Discover Swifts Creek

In Swifts Creek, artistic discoveries meet riverside trails and views across the Tambo Valley. Poet’s Walk pairs a poem with a waterside stroll; the Town to Sheltons Lane trail offers views of river flats, while the Caravan Park to McLarty’s Gate trail looks out over farmland. When planning your trip, you can choose your own focus among art, walks and nature watching.

Art and stories in town

Great Alpine Gallery presents a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. At various times of year, it also offers workshops led by local and visiting artists. If you’d like to include art alongside trails and scenery during your stay, the gallery offers a distinct cultural focus. The workshops complement the exhibitions with a hands-on perspective on art; their dates vary throughout the year.

The Poet’s Walk has a special literary connection: it was inspired by “A River’s Mark”, a poem by the late artist John Butler. The one-kilometre trail passes six cairns engraved with the six stanzas of a poem by John Butler. If you’re travelling with children, you can discover the stanzas together as you follow the trail. At Mosaic Seat near Sheltons Lane, another local collaboration adds to the story: artists from Great Alpine Gallery created it with support from children at Swifts Creek Primary School.

Trails along Swifts Creek and the Tambo River

Poet’s Walk starts at the Great Alpine Road bridge. From there, it follows Swifts Creek to its confluence with the Tambo River and ends at the bridge on McMillan Street. Its clear sequence of river, confluence and engraved poem stanzas brings together walking and a literary theme. At one kilometre long, it’s easy to include this trail as a separate walking option in your day’s plans.

The Town to Sheltons Lane trail offers a different perspective. It follows a path parallel to the Great Alpine Road, from the McMillan Street intersection to Sheltons Lane. Along the way, there are sweeping views of the river flats and the high, forested ridges above the Tambo Valley. If you particularly enjoy open valley views and forested ridgelines, you can choose this trail for a scenic outing.

The Caravan Park to McLarty’s Gate trail starts at the caravan park at the McMillan Street bridge over the Tambo River. It runs for one kilometre to a farm gate on the opposite side of the road. The quiet country road follows the river and offers views of rustic wooden fences and farmland. Its rural character sets it apart from the poem stanzas of Poet’s Walk and the sweeping valley views of the Town to Sheltons Lane trail.

River views and nature watching

Along the Caravan Park to McLarty’s Gate trail, you can look for platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) along the riverbanks. Early morning and evening are considered particularly suitable times, especially during the cooler months. This is an opportunity to watch for them, not a guarantee of a sighting. Families may enjoy looking towards the banks and water and keeping an eye out together.

The different trails give you a clear basis for choosing: poetry and art, views across the Tambo Valley, or a walk overlooking the river and farmland.

More destinations at the same level: Tyabb, Sarsfield, Fitzroy, Pomborneit, Creswick, Blairgowrie, Merrigum, Thomastown.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.