WINTON WETLANDS
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The Winton Wetlands were created out of what was formerly Lake Mokoan; however, prior to the creation of the Lake (in 1971), this was a wetland system, so things have gone full circle.
Aboriginal people once occupied the areas around the original wetland area, and would have found this to be close to an ideal environment for their hunter-gatherer life-style.
In 1971, the wetlands were flooded to create Lake Mokoan, an off-river irrigation storage for the waters of the Broken River, which rises to the north-east of Mansfield.
In 2006 the Lake was decommissioned as a storage, and following this decision water was no longer siphoned out of the River, and restoration of the original wetland habitat was commenced.
Starting out from Benalla, the action starts by taking the old Hume Highway north from town, and then swinging left onto the Yarrawonga Road, about six kilometres later.
This leads to the north-west, and you need to keep right where the signage indicates that Yarrawonga is to the left (this is at a y-junction), and then take the signposted Lake Mokoan Road to the right (this is about seven kilometres from the old Highway).
This then leads onto a nice quiet bush road, with a series of rolling hills to the left, and great views to the high country over the wetlands to the right.
The Wetlands are quite a popular paddling venue, and setting off from the boat ramp, there are extensive reed beds close by, and a small island not too far away.
Birdlife is prolific, and this is a very enjoyable paddling venue.
Access from Wangaratta is by taking the Old Hume Highway south, and swinging right onto the Taminick Road (just before the Freeway on-ramp) and then turning right onto the signposted Taminick Gap Road a short distance later.
This leads over the said Taminick Gap (great views) and then down the western slopes of the Warby Ranges to a t-junction with the Glenrowan-Boweya Road.
Turn right at the t, and then left onto Lake Mokoan Road a few kilometres later. Follow this scenic back-country road through to the car park mentioned above, or any of the other access points.
Benalla Visitor Information Centre
COPYRIGHT © 1995-2020, Chris McLaughlin.