Goulburn River Circuit Walk, Shepparton - March 2021

Late  afternoon on the Goulburn River.

The rural town of Shepparton doesn't exactly scream exotic walking destination as far as I'm concerned, however as I was looking for a walk north of the Great Dividing Range today, one where a swim was a possibility I found myself checking out this stroll along the Goulburn River. After a bit of an inspection on Google Earth I'd even convinced myself that I could see a couple of beaches on a couple of the bigger bends in the river, yes it was time to go for a drive and check things out. Leaving the grey and overcast Melbourne after a few hours of work I crossed the Great Dividing Range on the Hume Highway and motored up into the Goulburn Valley at Shepparton. After a bit of a convoluted drive through the outskirts of Mooroopna the ute's Sat Nav delivered me to my starting point in the bush near the end of the quiet Koenig Road - about a two and a half hour drive from home.

You won't have trouble getting a park out here!

Leaving the ute I set off heading east this afternoon, firstly balancing my way across a dilapidated bridge spanning an anabranch of the Goulburn River before picking up an old 4wd track that within ten minutes had me meeting up with Thompson Track (another 4wd track). Turning left (north) I now spent the best part of an hour trudging up Thompson Track in the afternoon heat... and it was fairly warm. Where as Melbourne had been cool and grey, up here I was walking beneath blue skies and sunshine so I was pretty happy with life. On this walk I'd be walking the Goulburn River Floodplain for the whole walk and while the country lacked a little in the topography stakes I still enjoy this type of walking, and following Thomson's Track north this afternoon beneath the blue sky watching the mobs of Roos grazing in the dry open forest I was reminded of why I enjoy it so much.

My days first obstacle was this anabranch of the Goulburn River.

I had the remains of an old bridge to make the crossing a bit easier.

Once across the creek I set off along a series of 4wd tracks - some were named and some were not.

Walking the flood plain. 

There are a lot of Roos up here.

Thompson Track

After almost an hour I swung east off Thomson Track and took an un named 4wd track that passed through the levee bank to arrive onto the bank of the Goulburn River opposite an irrigation pumping station. Irrigation is the reason that I'd figured that I'd be a chance for a swim in the Goulburn River, you see with the river supplying water to Victoria's Goulburn Valley food bowl it means that they let a constant stream of water out of Eildon Dam over summer so the river never really gets too low (unlike a lot of Australia's inland rivers). I hadn't pencilled this spot in for a swim however on dropping down to the water I could see that swimming would be OK here - it was too early in the walk for me to jump in through so after checking things out at water level I grabbed my pack and set off on the longish walk up stream. 

There is evidence that these flood plains have been used for grazing as well as timber harvesting over the years.

This is as far downstream (north) that I got on the Goulburn River this afternoon. It looks like swimming would be possible here.

There was an irrigation pump opposite my first beach. Irrigation is the reason that the river flows well through summer as water is continuously released from Eildon Dam - it's also the reason that the flood plains are drought stressed as the river doesn't have big floods any more.

I now followed a series of informal tracks and off piste sections up stream for a couple of hours.

The rest of my walk consisted of either walking quiet 4wd tracks or just heading across the fairly open country. Heading south now, down stream, I initially followed a 4wd track between the levee bank and the river, this 4wd drive track giving me good river views in many spots. I was now heading for a big looping bend in the river where my Google Earth investigations had me thinking that there might be a small beach...yeah, nah! After an easy off track detour I arrived at the bend to find a fairly steep muddy bank with no sign of a sandbank and while you could swim here I suppose, it would of been far from elegant! So after writing it off as experience I set off up steam towards the second bend that I'd identified... and this time I got lucky.

On my walk up stream I was generally pretty close to the river.

Off piste and heading towards a river bend to check things out.

The off piste stuff was very good - except for a couple of belts of thistles.

I walked the old levee bank a couple of times.

The second bend that I checked out had a small beach - it was time for a swim.

