Eildon (including Lake Eildon and Bonnie Doon)
Major tourist destination near Lake Eildon.
The small town of Eildon is located 140 km north-east of Melbourne and has a population of some 600 people. It is situated adjacent Lake Eildon which has become a major tourist resort. The town has a pub and a shopping centre although there are plenty of motels and caravan parks around.
Prior to European settlement the area was inhabited by the Yauung-Illam-Baluk Aborigines who were killed off after whites arrived. The 'Eildon' station was established in 1839 and named after Eildon Hills in Roxburghshire, Scotland. Gold was discovered in the area in 1867, although local returns were meagre. Remnants of the gold days remain in the area.
Timber getting was also practiced. In fact the pine forests around the lake are largely regrowth forests planted in the 1930s by the timber industry.
Sugarloaf Dam was built between 1914 and 1928. However, the capacity of the reservoir was greatly increased under new construction work which took place between 1951 and 1956. The town of Eildon emerged at this time as an accommodation centre for the construction workers and the reservoir was renamed Lake Eildon. With 515 km of shoreline it is one of the largest artificial lakes in the state and was built for irrigation purposes and the generation of hydro-electricity.
The Eildon Water Festival is held every year in mid-October.
Things to see:
Tourist Information
There is an information centre located on the main street, at the front of Moore Park. It is essentially open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. but, as it is run by volunteers, the roster may go unfilled on some days. However, if you ring (03) 5774 2909 you will always get somebody. A day tour of the lake is outlined in a pamphlet available from the centre and another details fishing possibilities in the area. There are picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities in the park.
Lake Eildon
Lake Eildon consists of long, narrow serpentine arms which reach out to the Big, Goulburn and Delatite Rivers. It possesses 515 km of shoreline and holds 3 500 000 megalitres of water (five times the capacity of Sydney Harbour). It is typically abuzz with houseboats, waterskiers, sailboards, jet-skis, power boats, canoes, yachts and anglers. Trout can be fished all year round and there are plentiful supplies of redfin, roach, carp and Murray cod. There are numerous picnic areas, boat-launching ramps and viewing areas.
Boats and all manner of aquatic equipment are available for hire from the main boat harbour which is 2 km north of town on Sugarloaf Rd (it is well-signposted from town). Lake Eildon Holiday Boats hire out houseboats (tel: 03 5774 2107) and the M.V. Eildon Explorer conducts daily cruises (tel: 03 5774 2701).
Other active recreation and nature-based tours are conducted by Adventurama (tel: 03 9682 1771), Headwaters (tel: 03 9478 9414), Outback tag Along Tours (tel: 02 6025 6494) and Rubicon Valley Horseriding (tel: 03 5773 2471).
The Pondage
If you are approaching Eildon from the west, along the Goulburn Valley Highway, you will come to what is effectively a fork in the road. The road to the right leads across the dam wall while that to the left leads over a bridge into Eildon. The body of water below the bridge is known as The Pondage. It is essentially a holding area mediating the passage of water from the lake to the Goulburn River. Although watersports are forbidden, owing to the freezing water, it is well stocked with trout and redfin for anglers. There are picnic-barbecue spots around the waterline with plenty of swans and ducks about.
Retaining Wall
The dam wall (46 metres in height) runs in a north-south direction, releasing water into The Pondage. You can cross it from either side. Head back across the bridge over The Pondage and turn left or follow the clearly signposted route through Eildon to the northern side of the wall. There is a viewing platform from whence there are excellent views over The Pondage and the lake, down the Goulburn Valley, of the power station and the old trestle bridge which was used for all traffic during the dam's construction.
Lake Eildon National Park
Until recently Fraser National Park existed on the western shore of Lake Eildon, and Eildon State Park occupied the land around the south-western, southern and south-eastern shores of the lake. These have now been amalgamated and renamed Lake Eildon National Park.
Canoeing, camping, boating, bushwalking and sailing are all popular activities. The park contains goldmining relics, old farmhouses, plenty of wildlife (particularly kangaroos) and 279 plant species including, in spring and early summer, ground orchids and wildflowers.
The southern section is step, rugged and forested. Its main campground is at the Jerusalem Creek area. To get there take the aforementioned road that leads towards the dam wall. Before you reach the spillway there is a signposted right turn onto Jerusalem Creek Rd which leads, after about 6 km, to the campground (ring 03 5774 2585 for bookings) where there is also a harbour with boat ramps, houseboats for hire, a kiosk and a sight-seeing ferry on weekends. From this point a good unsealed road (2WD in summer but 4WD in winter) continues on to the national park's camping area, although this is being phased out as a campground. However, it is still the starting point of the Sheoak Creek Nature Walk which is clearly marked out with pegs. There is also an information board.
On the way out to the Jerusalem Creek area it is essential to take the turnoff on the left onto the loop road that leads up Mt Pinninger to Foggs Lookout from whence there are truly spectacular views of the lake, of Eildon, the dam wall, the countryside and the alps.
The only other designated walk in the southern section is a 15-km walk which starts from the ford at the head of the Jerusalem Creek Inlet (where there are toilet facilities and tables) and leads to The Pinnacle. Although the route is quite obvious the track is not well marked so a map is advisable.
The main access road is the Eildon to Jamieson Rd which winds around the southern boundary of the park. It is serpentine, steep, unsealed in sections, and highly scenic, passing through substantial forests and up hills which offer fine views of Big River. 4WD tracks head off this road, into the park, past various camping areas and through to the lake.
