gunbower national park

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Gunbower National Park

Visitor GuideThe 8892ha Gunbower National Park is a unique and diverse wonderland of waterbirds, wildlife and

aquatic plants. With a backdrop of the Murray River, majestic River Red Gums and sandy beaches, the

park is ideal for camping and a range of water-based recreation.

The Victorian Government created GunbowerNational Park, along with other new andexpanded parks, in June 2010 to protect andenhance the River Red Gum forests in Victoria.

River Red Gum forests have high natural, culturaland economic values. These forests are underincreasing pressure from climate change, droughtand reduced water flows in the northern rivers.

Protecting this precious environment relies onbalancing the economic and recreational activitieswith preserving its natural beauty and values.

Enjoying the park

Walking There are many short and long walksthroughout the area. A new 14km walking tracknear Koondrook will take you past the Eagle Tree

and a number of cultural sites. Contact theDepartment of Sustainability and Environment(DSE) for further information.

Scenic drives A leisurely half day drive, startingat Cohuna links a number of historical, culturaland ecological sites (see overleaf).

Fishing- The river is a breeding ground for nativefish species such as Murray Cod and GoldenPerch.

A current NSW Freshwater Recreation FishingLicence is required for the Murray River. AVictorian Recreational Fishing Licence is requiredfor fishing in waters south of the Murray River.

Camping- Basic bush camping is availablealongside the Murray River and Gunbower Creekon the island.

Be fire ready and stay safeMany parks and forests are located in high fire riskareas. On days of forecast Code Red FireDanger this park will be closed for publicsafety.

If you are already in the park you should leave thenight before or early in the morning for your ownsafety.

Closure signs will be erected and rangers willpatrol where possible, however you may notreceive a personal warning that the park is closedso check the latest conditions by calling 13 1963or visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.

For up to date information on fires in Victoria orgeneral fire safety advice call the VictorianBushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

A rich history

Gunbower Island was frequented by two clans -the Barapa Barapa and the Yorta Yorta.

The Barapa Barapa and Yorta Yorta people havelong connections with the area now known as

Gunbower National Park. The area was known asKanbowro twisting and tortuous like the necks ofthe black swans. When exploring you maydiscover shell middens (kitchen hearths), burialsites and scar trees. These Australian heritagesites are protected by law.

The first European settlement occurred atGunnawarra station where squatters grazedsheep and cattle. In the early 1870s the value ofthe River Red Gum timber was realised and thetimber industry began. Timber was first used forrailway sleepers to expand the rail network. Logtransport was expensive and time consuming sotimber cutters selected trees closest to the river.

Boating and canoeing- The five kilometre canoetrail at Safes Lagoon near Koondrook in theadjacent State Forest will take about two hours tocomplete (return). Bring your own canoe, andcheck water levels and access before you go. SeeDSE trail brochure for information.

Swimmingis popular, particularly at the numeroussandy river bend beaches.

Note: Take care when swimming - cold water andfast currents can be hazardous and there may besubmerged logs. Diving or jumping into the watercan be dangerous.


