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australia:vic:greenhill

Green Hill Lakes Camping Reserve, Ararat

Introduction

  • 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
  • beware that, as with most lakes, toxic algae is likely to be growing so don't drink the water and personally, I wouldn't be swimming in it if the blue-green algae is there
    • Lake Burrumbeet is supposedly nicer for swimming but does not have the picturesque appeal of Green Hills
  • it can get quite dusty in peak periods from caravans and 4WDs passing on the adjacent gravel road
  • there is not a lot of wind protection
  • there is some road noise from trucks on the nearby highway but this is tolerable

www.ayton.id.au_gary_photos_campsites_westvictoria_araratgreenslakeimg_6477.jpg

sunset overlooking the lake from near the toilet block

Getting there

  • 2hrs from NW suburbs via Western Freeway

Nearby amenities

  • 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

Nearby attractions

  • 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

Nearby campgrounds

australia/vic/greenhill.txt · Last modified: 2024/09/11 23:40 by gary1

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