There are so many things you can do in Walhalla. For the adventure seekers that have 4WD’s, trail bikes or canoe/kayaks it’s a haven. Unfortunately for us we have a camper van so were unable to experience the thrills these adventurers do.
11 Reasons Why You Should Visit Walhalla
- You’re an adventure seeker
- Walhalla is a place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of city life
- A place to try your luck at panning for gold
- Historical gold mining area
- Scenic
- Nature lover
- Looking for a canoe trail
- 4WD enthusiast
- Love history
- You love historical trains
- Looking for somewhere fairly close to the Melbourne CBD
Our Adventure
For us we had a wonderful weekend away in Walhalla and it will definitely be a place of our return. We drove to Walhalla from the Melbourne CBD. Our first stop was in Moe where we stocked up with supplies. It is here we’d also recommend you top up with petrol if you come this route.
From Moe the journey is very scenic. The closer you get to Coopers Creek Campground where we stayed the prettier it is. The windy roads are surrounded by tall trees and lush green tree ferns.
About Coopers Creek Campground
There are two campgrounds within walking distance of each other, day trip area and the Thomson River. When we visited we stayed at campground1 which overlooks the Thomson River. Campground 2 was closed as it was being rejuvenated. Our tip: when going to free camping grounds always check out if they are open or accessible before heading off there.
Both campgrounds are suitable for tents, camper vans and caravans. However there are more sites especially at Campground 1 for walk in tents. At Campground 1 there are only a couple of sites suitable for camper vans or caravans.
Within easy 5-10 min walking distance of both campgrounds is the Thomson River Canoe Trail. Before taking off on trail check out the conditions to ensure it is safe.
Coopers Creek Campground Facilities
- Drop Toilets
- Designated camp sites
- Free camping
- Fire pits supplied on most sites, check out the local fire restrictions.
- There are no dump spots
- BYO water or ensure you boil the water thoroughly if you use the creek water
- Picnic table areas
Day 1 Itinerary
We took off on a Friday afternoon and arrived late afternoon. We only had one stop over in Moe where we got our supplies. It was a spontaneous decision to get away for the weekend, one of the perks of having a camper van!! Depending when you go through Moe if you are interested in horse racing you could make a day of it at the races.
Our journey took us along scenic roads where tall trees surrounded the roads and the sunshine glistened through….arggghhhh love these road trips, with the windows down to take in the fresh air!!
Once we reached Coopers Creek Campground and were set up we were content to explore the area. The campground is a very popular spot. Although when we visited it was in winter and a cool winters weekend at that, there were lots of groups of 4WD enthusiasts driving through looking for a camp site. If this is the destination you wish to camp ensure you arrive early to secure your camp site. The area is also popular for day trippers and within walking distance is the day visitor picnic area.
- Travel to Coopers Creek Campground
- Stopover at Moe for supplies/top up petrol
- Set up camp
- Explore the beautiful area
Day 2 Itinerary
We had a very relaxing day watching people pan for gold down by the Thomson River which was a short 5 min stroll from the campground. We also had great delight watching the 4WD adventures cross the Thomson River, looked like they had so much fun!!
After this we took off and explored the historical Walhalla Goldfields Railway where we took the return train ride from Walhalla Station to Thomson Station. All up this took an hour. After this we drove to Bruntons Bridge. The drive to here was beautiful. Some of the journey was through the recent fire bush area. Lots of the trees were beginning to shoot. Here we checked out the Bruntons Bridge Campground which was closed due to rejuvenation’s. It is scheduled to re-open December 2019. Once it reopens it should be a great place to stay for free camping.
- Take in the atmosphere
- Sat around the campfire playing cards
- Watched people panning for gold
- Watched 4WD enthusiasts cross the Thomson River
- Visited the Walhallan Goldfields Railway
- Visited the Bruntons Bridge
- Relaxed around the campfire
Day 3 Itinerary
We spent the morning relaxing around the campfire before taking a stroll down to the Thomson River to again watch the adventure seekers. The Thomson River in summer would be a great place to get refreshed and soak up the sun. Whilst we were at Coopers Campground 1 a lot of the area was in shade, the nearby day trip area and Thomson River was in the sun.
If you are camping in campground 1 and in a tent there are more sites which had a sunny position whilst we were there.
After we’d packed up camp it was time to hit the scenic roads and head to Walhalla Historical Gold Mining town. Here we had a lovely walk through the town, since it was a Sunday some of the places were closed. So if you want to explore the historical shops ensure you don’t leave your visit here to a Sunday!!
We had a lovely lunch at the local pub where we chatted with locals from nearby towns. There are so many different types of chicken parmigiana to choose from. Walhalla itself is home to approximately 20 residents!! With the remainder of the homes being rented out to the tourists!!
Walhalla Historical Gold Mining Town is small but a delightful town which has a great feel to it. It is certainly a place we could’ve explored for longer. If you are not into camping or wanting a break from camping there are loads of places to stay at.
On our way home our Navman decided it was going to try and get us lost!! With no wifi reception we relied on what the Navman was telling us!! Yes, we were sceptical but as we like to be spontaneous decided we would see where the Navman took us. You guessed it we ended up in totally the wrong direction and had a massive detour home. However as we always say “it’s not the destination it’s the journey”. Often many places you stumble across can be of equal or greater interest.
We ended up at the Thomson Dam which was great to see. It is the largest of Melbourne’s 10 dams. Thomson Dam holds nearly four times that of Melbourne’s next largest dam!! The dam is located approximately 130km east of the Melbourne CBD. The Thomson Dam is a major earth and rockfill embarkment dam. It has a controlled spillway across the Thomson River. Yes, it was awesome to come across when it was not on our to go list!!
- Enjoy breakfast around the campfire
- Soak up the atmosphere
- Watch the adventure seekers on Thomson River
- Explore Walhalla Historical Gold Mining Town
- Lunch at The Wally Pub
- Visited Thomson Dam
- Home
Nearby Attractions
- Walhalla Goldfields Railway
- Walhalla Old Gold Mining Town
- Walhalla Gold Mining Tour
- Bruntons Bridge
- Thomson Dam
Walhalla Location
Approximately 185km, 2hrs 20mins East of Melbourne CBD
Coopers Creek Campground Location
Approximately 183km, 2hrs 10mins East of Melbourne CBD
Feedback/Comments
Have you explored this fascinating place? If you have we’d love to hear about your adventures and any tips on places we should visit on our next trip.
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