Winton Wetlands - Green's Hill Campground

25 – 26 November 2024

It was quite a way from Deniliquin to Winton Wetlands but Mick wanted to do a spot of birding before we set off. We headed north to check out some of the spots he had been to on Saturday night but it wasn’t a very productive session.

After a morning birding, we returned to Deniliquin for a picnic lunch then set off for Winton Wetlands. We travelled through NSW and crossed the Murray River again, at Tocumwal. From there we continued through Victoria to another one of our favourite spots.

By the time we arrived, Bronwyn and John were already set up, and with clouds around we decided it would be wise to set up the awning even though we would only be staying one night. Just as well, as it started to drizzle even as we set up.

We had a lovely spot by the lake and enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon with family. Bronwyn and John had stayed here, at our suggestion, on their way to Melbourne and were very keen to return. Unfortunately, the weather spoiled any opportunity for a photography session, but it was a great night anyway.

Sunset over Lake Mokoan

After a slow pack-up and farewell, we started our journey to Bendigo, our final destination in Victoria.

 

Winton Wetlands

24 – 25 March 2023

We checked the weather forecast and decided to head up into the Warby Ranges to a free campground about an hour from Glenrowan. We arrived at Killawarra Forest Campground and were the only ones there. We weren’t sure about staying as the best located site wasn’t ideal for us so we had morning tea in the small rotunda while we considered our options. We were very glad we hadn’t set up the camper trailer, as the couple of march flies that were hovering around when we first arrived had beckoned all their mates and we were being harassed by a huge number – all trying to bite us. It wasn’t hard to make the decision to move on.

Fortunately we were both agreed that a return to Winton Wetlands would be a much better option so we headed there and were set up by the water iin time for lunch – and again were the only ones there. We drove around to the other side of Lake Mokoan in the afternoon so Mick could look for some birds.

Evening glow

The weather wasn’t quite as good as the first time and there was some light rain come through a couple of times but nothing to spoil an otherwise peaceful night – and no visits from the night creatures this time either.

Before leaving the wetlands we stopped in at the Visitor Centre for morning tea then set off, heading west.

Winton Wetlands – Nesting Ground Campground

15 – 16 March 2023

We left the caravan park at Glenrowan and stopped in town to have morning tea and to visit some of the Ned Kelly sites. There is some very good interpretative information about the famous Kelly Gang, and the siege at Glenrowan in 1880. There’s also an excellent bakery for morning tea, just across the railway line in the main street.

We drove on to Winton Wetlands and were set up with a view of Lake Mokoan before lunch time. It was a hot afternoon so we spent most of the time chasing some shade until later in the day when Mick went for a drive to a good spot for birds. Nesting Ground was very productive for wildlife spotting – we saw an echidna, an antechinus, a possum and we also heard a fox close by in the night.

Sunset over Lake Mokoan

The campground is well spread out with some sites overlooking the lake and others looking out towards the hills. Most sites are quite large and easy to access. There are toilets and a picnic shelter at the campground as well. Bookings are online and the system is a little clunky but workable. You book the campground but not the actual site which you choose when you arrive - even though the booking system requires you to enter a site number. 

After our night at the wetlands we made the decision to head for the King Valley. We didn’t know much about the area, but a traveller we had met at Omeo recommended it as a good place to visit so that seemed like as good a reason as any to head that way.