When you’re looking for a nature reset in Victoria, you’re kinda spoiled for choice. From beautiful campsites by the ocean to epic hikes and cycling trails, there’s a bounty of natural wonders to choose from. But that still doesn’t stop us from lusting after the lush billabongs, arid deserts and dramatic escarpments outside our state borders.
If Instagram posts from Kakadu National Park have got you craving a Northern Territory escape, we’ve got the solution. Just under three hours north of Melbourne is a huge floodplain forest that’s been dubbed the “Kakadu of the South” – home to vast wetlands, majestic red gums and incredible Aussie wildlife that are similar to the NT’s beloved heritage-listed national park. Of course, the cultural significance of each park is different, and both hold a unique meaning to the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways, but if you’re looking for a red-earth national park experience without the long flight, Gunbower Forest has got you covered.
Occupying a 19,450-hectare stretch of floodplains on the banks of the Murray River, on the lands of the Barapa Barapa and Yorta Yorta nations, Gunbower Forest is one of the most significant river red gum forests in Victoria. Here, you can hike for hours between the trees as white-bellied sea eagles soar above you, and canoe along winding creeks as giant banjo frogs leap along the banks. Keen? Here are a few key facts about Gunbower Forest.
Where is Gunbower Forest?
The forest is found on the traditional lands of the Barapa Barapa people, on the Victorian side of the Murray River – directly opposite Koondrook State Forest in NSW (in Victoria's Campaspe Shire). Stretching across a floodplain, it forms part of the Gunbower–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest wetland system, which is one of the largest remaining river red gum forests in Australia.
What is Gunbower Forest near?
On the edge of the forest, you’ll find the small, creative-leaning rural town of Cohuna – home to a cute bakery, an old-school tavern and a few grocery stores and cafés where you can stock up on supplies for your day out in the open air.
How to get to Gunbower Forest
The drive from Melbourne takes around three hours. Take the Calder Freeway (M79) towards Bendigo, then follow the signs to Echuca. From Echuca, take the Murray Valley Highway (B400) west towards Cohuna/Gunbower – entry points to the forest are well signposted from Cohuna. Taking public transport is an option, with coaches running to nearby towns from Southern Cross Station, but there’s no direct public transport link to the forest itself, so it’s worth travelling by car if you can.
What can you do at Gunbower Forest?
Before you visit, it’s important to understand the cultural and spiritual significance of the area to the traditional custodians, the Barapa Barapa people. With respect for the significance of the region, you can hike along the 14-kilometre trail that passes stunning cultural sites, canoe along the Safes Lagoon trail, set up a picnic on the sandy banks of the river, and watch kangaroos graze on the banks and black swans glide along the water. The area is also internationally recognised as a wetland of importance for wildlife – providing habitats for birds (including pelicans, spoonbills, kingfishers, Australasian bitterns and other endangered species), native fish and a lot of other beloved Aussie creatures (including echidnas, roos, wallabies and possums).
Where to stay near Gunbower Forest
In Cohuna, you’ll find a few different accommodation options – including a riverside holiday park, a couple of motel-style inns and apartments, and a good selection of holiday rentals and Airbnbs.
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