Camping alongside Gunbower Creek is a feast for the senses. Wandering through majestic river red gums the Gunbower Creek meanders for 120kms from Torrumbarry to Koondrook in northern Victoria. Its lazy reaches, beautiful bends and wetlands cradle the Gunbower Island. To the north east the ever changing Murray River provides life to the islands forest, creek and wetlands. It is thought that the name 'Gunbower' is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning twisting. It was a perfect spot to relax, watch an abundance of wildlife passing by and enjoy some magnificent reflections and sunrises over the serene waterways.
We camped in a beautiful spot near the town of Cohuna, which also gave us access to a broad expanse of creek waterfront.
This was another great place to view the sunrise which had a different colour tone each morning!
Gunbower Creek Lagoons
One of the things that make this area so interesting, apart from the peace and tranquility on offer, is the diversity of waterways and the unique system of lagoons that have been formed over time. As the creek and river have flooded they have formed a series of lagoons as the waters have cut through lower areas or flowed around soft sand rises. Wetlands have been formed as creek bends have been cut off when the water has changed its course. These wetlands and lagoons are recognised as having international significance by the RAMSAR convention.
The lagoons provide a home to a wide range of unique flora and fauna. We spotted swamp wallabies in the wetlands and kangaroos and emus grazing on the open grassland. Of course, the waterbirds were abundant, diverse and magnificent. The creek and lagoons also provide a great habitat for a broad range of fish, turtles and frogs. Platypus also call this place home, but we weren't able to spot one of those on this trip.
Kerang -Wetlands and Lakes
The broader region around Gunbower Creek is called 'The Gannawarra', which encompasses a range of regions and towns. It's a fabulous nature-based tourism destination in Victoria. We visited the town of Kerang which is home to a system of large and picturesque freshwater lakes just north of the township. Middle lake was our main destination as it is home to the largest Ibis rookery in the southern hemisphere. The lake was teeming with birds - swans, coots, swamp hens, cormorants, ibis, spoonbills, ducks, egrets, herons, raptors and many more. A bird-lovers paradise! Unfortunately, we only had access to a small part of the lake where a bird-hide is situated. The larger lakes - Charm and Kangaroo - are popular spots for fishing, boating and water-skiing.
Gannawarra birds and animals
Of course, the stars of the show were the birds and animals. We were fortunate enough to watch many of them just going about their daily routines as we sat by the creek or walked around a wetland or lagoon. The sheer number and variety of birds was amazing and it reminded us of the importance of protecting natural habitat for these extraordinary creatures.
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