Green Hill Lakes Camping Reserve, Ararat

see also:

• camp grounds in Victoria
• The Grampians

• Green Hill Lakes camping reserve is a free camp (donation box provided at toilet block) with flush toilets, hot showers and on the southern shores of a large lake
  • main toilet block closed for cleaning 9-10am usually
  • 1km away to the north-east there is a second area popular with the caravan crowd further around the lake “Jaycee Park” which also has a toilet block with flush toilets and a shower ?cold
• it has a 5 night restriction (permits must be sought for longer stays)
• no bookings needed
• mainly used as an overnight stay for travelers, especially grey nomads in their vans, but also for tourists going to or from the The Grampians or north-west Victoria
• in summer school holidays, the two main areas are generally full of either families or grey nomads - both mainly in caravans - there is plenty of room even in peak periods if you don't mind being more than 500m from toilet blocks
• large area can accommodate hundreds of sites although camping directly on the shore is not permitted according to the sign but many still do
• very few bushy wind breaks so is quite exposed to the wind and a strong northerly wind coming off the lake will tend to create a lot of dust, while a strong southerly is not easy to find protection from either (southerlies also blow dust from the gravel roads - an option is to set up on the south side of the gravel road overlooking farmland and Langi Ghiran mountain - the ground is flatter here)
• much of the area closer to the shore has sloping sites
• there is a boat ramp
• dogs on leash only
• there is a usually a coffee van over the summer school holidays (closed 11am-2pm usually)
• ~280m elevation

sunset overlooking the lake from near the toilet block

• 2hrs from NW suburbs via Western Freeway

• only 5min or so drive from the major regional town of Ararat (~1hr walk from Ararat train station)
  • train station
  • various supermarkets, pubs, cafes, petrol, golf courses, etc
• 30min to the major regional town of Stawell
  • gold mine tours

• in Ararat:
  • day tours of decommissioned Aradale psychiatric facility - ghost tours at night?
  • tours of the J Ward Ararat Gaol and museum
  • Gum San Chinese heritage centre
  • Alexandra Gardens and Lake
• 15 minutes drive to Mt Langi Ghiran winery
• 15-30min to hiking areas in Mt Buangor / Mount Cole / Langi Ghiran campgrounds and hikes including waterfalls and great lookouts
• 45 minutes to hiking areas around Halls Gap and The Grampians including waterfalls, fascinating rock formations and great lookouts
• many wineries in the Great Western and Pyrenees regions - especially famous for their red wines

• 15-30min will get you to a range of campgrounds at Mt Buangor / Mount Cole / Langi Ghiran campgrounds and hikes
• 36min S to Lake Bolac foreshore reserve (Nth shore)
• 40min to Lake Fyans which is a popular commercial campground
• 40min to Lake Lonsdale free campground on the north shore (just W of Stawell)
• 45 minutes to Halls Gap and a range of campgrounds in the The Grampians
• 47min NE to free RV camp in Avoca reserve along the Avoca river - maybe closed after flooding events
• 1hr SE to Laake Burrumbeet foreshore on Sth of lake near Ballarat
• 70min E to Slaty ck, Creswick
• 70min N to Teddington camp ground, Stuart Mill, Kara Kara NP
• 77min E to Cork Oaks, Mt Beckworth near Clunes
• 84min NE to Newbridge Recreation Reserve camp ground
• 90min NE to Maldon Mt Tarrengower Butt's Reserve camp ground
• 92min W to Glendinning campground, Rocklands Reservoir
• 97min to commercial campgrounds on the beaches of Warrnambool and access to nearby Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles