LakeConnewarreStateGameReserve

VisitorGuide

InoneofthelargestestuariesinWesternVictoria,LakeConnewarreStateGameReserve hasavarietyofswamps,marshes,lakesandriverareas.Thiscomplexenvironmenthasa widerange ofvegetationcommunities providinghabitatforestuarinefloraandfaunauniqueto thearea.

InternationallySignificant Wetlands

LakeConnewarre State Game Reserve isa complexwetlandecosystemlinkedto theseaby theBarwon River. In 1983 the Reservewas declaredby the Victorian Government as a “wetland of international significance”under the Ramsarconvention.

The reserve provides significant habitat for a number of endangered migratorybird species.Twointernationalagreementswith Japan and China ensure species such as Greenshank,Eastern GoldenPloverand Red-knecked Stintsareprotected.

The reserve is dominatedbytwo verydifferentlakes,LakeConnewarreandReedyLake.The water quality and plantcommunities of Lake Connewarre are influencedby daily tidal changes withlakewatercoming from the sea via the Barwon River.

ReedyLake is a brackish freshwater lake and is almost completelycovered by water plants including tall stands ofPhragmities and Cumbungi. Water levelswithinthe lake are artificiallyaltered to replicatea more natural cycle.

Enjoying the park

Haveapicnic

Taits Point has excellent panoramic views ofLake Connewarreand the surrounding escarpmentfromtwoviewingplatforms.Otherpicnicsites includethe historicSheepwash ontheBarwonRiverand Jock McCorkell Reserve.

Catchafish

A number of fishing platformsanda boardwalk provide good access to the river upstream atBarwonHeads.The main catches are Bream,YellowedEyed Mullet,RedfinandMulloway.

A recreationalfishinglicenceis requiredbyall anglers. Illegal fishing should be reported to 13FISH (13 3474).

Go boating

Taits Point hasa boat rampsuitable for launching small craft – canoes, kayaks and small fishing boats. Note there is no vehicleaccess to the boat ramp.

Sailboardingis also popular in the main lake.

A five knot speed restriction applies to allpowered craft withinLake Connewarre, the BarwonRiver downstream from the SecondBreak, including all port waters.

DuckHunting

Duck hunting is permittedwithin designated areas of the reserveduringthe declaredduck hunting season.

Groupssuchas GeelongField and Game,GeelongRodand GunClubandWorkers forWetlandsundertake conservationworks throughout the reserveoutside of the hunting season.

For more informationon huntingin the Lake ConnewarreState Game Reserve, orhowyou can help lookafter the reserve, contact Parks Victoriaon 13 1963.

