Start point: Near junction of Robinson and Mill Streets, Murchison, Victoria – Directions
Distance: 11km (22km return including diversions)
Track: Good – compacted gravel generally fairly smooth. Level track and quiet gravel roads.
Birds: Lots of water birds, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Friarbirds, Babblers, Woodswallows
Notes: Start near the junction of Mill and Robinson Streets in Murchison where you can park. Eventually the trail will go all the way to Rushworth when completed. The main trail has interesting information signs about nature and history. A nice flat ride along good quality gravel tracks and side road diversions. Swamp is variable – sometimes lots of water and sometimes dry. But there are two parallel irrigation channels (Cattanach and Stuart Murray) along one side, so a diversion here is worth it if the swamp is dry, for various water birds. Best to divert off the trail at Old Whroo Road and follow it to Willow Road where you turn right (see map) as this avoids traffic noise and allows access to swamp.
Adjacent to Willow Road there is a picnic table/shelter and an information sign. From here there are a few meandering tracks into the swamp which are worth exploring, depending on water levels – one starts near the picnic table/information board and another further along the edge road. It is also worth diverting to the irrigation channels which you cross when re-joining the main route (see map).
At Channel Inlet Road there is an interesting diversion down to the Waranga Weir where the Cattanach Canal joins the main water body. Always worth it for waders and other water birds. Water levels do vary, so it can be a bit unpredictable.
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