My second river bend did indeed have a sandy beach to allow easy water access and it also came complete with a huge flock of Corella's wheeling around the blue sky. Actually I think the Corella's were a little toey with me as I may have set up for my swim beneath the big old Red Gums that that they call home. The swimming here was quite good - although as I've mentioned before, in the unlikely event that anyone decides to follow in my footsteps then consider your own ability before jumping into the water. With the afternoons sweat and grime washed off (for the time being) I emerged dripping from the water to pull on my dusty clothes and set off again into the late afternoon heat.

Goulburn River

Soaking in the Goulburn River.

The Corella's kept me entertained while I enjoyed my swim.

I'm thinking that I might of been using their beach!

Eventually the Corella's settled in the trees on the other side of the river (over my shoulder).

I'm guessing a bit, however I suspect that the Corella's may call these two big old Red Gums home (my swimming spot was beneath them).

I was now continuing my walk up steam and for the next section of the walk I basically stayed near the river bank and headed across country. After heading out to check out a big peninsula in the river I shuffled my way further upstream to yet another big bend in the river, although unlike most of the other bends that I'd checked out today this bend was convex from my viewing point (I hope I haven't got my convex's and concave's mixed up!) so I was able to get a panorama, fish eye type of photo with the river stretching off in both directions.

Heading up stream after my swim I followed sections of the levee bank again.

The old levee has been breached in numerous places - they obviously aren't expecting any big floods in the near future.

Heading up the river off piste again. The two blokes fishing in the tinny were the only people that I saw this afternoon.

This probably isn't the best representation, however judging by the remaining stumps and dead trees there must of been some huge Red Gums up here before European settlement.

Late afternoon on the Goulburn River.

There are some flash houses on the opposite side of the river in spots.

With the afternoon now morphing into the early evening I set off across the flood plain inland again and started my walk back to the ute. After picking up Carsons Track I followed it until I met my outward route back on Thomson Track although instead of following Thomson Track I headed off across country on a bearing, hoping to arrive back at the old dilapidated bridge over the anabranch. This shortish cross country amble was pretty easy although the country has a few depressions so I'm thinking in out wetter months things might be a bit on the damp side across here and it would pay to stay on the 4wd tracks. Successfully navigating my way back to the old bridge I did my balancing act again as I crossed over to arrive at the ute - it was time to head home.

This is about as far south along the river that I got this afternoon.

I was going for the fish eye effect here - with limited success.

Heading back towards the ute in the late afternoon along Carson Track.

After meeting Thompson Track I headed off across country again.

The Dirt.

According to my GPS I walked around 12 kilometres this afternoon and climbed about 140 metres (which seems highly optimistic!) on what I'd call a medium grade stroll, I'd really only class it as medium grade because of the off track walking, if you want to avoid the off piste stuff then the walk can be completed on 4wd tracks. This type of country is very typical of our inland areas although private rural land quite often stops access to a lot of this type of country. Swimming in these inland rivers require a lot of caution, you need to be able to deal with strong currents, deep water and snags. I got onto this walk from one Tyrone Thomas' old books 150 Walks in Victoria. I used his mud map and notes (although only loosely followed his route) along with my GPS topos. Somewhat unusually for me I also spent a bit of time researching this walk on Google Earth before setting off as well. 

Relevant Posts.

Mt Ida & Dargile Forest, Heathcote - Graytown National Park, 2018.

Mt Ida Walk, Heathcote - Graytown National Park, 2017.

The ute has just come into view - my navigation wasn't too bad!

The old timers have ring barked some of the big Red Gums here - maybe they did that to help fell them? That's a total guess though.

It was pretty late in the day by the time I got back... I've just got to get across the anabranch now.

I'm not actually sure if there was water in the creek or not - I wasn't overly keen to wade in and find out though.

OT Dam Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park - February 2021

Early evening at OT Dam.

It had been a particularly humid and warm in Melbourne this week so come Saturday Sam and I were looking for a short walk with a swimming option. After a bit of a think I figured that we could head on down the Mornington Peninsula and walk out to OT Dam. This dam was built back in 1934 by the OT Cordial Company and now days this quiet spot in the Arthurs Seat State Park makes a nice place for a walk and if the weather co-operates, a swim. Motoring down the Mornington Peninsula Freeway this evening it looked like our run of warm weather was about to come to an end though, as Main Ridge was cloaked in cloud. 

