Discover Campaspe Shire

Campaspe Shire has many different sides: in Echuca, the Murray River and the history of paddle steamers shape the visitor experience; elsewhere, attractions range from gold rush history and murals to gardens and wetlands. You can combine nature trails and water activities with cultural experiences and visits to museums. This variety can also help guide your search for a holiday rental: first consider which places and experiences you want to focus on during your trip.

Gardens, Trails and Landscapes

The Gargarro Regional Botanic Gardens in Girgarre feature a four-hectare sensory garden with native plants. They are presented through the five senses of taste, touch, sight, smell and sound. A water feature and a lookout offer views of the natural garden landscape and provide information about the region’s plant life. Girgarre also has a sound walk in a park-like setting.

When choosing a trail, it’s worth considering its length and layout. The 19-kilometre Waranga Rail Trail connects Rushworth with Murchison and passes Waranga Basin, bushland and farmland. The family-friendly Girgarre-Stanhope Rail Trail is five kilometres long and connects Girgarre with Stanhope. The Campaspe River Walk in Echuca is also five kilometres long, but it is an out-and-back route on a sealed walking and cycling path. It is designed for walkers, joggers and cyclists. Banyule State Forest in Echuca has a six-kilometre out-and-back trail through a network of paths among mature eucalyptus trees.

Water and rock formations also shape the choices. Ghow (Kow) Swamp is a permanent wetland with impressive views and is popular with photographers. Gunbower Island offers opportunities for camping, canoeing, walking and birdwatching. Torrumbarry is a popular destination for water sports, fishing and camping. Mount Hope Nature Conservation Reserve consists of seven small granite outcrops suitable for climbing and abseiling.

River Heritage and Stories from the Towns

The Port of Echuca Discovery Centre combines a river port with history. Run by Campaspe Shire Council, it includes a museum, historic buildings, displays of equipment, demonstrations and rides on authentic paddle steamers. The steamers depart daily from Echuca Wharf, and guided tours are also offered daily. Check the latest departure and tour times before making plans. At the Torrumbarry Weir Interpretive Centre, a photo exhibition shows the importance of lock systems to the Murray River and water conservation.

In Lockington, the Lockington & District Living Heritage Complex, a local history museum and resource centre, tells the story of the district. Historical exhibits include a shearing shed, a blacksmith’s shop, a dairy shed and a historic classroom, as well as a PMG hut, a Masonic lodge, a restored tram, a pop-top caravan, locally built tractors and a steam car. The Rochester Sports Museum has a different focus: it displays memorabilia from recent sporting history, including items associated with Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Merv Hughes, Greg Norman and Sharelle McMahon.

You can encounter gold rush history in Rushworth and Whroo. The Rushworth Easter Heritage Festival takes place every year on Easter Saturday. It showcases local businesses, tourism offerings, produce, crafts, talents and skills. Whroo was established in 1853 as a village at the foot of Balaclava Hill, after more than 20,000 ounces of gold were discovered there. Today, it is a ghost town with walking trails and a picnic area. The Balaclava Gold Mine is closed to the public, but can be viewed from lookouts around the site. Check access information again before setting out.

There’s also plenty to discover around town: Tongala has more than 30 murals in its central shopping area, and a walking tour of the award-winning street art is also available. In Stanhope, the Montevideo-Maru mural in the town centre commemorates the victims of the greatest maritime disaster in Australian history.

Planning Activities and Regional Experiences

If you like hands-on activities, TwistED Science in Echuca offers interactive science experiences. These include augmented reality experiences about water, a reaction test, marble runs and tubes, designing and testing paper planes, and a room for making soap bubbles. Farmers’ markets are held regularly in the small towns and villages of Campaspe Shire. Depending on the market, you can buy fresh produce, preserves and local drinks, as well as arts and crafts directly from local growers, bakers and craftspeople; live music is also part of the offering. Market dates and times vary.

These different areas of interest can help you decide where to look for a holiday rental: would you like to spend your days mainly on river experiences and museums, trails and nature, or the history of the towns? Make your choice based on the outings you have in mind, bearing in mind that the experiences mentioned are spread across different places in the Shire.

Discover more destinations: Kanyapella, Wharparilla, Hepburn Shire, Cardinia Shire, Yarra Ranges Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Frankston City, Darebin City

For the main travel overview: Victoria.