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KOONDROOK

STATE FOREST

GUNBOWER

STATE FOREST

GUNBOWER

STATE FOREST

SPENCE BRIDGE

EDUCATION

AREA

DaltonsBridge

Burkes

Bridge

Suicide

Bridge

Thompsons

Bridge

Spence

Bridge

GreysPlain

Creek

Creek

Taylor

Spur

Creek

Barr

RIVE

MURR

AY

Gunbower

Gunbower

Gunbower

Yarran

Cre

ek

Branch

Right

Channel

Cohuna

Be

Channel

Main

The Flume

N o 1

ReedyLagoon

HorseshoeLagoon

BlaLag

CorduroySwamp

McClureBend

CemeteryBend

NurseryBend No 3

NurseryBend No 2

NurseryBend No

SB

TaylorLagoon

SpurIsland

ISLAND

GUNBOWER

WAITIN

GSROA

D

DICKS

ONS

ROAD

TR

ACK

TRACK

TRACK

TRACK

TRACK

TRACK

BREA

K

86

84

86

82

TRACK

NURSERY

NURSER

Y

TRACK

CROSS

TK

BART

ONMAWSON

MAW

SON

TRACK

TRACK

TR

ACK

ROAD

RIVER

R I V E R

RIVER

RIVERHIGH

TRACK

TRACK

RIFLEBUTTS

TRACK

REEDY

HUDSON

IRON

PUNT

TK

TRACK

TK

TK

TK

TK

TRACK

SWAM

P

SMITH

TK

TK

THOMPSONS

THOMPSONS

McDONALDS ROAD

BOWLANDS ROAD

RO

WEIR ROAD

FENCE

FENCE

TRACK

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

BROWNS RD

BRE

STANTO

N

SCOTTYBATE

MAN

HIPWELLS

ROAD

ROAD

EASTONS

J HEAPS

TAYLORS

TK

WATTLE

TK

CREEK

PETER

TK

TK

YARRAN

FIVE

SLEEPERTHOMPSON

CHET

TLE

CORD

UROY

WEYMO

UTHS

RO

AD

DALT

ONS

CLE

AVES

MATHERS

ROAD

HALFWAY

STUMP

TRACK

CUT OFF

TRACK

RIFLE

BUTTS

ROAD

WATTLE

CUT OFF

TK

ISLAND

ROAD

ROAD

OBRIENS

COHUNA

COHUNALEITCHVILLE

RO

AD

GRAVE

LPIT

WIREFE

NCE

TRA

CK

TRACK

TRAC

K

WEEWEERUP

WEEW

EERUP

BREA

K

BREAK

BREAK

BREAK

GARNER

GARN

ER

GARN

ER

CENTRE

CENTRE

ROBERT

SON

ROBERTSON

LOG HAUL

ER

CRADDOCKS

RD

W TAYLORS

RD

DEAD

HORSE

TRACK

DEAD

HORSE

TRACK

BROKEN

AXLE

TRACK

TICKELLS

FREES

DEEP

OREILLYS

FENNS

ROAD

FINDLAYS ROAD

R PEACES ROAD

RANDALLS

ROAD

HORNSBYS ROAD

PIPERS

RO

AD

HALLS

ROAD

G U M L A G O O N

OBE

RINS

RD

VALLEY

HIGHWAY

MURRAY

MURRAY

LEITCHVILLE-KERANGROAD

COHUNA

ROAD

KOONDROOK

G

Leitchville

Wee Wee Rup

Keely

Cohuna

Gannawarra

LogLanding

6

5

4

1

2

3

9

8

7

10

To Kerang

To Koondrook

B400

B400

C265

C267

MELBOURNE


Cartography by Spatial Vision 2010

M/8875

Highway

Major sealed road

Minor sealed road

Major unsealedAll weather road

Main unsealedaccess road

Unsealed road

Vehicle track

Forest Drive

Forest Drive site location


Murray River Park

State Forest

Other Reserves

Water body

Recreational

Facilities

Boat ramp

N

0 2

KILOMETRES

1

1


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PERRICOOTA

STATE FOREST

PERRICOOTA

STATE FOREST

Munzel

Corner

C r e e k

Creek

Creek

Upper

Creek

C

reek

Creek

Creek

Creek

Creek

Creek

Creek S

awp

it

Creek

Creek

Bullo

ckhead

Horse

shoe

RIVER

MURRA

Y

Deep

Creek

Gunbower

Burrum

bury

Burru

mbury

Clarkes

Roy

al

y

Potho

le

katoo

oon

Longmore

Lagoon

Swan

Lagoon

Creek

Bagg

ot

Cam

eron

84Bend

86Bend

82Bend

GravelBend

SandbarBend

BrokenRiverBend

HalfwayBend

ScottyBendBonneman

Bend

MopokeBend

BellBend

LongBend

DalleyBend

McKay MillBend

WorthyBend

BaldwinBend

WilliamsBend

JonesBend

NorrisBend

TurnerBend

HorseshoeBend

LockLagoon

BrokenRiverBend

KateMaloneBend

ISLAND

OWER

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

PRICE

S

LAGOON

C

LARKES

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

