Things to Do in Gouldburn Murray Waters

Historic Attractions

• Rutherglen – historic buildings and homes including churches and public buildings, Mount Carmel Convent, the ruins of Vidal’s Distillery and Netherby Cellars, Olive Hills Homestead and Mt Ophir Estate.
• The historic Port of Echuca, a living history area with three sections, the wharf, the Star Hotel (1867) which features an underground escape tunnel and the Bridge Hotel (1858) with an upstairs gallery.The area is accessible via the old train station and a 'passport' gives access to all three areas and the restored paddle-steamers, Pevensey, PS Adelaide, and PS Alexander Arbuthnot, all available for cruises.
• Historic displays at the Echuca Historical Society Museum in the old police station, and Koori artifacts at the Njernda Aboriginal Culutral Centre. The National Holden Museum has a collection of more than 40 restored Holden cars and associated memorabilia, and the Coach House Carriage Museum has a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and carriage rides.
• Red Gum Works, an historic sawmill in Echuca with workshops featuring woodturning demonstrations and blacksmiths using traditional tools.
• Kellyland - a multi-million dollar cinematic and theatrical depiction of the Kelly gang's last stand enacted by Disneyland-style computerised robots. Different sets relate different moments of the story - the waiting room of Glenrowan railway station, the shoot-out, the burning hotel and the execution at Melbourne Gaol. Original props include the bar of McDonell's Tavern, an authentic hand-gun owned by Ned, Sgt Kennedy's hitching post and a rare surviving copy of the findings of the Royal Commission into the Kelly manhunt.
• Kate's Cottage - a gift and souvenir shop named after Ned's mother focusing on Kelly memorabilia and Australiana.
• Ned Kelly Museum, with illustrative displays, stringybark replica of the Kelly homestead, (the ruins of the 1877 homestead can still be seen to the south-west of town, near Greta West), a coach, a blacksmith's shed, barbecue facilities and talking cockatoos.
• Cobb & Co Museum, housed in an authentic reconstruction of the town's original Cobb & Co changing station and displaying photographs, memorabilia and write-ups relating to the Kelly siege and shoot-out.
• Kelly Walk – a self-guided walk which takes in the townsites associated with the Glenrowan siege. The railway station has changed little since Ned lay wounded in the stationmaster's office. Crowds used the station as a grandstand to watch the siege.
• Stringybark Creek, south of Tatong, has the famous Kelly Tree where Ned Kelly shot and killed police officers in 1878.

Recreation

• The Muscat Trail - a cycling tour of the district which takes in historic points of interest such as Netherby Cellars, Campbells Winery (established 1870), Buller's Bird Park, Lake Moodemere, Carlyle Cemetery (established 1865), the Pioneer Cemetery (established 1859), the Mass Tree, the John Foord Bridge (1892), All Saints Winery (established in 1864), Carlyle Community Hall, Vidal's Cellars and Brandy Distillery, the Gold Battery and the Rose of Sharon goldmining site (1860s).
• Bushwalking and camping in the scenic Lake Eildon National Park, covering 27,000ha on the southern and central sections of Lake Eildon. Surrounding the 515km shoreline of Lake Eildon, the park has goldmining relics, old farmhouses, plenty of wildlife and almost 300 species of plants including ground orchids and wildflowers in spring. There are good camping sites in the park and a range of walking trails, including the Keg Spur Trek (13.5km, 5hrs) and the easier Candlebark Nature Walk (2km). Canoeing, boating, and sailing are other popular activities.

Natural Wonders

• Lake Moodemere, a former Aboriginal camp with many waterbirds, particularly black swans and pelicans. The lake is the venue for Victoria's oldest continuously operating rowing regatta held on New Year's Day, started in 1866. There are picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities and plenty of fishing, boating, waterskiing, rowing and swimming opportunities. One of the Aboriginal leaders, Tommy McCrae, was a noted artist who camped on its shores and recorded its beauty for posterity. He died in 1901 and was buried on the lake shore.
• Snobs Creek Freshwater Hatchery breeds hundreds of thousands of fish each year for release into the inland river system for the preservation of native fish species and the benefit of recreational anglers. Visitor facilities include an auditorium with a video presentation about the hatchery, a display area and an aquarium section. The fish may be hand-fed in retaining ponds outside.
• Rubicon Falls are located 18km south-west of Eildon, via Thornton. The area is scenic and of historic interest, being involved in one of the state's first hydro-electric schemes (c.1910).
• Lake Benalla - a very attractive artificial lake constructed in 1974-75 by damming the Boken River. It features recreation facilities and a bird sanctuary.
• Lake Mokoan is a large expanse of water to the north-west of Benalla which is ideal for boating, fishing and waterskiing.
• Reef Hills State Park, 4km south-west of Benalla is a 2040-hectare forest with a range of flora and fauna amidst eucalypt forest and numerous picnic spots.
• Mount Samaria State Park is an attractive and forested 7600ha semi-remote area which encloses a rugged plateau to the south of Benalla. It has waterfalls, scenic views, magnificent stands of eucalypts, abundant wildlife, birdlife and  wildflowers in spring. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks and drives, picnics, camping, bushwalking and photography.