The northern section of the park (formerly Fraser National park) was once goldmining country and old shafts and other remnants can occasionally be seen along the park's walking tracks. Today there are red box, red stringybark and peppermint gum communities. Unfortunately much of the old-growth timber was felled for usage in the mines. Wildlife includes grey kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles and crimson rosellas.
The commonest approach to the northern section is from Alexandra. However, if you are travelling from Eildon, just follow the Skyline Rd northwards. The elevation proffers some fine views of the Goulburn and Acheron Valleys to the west and, to the east, the lake and the alps, particularly Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.
About 12 km from Eildon there is a 4-way intersection mediated by a roundabout. Turn right and follow the road to Coller Bay where there are three privately operated camping areas (ring 03 5772 1293 for bookings), cabin accommodation and 13 walking tracks which radiate out into the park. One of the most popular is the Candlebark Gully Nature Walk (2 km return), a self-guided trek from Coller Bay which is highlighted by information plaques.The School Point Walk starts from the shores of Coller Bay and entails a short but steep walk along Keg Spur to High Camp which offers some fine views. It is possible to continue along Blowhard Spur to an even higher elevation. Other trails lead into the park's northern section, incorporating such excellent vantage points as Blowhard Summit. Brochures outlining the walks are freely available from the camping offices. There are usually plenty of kangaroos and other wildlife about the campgrounds.
For further information on the park ring the head ranger on (03) 5772 2038.
Bonnie Doon
Bonnie Doon is a small town of around 300 people at the northern end of the lake, 40 km north of Eildon and 22 km west of Mansfield on the Maroondah Highway. Accommodation possibilities include the Lakeside Leisure Resort (tel: 03 5778 7525), the Lakeland Resort Hotel on the Maroondah Highway (tel: 03 5778 7335), the Starglen Lodge Resort, 10 km north of town (tel: 03 5778 7312), and Peppin Point Houseboats, 9 km south of Bonnie Doon, tel: (03) 5778 7338.
Snobs Creek Hatchery
Snobs Creek Freshwater Research Station and Hatchery breeds hundreds of thousands of fish each year for release into the inland river system for the preservation of native fish species and the benefit of recreational anglers. There is a visitors' centre which has an auditorium where a video about the hatchery is screened, a display area and an aquarium section. The fish may be hand-fed in retaining ponds outside. The hatchery is located 6 km south-west of town along the Goulburn Valley Highway. It is open from Saturday to Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and every day during school holidays, tel: (03) 5774 2950.
Snobs Creek Falls
About 500 m beyond the hatchery there is a signposted turnoff to the left into Snobs Creek Rd which leads, after 6 km, to the Snobs Creek Falls carpark. It is but a short walk to observation points over the falls which drop more than 100 metres over a series of rocky outcrops. The views down the Goulburn Valley are spectacular.
The falls are surrounded by moist eucalyptus forest and fern gullies. There is a profusion of birdlife (including lyrebirds) and koalas, wallabies, wombats and possums.
Interestingly the European name of the falls derives from a West Indian bootmaker who owned a shop near the creek as 'snob' is an old English term for a bootmaker.
Eildon Deer Park
Eildon Deer Park is situated halfway between Eildon and Alexandra on the Goulburn Valley Highway. This is a drive-through park. Pick up some food at the entrance and you can hand-feed the free-range deer. There is a gift and coffee shop. They are open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from spring to autumn (closed in winter), tel: (03) 5773 2357.
Rubicon Falls
Rubicon Falls are located 18 km south-west of Eildon, via Thornton. The area is scenic and of historic interest, being involved in one of the state's first hydro-electric schemes (c.1910). However, the route is too convoluted to adequately describe, so it is best to obtain a map (ring 03 5772 0200) or speak to the national park ranger, tel: (03) 5772 2038.
Motels
Eildon Holiday Resort Motel
Cnr Snobs Creek Rd & Goulburn Valley Hwy
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2415
Rating: ***
Eildon Lake Motel
Girdwood Pde
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2800
Rating: ***
Eildon Parkview Motor Inn
Hillside Ave
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2165
Rating: ***
Golden Trout Motel/Hotel
Riverside Dve
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2508
Rating: ***
Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouses
Stoanco Maranatha Bed & Breakfast
208 Snobs Creek Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2773
Rating: ***
Apartments
Alrima Holiday Apartments
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2529
Rating: ***
Silverwater Holiday Apartments
South Cres.
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2050
Facsimile: (03) 5774 2050
Rating: ***
Caravan Parks
Blue Gums Caravan Park
Back Thornton Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2567
Rating: ***
Boulevard Caravan Park
Cnr Park Ave Nth & The Boulevard
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2128
Rating: ***
Jerusalem Creek Camping Ground
Jerusalem Creek Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2585
Rating: *
Eildon Caravan Park
Eildon Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2105
Rating: ***
Eildon Holiday Resort Caravan Park
Cnr Snobs Creek Rd & Goulburn Valley Hwy
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2415
Rating: ***
Houseboats
Lake Eildon Holiday House Boats
Boat Harbour
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2107 or (03) 5774 2103
Rating: ***
Restaurants
Eildon Resort Restaurant
Cnr Goulburn Valley Hwy & Snobs Creek Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2415
Golden Trout Restaurant
Riverside Dve
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2508
Silverwater Holiday Apartments
South Cres
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2050
Facsimile: (03) 5774 2050
Sizzle Plate Restaurant
Back Eildon Rd
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5773 2386
Smiffy's At The Harbour Restaurant
Eildon Boat Harbour
Eildon VIC 3713
Telephone: (03) 5774 2237
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