsley Wetlands are one of the absolute must-visits and are a bird lovers paradise. The towering red gums and native bushland make a visit here even more special.

Apsley is the last town on the Wimmera Highway before you cross into South Australia so it’s the perfect place to stop if you’re heading to West Wimmera from South Australia.

Lake Bringalbert or Lake Charlegrark

A visit to Wimmera Mallee is not complete without a stop at a lake or two. Lake Bringalbert is a truly idyllic spot nestled amongst the native red gums. It’s great for yabbying, picnicking or just relaxing and taking in the surroundings. There’s also camping available.

If you enjoy fishing, head to Lake Charlegrark, with Fishing Monthly magazine praising the often-overlooked lake as being home to good catches of cod and recommending yabbies or worms as the bait of choice.

Kaniva Silo Art

Nature isn’t the only art you get to appreciate on this Nature Escape itinerary. The Kaniva Silo Art is one of 12 silos that dot the region, each transformed with giant artworks that bring the history of the region to life.

Painted by David Lee Pereira, Kaniva Silo features a giant depiction of the native Australian Hobby Bird surrounded by colourful flowers. Who knows, maybe you’ll spot the bird in real life too?

Edenhope and Lake Wallace

Lake Wallace is known for its great fishing and is stocked with redfin and trout. There’s also a 5.5km walking track around the lake which is the perfect way to enjoy the surroundings and spot the native birds of the area. Spend time here and you’re likely to see Black Swans, Ibis and the Great Crested Grebe.

If you love being on the water, Lake Wallace is the ideal place to enjoy water skiing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding as it’s usually tranquil and flat.

The lake is impacted by seasonal droughts but is a stunning place to visit year-round, giving a real taste of the Victorian outback. Be sure to browse the streets of Edenhope while you’re here, home to quirky places like the only Dachshund Museum in the Southern Hemisphere and the Old Court House.

If you want to break up your Nature Escape, Edenhope is the ideal halfway stop with camping and hotels available.

Day 2 of your Wimmera Mallee Nature Escape

Goroke Silo Art

Painted by bird-loving artist Geoffrey Carran this once-gray silo has been transformed with towering images of native Australian birds including the magpie and the kookaburra. It is a fitting tribute to the area, with the word ‘Goroke’ being the local Aboriginal word for magpie.

Little Desert 

Little Desert is a national park accessible via The Nhill-Harrow road. Its name tells you a lot about what to expect — the dry soils

and little water create a desert-like experience.

According to Parks Victoria, the best time to visit is between late winter and early summer when the temperatures are comfortable and the park is full of blossoms and wildflowers. There is also camping, bushwalks, birdwatching and four-wheel driving.

Pink Lake

Located in Dimboola, the Pink Lake is a place of Instagram dreams. But this is no filter. The pink colour of the water is caused by microscopic algae and the intensity of the pink varies depending on how much water is in the lake. This magical lake can be viewed easily from the rest stop beside the highway and there’s also a pathway that leads down to the lake’s edge.

Nhill

Finish off your adventure with a stop at Nhill, the perfect place to refuel the car and yourself before heading back home. Explore the boardwalk from Jaypex Park across Nhill Swamp (often dry) to the permanent water of Nhill Lake. A great place for water recreation, birdwatching and picnicking.

Thank you for visiting Wimmera Mallee

Be sure to come and visit us again; with our Three Day Silo Art Trail, Art Lovers Escape and Five-day Stay and Play itinerary, there’s still plenty to discover.