Many visitors to the Central Goldfields region are surprised by the abundance of water on offer, providing a year round outdoors aquatic playground for water enthusiasts.
Those passionate about fishing and boating find the many local reservoirs and rivers to be the ideal place to cast a line or get out on to the water. When you’re at the waterside of a riverbank or a lakeshore and listening to the gentle lapping of the water, the fresh scent of the eucalypts and the song of one of the 140 native birds found in the area, it won’t be long and you’ll be hooked.
Tullaroop Reservoir, Laanecoorie Reservoir Weir, Bealiba Reservoir and Lake Victoria are just some of the many popular fishing locations in the area, and those out with a rod and reel must remember that they will need a fishing license.
Laanecoorie Reservoir and Cairn Curran Reservoir are both catchments for the Loddon River, the second longest river in Victoria. Up to 26 metres wide at some points, the river is incredibly popular for fishing, swimming and water sports with world-class water skiing competitions being held annually. Fish found in the river include Murray cod, golden perch, silver perch, red fin and carp.
With opportunities for canoeing, water skiing, paddle boarding and swimming, the picturesque waterways found across the region offer both adventure and relaxation. Cairn Curran Reservoir, with its catchment area of over 1,500 square kilometres, is a popular place to drop a boat into the water. In the summer, water skiiers and swimmers cool down and have fun, and the Reservoir is also home to a yacht club.
Deep Creek, at Carisbrook, has been a popular swimming location for over a century and pretty picnic areas along the banks of the creek provide the perfect place to sit and enjoy nature.
In Maryborough, Goldfields Reservoir was built in 1862 and once served as the town’s water supply. Now used for boating, swimming and fishing, there are also three picnic areas at the reservoir, along with an easy 1.7 km walking track providing a meandering, beautiful walk along the waters edge.
With the waterways found throughout the Central Goldfields delivering an attraction to local flora and fauna, birdwatchers and nature lovers can also benefit from spending time in these picturesque and peaceful surrounds.
