The Loddon Valley was once Australia’s most famous eucalyptus oil region. The long-cooled distillery chimneys are still dotted throughout the bush, but you can learn all about this lost trade at the Hard Hill Tourist Reserve in Wedderburn. This authentic bush attraction features a working eucy oil stew pot. Volunteers fire it up by appointment.

Book ahead for this and other tours to get the most of your visit. Explore original relics from the gold rush, including a gold puddler and stamper battery.  Walk to the top of Hard Hill and see the old gold mine from the diggings days. 

The reserve is RV friendly and a favourite stop off site for travellers. It has barbecue, toilet and shower facilities and plenty of peaceful, shady spots to set up camp.

Hard Hill Tourist Reserve is also the site of hotly-contested gold detector and gold panning competitions each Labour Day long weekend.

Hard Hill Tourist Reserve is on Wilson Street in Wedderburn.