HEAD

R I V E R

RIVER

RIVER

RIVER

RIVER

BULLOCK

TK

TK

TK

TK

YE

BELLS

LANDING

BRIDGE

MUNZEL

ISLAND

TK

TK

BAWDEN

RISE

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

RD

ROAD

ROAD

FORSTERROAD

WEIR

GAMBLE

ROAD

TORRUMBARRY

NORMAN

McPHAIL

MATTHEWS

ROAD

ROAD

DORMOYLE

HIPWELL

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ROAD

ISLAN

D

EMU

STR

AIGHT

HOLE

TK

GUNBO

WER

ROAD

ROAD

BRER

ETON

SCHOOL

RED

TK

MUNZEL

MUN

ROE

OAD

EAK

TRACK

TRACK

TRACK

BURRU

MBURY

CREE

K

KELLS

CROSSIN

G

EVANS

Mc

INNES

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McGILLIVRAY

TRACK

Mc

MAHONS

ISLAND

FOX

HEADWORKS ROA

D

NINETEEN MILE ROAD

PERRIC

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FOREST

ROAD

BLACK

CHARLIE TK

BAGGOT

CREEK TK

RICHARDS

EY

HIGHWAY

Welton

wer

FreemansCamp

EvansLanding

BellsLanding

RandalsFarm

BAYSENS CAMP

Torrumbarry Weir

& Lock 26

To Echuca

To Echuca


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Healthy Parks Healthy People

Visiting a park can improve

your health, mind, body and

soul. So, with over four million

hectares of parkland available

to Victorians, why not escape

to a park today!

For further information

Parks VictoriaInformation Centre

Call 13 1963or visit the

Parks Victoria websitewww.parkweb.vic.gov.au

Kerang Tourist CentreWellington StreetKerang Vic 3579

Tel: (03) 5475 2569

Echuca-Moama VisitorInformation Centre2 Heygarth StreetEchuca Vic 3564

Freecall: 1800 804 446

Caring for the

environment

Help us look after your park

by following these guidelines:ease take rubbish with you for

recycling and disposal

All plants, animals, historicaland archaeological sites and

geographic features areprotected by law

Dogs and other pets are notpermitted in the park

Firearms are prohibited

Gas fires and barbecues areecommended. Campfires must

be contained in a pit at least30cm deep, no larger than 1metre square with a 3 metre

clearance. Bring your ownfirewood where possible

No fires, including barbecues,may be lit on a day of Total FireBan. Gunbower National Parks in the Mallee Total Fire Ban

District. It is yourresponsibility to know if it is

a day of Total Fire Ban. If indoubt call the Victorian

Bushfire Information Line on1800 240 667

ark closures - Be prepared toleave early as extreme

weather may cause the

closure of some park areasfor public safety

ehicles, including motor bikes,may only be used on formedopen roads. Drivers must be

licensed and vehiclesregistered and roadworthy.

40km speed limits apply

A haven for plants and animals

One hundred and ninety-five species of nativefauna have been recorded in the park, with 30threatened species such as endangered InlandCarpet Python, Silver Perch, Giant Bullfrog,Broad-shelled Turtle and Squirrel Gliders.Kangaroos and emus are common.

The park has over 200 species of birds and is oneof the largest breeding grounds for waterbirds inVictoria including some of the 100 breeding pairsof White-Bellied Sea-Eagle remaining in Victoria.

Gunbower National Park has around 200 plantspecies. The two main forest types are River RedGum in the wetter north west and Box in thehigher south west sections.

Until damming, the River Red Gum and Boxforests were flooded more frequently than today,although they still depend on environmentalallocations for occasional inundation.

