Wed, 2nd Dec, 2015 Barmah State Park (above Bearii), Vic to Barmah Island, Barmah State Park, Barmah, Vic (exploring)

A shower of rain during the night. All clear now though, 15 degrees at 8am but still windy.

Headed back down the track to the main road, passed a chicken farm. I thought I had some long life milk as we are about to run out but I don’t!! Drove back a few kms to Strathmerton to get some and to dump the dunny.

Headed west again. Lots of brilliantly green Superb Parrots then saw a sign saying it was a Conservation area for them near Bearii. Tried to get to the top of the other section of Barmah State Park so headed onto the dirt roads but ended up lost in all the pasture and hay fields and a pig farm.

Stopped in Barmah where the Murray River has a big bend in it. Chatted with a chap who said he was camping by the river before the National Park. He said to watch out for brumbies and emus.

Turned up the road to Barmah Lakes. Crossed over Broken Creek into the Barmah National Park which used to be the State Park. Drove up to the Barmah Lakes camping area and pulled over for a look around. Nice area but as usual of National Parks the camping area is now set well back from the edge of the water. Of course the Victorians don’t read the ‘no dog’ sign!!

This area is where the Murray River has spread over a vast area and there are islands in the middle.

We walked down to the boat ramp and day use area then back to the other end. Found the brumbies eating the lush grass by the river.

Decided to check out the other area so headed back over Broken Creek then followed it up till it flowed into the Murray River. A river distance marker on the NSW side is 1772km. Broken Creek starts near Benalla where it branches off Broken River. Broken River then travels the other way through Shepparton and then joins the Goulburn River which then flows into the Murray too.

Drove further downstream to find a spot and found another red marker on the Vic side. A houseboat is moored on the NSW side.

The GPS shows the area the Murray spreads over. The NSW side is called Moira Lakes.

We are camped where the blue arrow is on Barmah Island. Creeks starting upstream of the Murray cross across the land and then join the Murray downstream creating islands.

Steve found a bucket – that will replace the one he lost in Tassie!!

Had some lunch then headed off to explore. Some people are carrying out fishing survey by stunning the fish with electricity then recording details. They got a carp while we were watching.

Headed north past the National Park campground to the old muster yards.

An old River Red Gum. I had been calling them Red River Gums but I have it right now.

Carried on along the track till we came to an aboriginal ceremonial place.

Further along we turned off to Hut Lake. Lovely and lush here no wonder they grazed their cattle here.

Lots of brumbies here.

On the edge of the clearing the trees are taller and closer together.

Back on the track we continued on and arrived at Bucks Lake. This area is wetlands. Crossed the bridge – the creek joins Tullah Creek and then flows into the Murray at the top of Barmah Lakes. Worked out now that Tullah Creek was the one we were travelling beside yesterday when we headed into the other camp area, which we thought was a backwater.

Travelled along beside the creek then we finally we arrived at the Murray River again, upstream.

Not much bank here so it could easily flood the wetland area.

Checked my map to figure out where this creek goes. It shows that the Murray flows down through this creek, which is the one we had been travelling beside.

Crossed over the new bridge as the old wooden has been pulled down. We are on ‘Top Island’ now as the Murray is on one side and the creek (from the Murray) goes down and then joins the Murray again making us surrounded by water.

Now we are following the Murray downstream. So many dead trees on the ground. Crossed another creek but this one has gates on it. Not sure where this creek goes.

Across the river is Picnic Point in NSW. Huge area with houses and weekenders.

Found another red marked tree.

Crossed another creek with gates. A sign says this one is called Island Creek.

Further downstream is a caravan park. Spotted another distant marker, 1788km. We at the top of the lake areas and the end of the road as there is no bridge across this creek.

Across the Murray is another camp area. I called out to the chap to ask what it is called – he said ‘Swifts Creek’. Looks nice and it has a flash boat ramp.

Our GPS mark before we turned around and headed back up the track.

Took us an hour to get to the end but it is a nice drive along the Murray.

Back to where we can look across to the caravan park in NSW. The water is up high.

Crossed back over the two gates creeks then the other one which we then follow back to where it joins Tullah Creek here.

Back to the Muster Yards where we noticed another sign. Should have read this one before heading up. The map would have been helpful but at least now I can work out what’s what. Tullah Creek flows into Smiths Creek which is what the top creek was flowing into. I like figuring out exactly where we are and going.

Where we are camping.

This shows where we were travelled along the creek yesterday before going to where we camped. We saw the sign for Ulupna Island at Strathmerton but didn’t realise what it meant.

 We drove up Rockliffs Road then travelled along Ulupna Track then turned to beside the Murray at the Junction and then travelled along till we found our camp spot.

Information about the area and some great photos. 

There is a walk about the environment from here but they haven’t maintained the signs so they are hard to read. This one is about the floods seen here over the years. Barmah Forest is subject to regular flooding and is an internationally recognised wetland providing important habitat, particularly for waterbirds. The ‘flood post’ indicates the water level reached during some major past floods. 

We laughed at the sign ‘danger – deep water, no swimming’ in the background as the dam is empty now.

Nearby is the Dharnya Centre, opened in 1985. Closed now.

Walked around to the back to check out the ‘scarred trees’. Aborigines cut a slab of bark from this tree. Bark was used to make canoes, shields, containers and shelters.

Peered inside the centre – lots of cobwebs on the windows so hasn’t been used in a while. Inside was a bark canoe and displays etc.

Not sure about the big fish!!

Zoomed in on the boards about the Maloga Mission which was created in 1874 and the petition the aborigines signed to get back their land – obviously the area we saw today.

Walked around to the other end.

Back to the truck and we drove around the Muster Yards to read the memorial to the men and families of the cattlemen here over the years.

Took a photo of the yards and managed to get a fly too.

Back to the van for a drink by the river. Lots of people fishing but there doesn’t seem to be many cod caught. Got too cold to stay outside so headed in to cook tea and write up my blog. Steve working his way through the Game of Throne series. We are slowly figuring out who is who – bit gruesome so I am glad I am typing while watching it.

Two possums had an argument beside the van so I through them out the vegie scraps. Cute little things.