It almost looked like it might of been a sea mist rolling across Main Ridge tonight as at times we could glimpse the blue sky above.

Arriving at the trail head beside Arthurs Seat Road the overhead conditions were indeed grey and gloomy however it wasn't really cold, I'm thinking that it was more of a sea mist rolling through and not a cold front. Leaving the ute we dropped down the wide gravel 4wd track through the gloomy early evening light, avoiding the many single track mountain bike tracks along the way. We only descended the gravel track for 15 minutes or so, however in spots this track is a little loose and slippery so it pays to be a bit careful. After avoiding an un-signposted track off to the right (which would be our return route) we soon arrived at the sign posted side track down to the dam and around 5 minutes later we were at the western end of the dam - yes, this isn't a long walk!

Apart from the animals the bush was pretty well deserted tonight.

We dropped down this gravel 4wd track towards the dam.

I'm guessing this is a young one?

Easy walking down the 4wd track.

It's mostly Stringybarks in Arthurs Seat State Park.

OT Dam is coming into view through the trees.

I was still keen on going for a bit of a swim so Sam and I set off to circumnavigate OT Dam now to try and find the best spot to access the water. The western end of the dam tends to be fairly reedy so we followed the good walking track around the southern shoreline along some nice boardwalks to get to cross the old spillway and arrive at the dam wall. The dam wall looked like it was going to be the best spot to get in the water tonight and after checking out the southern shoreline we did indeed head back to the wall for a swim. The go here is probably to come prepared with Teva's or something similar if you want to swim as the entry and exit is a fairly muddy/rocky experience. Once I was in the water though the experience was good, being late summer the water was cool without being cold and floating around the large dam surrounded by native bush was pretty sweet.

There are some nice boardwalks along the southern shoreline.

Early evening at the deserted OT Dam.

I'd come prepared tonight with sandals.

OT Dam.

We crossed over the old spillway.

With the remaining daylight fast running out we decided that we'd better make a move back towards the ute. After pulling on my clothes we retraced our steps back across the dam wall and crossed over the spillway, retracing our steps for a few metres along the southern shoreline. Just before our outward route dropped down a staircase back to water level we veered left up an un-marked old 4wd track and started climbing. This old track is a much better way of getting to and from the dam I reckon as it climbs (or descends) fairly gently for the most part. Around 15 minutes after leaving the dam we arrived back at the main access track, turned left and shortly there after arrived back at the ute, just as the last of the days light faded away.

Now that looks painful!

Early evening at OT Dam - time for a swim.

The Feral swimmer;)

The dam wall makes for probably the best spot for a swim I think.

OT Dam, Arthurs Seat State Park.

The Dirt.

As you may ave guessed already this is a pretty short walk, according to my GPS this easy stroll came in at around 3.5 kilometres along with about 110 metres of climbing. The main route from the car park on Arthurs Seat Road is easily followed (it's a gravel 4wd track) and the turn off down to OT Dam is signposted. Once at the dam arguably the best spot for a swim is off the old earthen dam wall at the eastern end, although the water is also accessible from spots on the northern shoreline as well. I used Meridians old Mornington Peninsula topo map along with my GPS topos although to be honest there are a lot of tracks criss crossing the bush around here and most of them aren't mapped so you can really just make up your own adventure - although stay off the dedicated mountain bike tracks (they are generally signposted). 

Relevant Posts.

Friends Track Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park, 2018.

OT Dam to Eatons Cutting Walk, Arthurs Seat State Park, 2016.

Climbing back up to the ute we took the un-signposted left hand fork.

This track makes a more enjoyable way to and from the lake in my opinion.

Back on the main access track.

When the Strawberry (?) farm appeared though the trees we knew we didn't have far to go.

The photo doesn't show it well however it was pretty well dark now. There is room for quite a few vehicles around here although it gets busy with mountain bike riders on the weekends.