Victoria's Wetlands

In a climate characterised by extreme conditions -including prolonged periods of drought - wetlandsplay an important role. As water resourcesbecome more scarce, many wetlands continue toprovide refuge in an otherwise dry landscape. Awide range of threatened plants and animalsdepend on healthy wetlands for their survival.When the drought eventually breaks, wetlandsassist in moderating floods and erosion by holdingand slowly releasing large volumes of water.

These areas are particularly valuable for theirunique ecosystems and the ecologicalcommunities they support. Wetlands also perform

vital natural functions such as stabilisingshorelines, maintaining water flows, and purifyingwaterways by filtering sediments and recyclingnutrients.

There are many other things about our Ramsarwetlands that many people are unaware of. Forexample, did you know:

Victoria's Ramsar sites are home to as manyas 1,300 species of native plants and 450species of native animals, including morethan 100 species of waterbirds?

Lake Corangamite, part of the WesternDistrict Lakes Ramsar site, is the largest

permanent saltwater lake in Australia? The Western Port Ramsar site contains three

of Victoria's 13 Marine National Parks?

Tens of thousands of migratory birds (someweighing in at less than 30 grams) travel fromthe Northern Hemisphere to visit our coastalwetlands each year?

Since European settlement, Victoria has lost morethan 37 per cent of its wetland areas to degradingprocesses such as land clearing and draining. Analarming 90 per cent of this loss has occurred onprivate land. Natural resource managers, togetherwith the community, need to work harder than

ever to protect our remaining wetlands before theyare lost forever.

Gunbower forest drive1. Ramsar Convention - The separation ofGunbower Island was the result of earthmovements caused by the Cadell Fault around20,000 years ago. The sign here explains theRamsar Convention and why Gunbower Island isrecognised as a significant wetland area.

2. Timber cutters steps - Here you can see largeold stumps with slits cut into the sides.Woodcutters placed planks in these slits so thatthey could fell the tree at a height where the treesgirth was narrower.

3. Shillinglaws Regulator- This regulator isused to control the flow of water through theforest, allowing water to flow from the MurrayRiver along Yarran Creek. Water slowly dispersedthrough the forest along runners that you mayhave noticed crossing Five Sleeper Track.

4. Greys Mill - This site was originally calledBlock 24 from which a mill operated in the 1870s.A fire in 1919 destroyed everything on Block 24.The area is now known as Greys Mill afterFrederick Charles Grey who ran the mill from1905 until his death in 1912, when his nephewtook over.

When the mill was in operation this was a thrivingcommunity with a state school with an average of19 students. Across the road you can see a waterlevy bank, thought to have been created by theresidents to prevent their homes from beingflooded.

5. Grahams Hut - This is the last remaining huton the Victorian frontage of the Murray River fromTorrumbarry to Swan Hill. Timber to build the hut

came from the original Strachan farmhouse andwas transported by horse drawn dray.

6. Wattle Creek - This damper area, covered infallen timber, is a refuge for small animals. The talltrees provide nesting sites for many birds.

7. Cemetery Bend - The picket fenced graves area reminder of the harshness and isolation of life inthe forest. Two of these graves are reputedly ofthe Mathers children who died during the floods inthe 1800s.

8. Robsons Mill - This bend was the site of thefirst licensed mill on the island founded in 1875.The mill produced timber for the suburban marketin Melbourne and the steam boilers on riverboats.

9. Nursery Bend - An extensive experimentalnursery was planted here by the ForestCommission. A variety of trees such as MountainAsh and Monterey Pine can still be seen.

Accommodation

Nearby towns of Koondrook, Cohuna, Gunbower,Torrumbarry and Echuca have caravan parks,motel and bed and breakfast accommodation.

How to get there

Gunbower National Park is along the Murray Riverbetween Echuca and Koondrook around 250km

north of Melbourne. Access to the majorentrances is via the Murray Valley Highway.

December 2010

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gunbower national park

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