Lake

HindmarshLake

Reserve

Gurru

VisitorGuide

AnidealplaceforcampingandwatersportsthisisVictoria’slargestnatural

freshwaterlakeanditisbrimmingwithwaterandattractingwildlifeagain.

“WotjobalukpeoplehavealwayslookedaftertheircountryandthecountryhasalwayslookedafterWotjobalukpeople.”ThelateUncleJackKennedy,WotjobalukElder

Caring forCountry

.ForthousandsofyearstheWimmeraRiverandthelakesandwoodlandsoftheWimmeraandMalleeplainshavesustainedthepeopleoftheWotjobaluk,Jaadwa,Jadawadjali,WergaiaandJupagalkpeople.CaringforCountryisthefabricofIndigenoussocial,spiritual,economicandphysical wellbeingandisthebasisoftheirculturallore.

AsTraditionalOwnersthesetribes werethecustodiansofthelandandtheyeffectivelypracticed whatequatesinmanywaystotheconceptofsustainablelandmanagement.

ParksVictoriarecognisesandacknowledgesthisconnectionandtheareasTraditionalOwners

andAboriginalCommunities.Allculturalsites

EnjoyingtheLakeReserve

Gurruhasbasicfacilitieswithbushsettingsmakethelakeidealfortheself-containedvisitortoenjoybirdwatching,bushcamping,boatingandfishing.

Campingandaccommodation Four-MileBeachisthemostpopulararea withwell-developedfacilities.-Campingfeesapply.

SchulzesBeachandTheWattleshavepittoilets

-Nofeesarecharged.

BushCamping-Youcancampatseveralotherlocationsaroundthelake.Therearenofacilities.

ArangeofaccommodationoptionsareavailableatJeparit,Nhill,Rainbowand,Dimboola.

Boating

Thelakecatersforavarietyofboat-basedactivitiesincludingfishing,waterskiingandsailing.

How to get there

LakeHindmarsh(Gurru)isreachedviatheWesternHighway,turningnorthatNhillorDimboola.TheLakeis380kmfromMelbourneand450kmfromAdelaide.

hereatGurruareprotectedbylaw.

Be fire ready and stay safe

Manyparksandforestsarelocatedinhighfireriskareas.

Richwithplants and wildlife

On days of forecast Code RedFireDanger this

LakeHindmarsh(Gurru)isavaluablehavenforwaterbirds,andishometopermanentandvisitingbirdsincludingwhite-breastedsea-eagles,swans,ducks,terns,spoonbills,ternsandcoloniesofpelicans.

RiverRedGumsandtheThree-nerveWattlefringethelakeandleadintotheadjoiningBirdcageFloraandFaunaReservewhereBlackBox,YellowGumandnativeSlenderCypress-pineprovidefoodandshelterto wrens,honeyeaters,robins,parrots,andspeciessuchastheBushThick-knee(Curlew)andGilbert’sWhistler.

Park will be closed for public safety. If you are already in the park youshould leave the night before or early in the morning for your own safety.

Closure signs will be erected and rangers will patrol whenpossible, however you may not receive a personal warning that the park is closed so check the latest conditions by calling 13 1963 or visit

For up to date informationon fires in Victoria or general fire safety advice call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

April2011

FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformation Centreon131963 orvisitour websiteat

Forfurtherinformation

ParksVictoriaInformationCentre Call131963

orvisittheParksVictoriawebsite

FourMileBeachCampground

CallHindmarshShireCouncilTel:(03)53914444

HorshamVisitorInformationCentre

20O’CallaghanParade

HorshamVIC3400

Tollfree:1800633218

Caringfortheenvironment

Helpusto lookaftertheparkby rememberingtheseguidelines:

Allnativeplantsandanimals, archaeologicalsites,historicand culturalremainsandgeologicalfeatures areprotectedbylawandmust notbe disturbed,damagedorremoved.

Pleasetakeallrubbishhomewithyou fordisposalorrecycling.

FIRE

Firesmaybelitsubjectto fire regulationsat alltimes

Fuelstovesarepreferred

Firewoodmaybecollectedonlyforcampfireswithinthelakereserveand shouldonlybedeadwoodfrom the ground

Nofires/flames,(includinggasorfuel stoves/lanternsintents) maybeliton daysofTotalFireBan

LakeHindmarshLakeReserveis intheWimmeraFireBanDistrict

ItisyourresponsibilitytoknowifitisadayofTotalFireBan

IfindoubtcalltheVictorianBushfire InformationLine:1800240667

Pioneers Grave

PIONEERLANE

Parkclosures

Bepreparedto leaveearly asextremeweather may causetheclosureofsomeparkareasfor publicsafety.

Boatingsafety

Donotmixalcoholandboating.

Alwayscarryorwearappropriatesafetyequipment.

Knowtheboatingregulations

Watchoutforboats, canoesandhazards. Donotoverloadtheboat.

Checkthe VictorianBoatingGuidefor details

Driving-carefully

Driveonlyonformedroadsandvehicle tracksthatareopentothepublic-donot driveoff-track.

Stayofftracksthataretoowet,orhave beenrecentlygraded.

Avoidwheelspinandchurningupthe tracksurface.

Don’tdrivearoundfreshlyfallenlogsand trees,removethemorreturnthewayyou came.

periodicallydry

Bushcamping

Minimiseyourimpactonthelakes environment.Showcareandrespectfor this place.

Followtheseguidelinesandyoucanensureit survivesintothefuture.

Campat least20metresfromwaterbodies. Campinnaturalclearingsandavoidcamping

underlargetrees–theirlimbsmayfall

withoutwarning.

Useachemicaltoiletorburyhumanwasteatleast100metresfrom waterbodies.

MobilePhones

Youmaynotbeinnetworkrangein someareasof thepark.Tobeconnected toPolice,AmbulanceorCFA, keyin112 thenpresstheYESkey.