Spurred On By Lakeside Views
The Age
Friday November 28, 2003
Lake Eildon National Park (originally Fraser National Park) is a haven for kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas and many species of birdlife including kookaburras, parrots, cockatoos, eagles and a variety of water birds. Orchids and wildflowers are also prolific in the dry eucalypt forests. Although a fair distance from Melbourne, the park offers basic camping and cabin accommodation (contact the camping ground office on 03 5772 1293 for bookings and charges) with further accommodation options in nearby Alexandra. A vehicle entrance fee applies for day visitors.
Signs in Alexandra indicate the way into the park. Turn right upon passing the entrance station and drive to the end of the bitumen road at Lakeside camping area. A signpost, "Point Mead 800m", denotes the beginning of the walking track skirting the edge of Lake Eildon. There is a car park on the opposite side of the road. Unfortunately the waters of the lake are still a considerable distance below full supply level and the severity of the drought is reinforced by the forest of small trees occupying the space between the edge of the lake and the current water level. At times the undulating walking track is a little neglected and you will occasionally need to push through the overhanging vegetation but the path is always obvious and offers delightful views. Currently there are many wildflowers to add a touch of colour. A trackside seat announces your arrival at Point Mead, where a more extensive view across the waters of Lake Eildon unfolds. Continuing around the lake shore, the track climbs away from the lakeside as Point Mibus is approached, finally arriving at a signposted track junction. Turn left and descend to Point Mibus, where a pleasant grassy clearing amid the forest tempts you to rest a while, a wise decision as a steep climb lies ahead.
When suitably rested, retrace your footsteps back to the signpost and continue straight ahead along the path signposted to Estate Spur. It climbs rather too quickly for comfort but before long arrives on the top of a grassy knoll where a sign declares you have arrived upon Estate Spur. From this exposed eyrie, take in an expansive view of Lake Eildon and its surrounding hills, with even more extensive views available if you climb further along the spur. Much of the land surrounding Coller Bay was cleared for grazing purposes in the late 19th century and this continued until 1957. The land was then resumed to become Fraser National Park and more recently extended into Lake Eildon National Park. Although much of the native vegetation has returned, the region around Coller Bay still retains a pastoral air, although the sheep and cattle of an earlier age have now been replaced with kangaroos and wallabies.
With no sign of any form of track, the next few metres of the walk require the deductive capabilities of Sherlock Holmes. From the Estate Spur sign, turn right and walk 100m down the open spur, keeping an eye on the ground for a broken signpost. It is just beyond the large dead, silvered tree in the middle of the spur. Trying to reconstruct in which direction the sign meant you to go is not going to help much. Instead turn hard left at the broken sign and walk across to the edge of the spur. There before you, a few metres away, is a set of wheel tracks leading steeply downhill to Lakeside camping area. Take care on the descent as loose stones could cause a fall. The ground to one side of the wheel tracks is more stable. Upon arriving at the bitumen road at the bottom of the hill, turn right for the final 100m back to the car park.
Length: 4km
Time: 2 hours
From Melbourne: 145km
Closest Town: Alexandra, 17km
Maps: Vicmap 1: 50 000 Outdoor Leisure Lake Eildon
Dogs: Not permitted
John Siseman is co-author of Day Walks Victoria.
© 2003 The Age