FormoreinformationcalltheParksVictoriaInformationCentre

on131963orvisitourwebsiteat

WHITTINGTON

Breakwater

ToGeelong

StAlbans Park

BellarineLakes GolfPark

To Geelong

Marshall

Reedy Lake

C121

Second Break

LakeConnewarreStateGameReserve

Highway

Majorsealedroad Minorsealedroad

Unsealedroad

Vehicletrack

Walkingtrack

StateGameReserve OtherReserves MarineSanctuary Waterbody Wetlands

Recreational Facilities

Barbecue-Wood Boatlaunching Carpark

Fishingplatform

Parkinformation

Hospital Swamps Wetlands

Connewarre

Hospital Swamps Wetlands

C121

HOSPITAL SWAMPS RD

TaitPoint

BarwonHeads Airfield

Campbell Point

The lsland

L

Conn

Picnictable Seating Toilets

ThirteenthBea GolfLinks

00.51

KILOMETRE S

NCartography by Spatial Vision 2008 M/8802

MELBOURNE

*

BREAMLEA FLORAFAUNA RESERVE

©

+

B11O

Leopold

+

ToWallington

Queenscliff

INSET

RiverParade

ake
ewarre

ToPortarlington

Fenwick

Pacey Island

SEPARATEPARKNOTEAVAILABLE

OCEANGROVE NATURE RESERVE

C129

SEEINSET

Ocean Grove Golf Course

OCEANGROVE

ch

MurtnaghurtLagoon

BARWON HEADS

BarwonHeads GolfCourse

EWING BLYTH DVE

PointFlinders

Geelong

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MELBOURNE

LAKE CONNEWARRESTATE GAME RESEReVE

Frankstone

eQueenscliff

ePortsea

BASSSTRAlT

BARWONBLUFF MARlNESANCTUARY

Forfurtherinformation

ParksVictoriaInformationCentre

Call131963

orvisittheParksVictoriawebsite

QueenscliffVisitorInformationCentre55HesseStreet

QueenscliffVIC3225

Phone:(03)52584843

Caringforthe environment

Helpuslookafter yourparkbyfollowingtheseguidelines:

Pleasetakeallrubbishwithyouforrecyclingordisposal

Allplants,animals,historicalandarchaeologicalsitesandgeographicfeaturesare

protectedbylaw

Dogsandotherpetsarenotpermittedinthepark

FirearmsareprohibitedNofires,includingbarbecues,

maybelitonadayofTotalFire

Ban.LakeConnewarreStateGameReserveisintheCentralTotalFireBanDistrict

Itis yourresponsibilitytoknowifitisadayof TotalFireBan.Ifindoubtcallthe

VictorianBushfireInformationLineon1800240667

Parkclosures-Bepreparedtoleaveearlyasextremeweathermaycausethe

closureofsomeparkareas

forpublicsafety

Collectonlydeadwoodfromthegroundforcampfires

Vehicles,includingmotorbikes,mayonlybeusedonformedopenroads.Driversmustbelicensedandvehiclesregisteredandroadworthy

BarwonRiverParklands

Thereare over 26km ofwalkingandcycling pathsalong theBarwon River.There are also goldcourses, fishing andviewingplatforms,playgrounds,public toilets and picnic areas. TheBarwonRiver provides for canoeing, kayakingandwater skiing.

Beloware just a fewof the places to visit along the river.

BuckleyFallsPark

Enjoy stunningriver and valley views from the lookout. BuckleyFalls can be reachedbycar or via the sealedwalking/cycling path from nearbyQueensPark.

BalyangSanctuary

The sanctuaryis a haven for birds- swans,pelicans, Eurasian coot, duskymoorhen,Pacificblackduck,mallard, pied cormorant,geese and silver gulls. Riversidewalking/bike paths link BalyangSanctuarywith other parks alongtheBarwonRiver.

OceanGrove NatureConservationReserve

Exploreone of thelast remaining parcels ofnativevegetationontheBellarinePeninsula.The reserve has an informationcentre that is open onweekends.A number of interesting walks start from the reserve’s picnic area.

WhiteMangroves

The banks of theBarwonRiver form the mostwesternoccurrence ofwhite mangrove in Australia.Whitemangrovesareuniquely equippedto survive in muddy and salty conditions.Themangroveroot system allowsthe plant to breathewhilstexposed at lowtide.

The mangroves playan important role in the food chainand biodiversityby providing anexcellentsource of food and shelter formanyspecies offish,animalsand birdlife.Looking after these plantspecies willensure adequate food stocks for fish andprotectfishingopportunities.

Unfortunately the mangroves along thelower BarwonRiverare in decline due to pressurefrom the impact ofpeople. Walking and fishingalong theriver edgedamagethe sensitive streamside mangroves and salt marsh communities.

You canhelpprotect the mangroves andwetlands bystayingondesignated walking tracks andusing fishing platformswhile fishing. This will ensure futurefood stocks forfish, animals andbirdlife.

Birdlife

The reserve is a popular site for birdwatching with onehundredand fortyninerecordedspecies ofbirds. Birds such as Strawnecked and Sacred ibis alongwithYellowed-billed spoonbills regularlyuse breeding sites in the area.

Theriver edges and tidal mudflatsalong thelower BarwonRiver provideexcellent habitat foregrets,gulls, terns, pelicansand cormorants.The tidal flowallows aquatic invertebrates and small fish tomoveup theriver, providing a valuable food sourcefor these species.

Another significant visitor to the reserve is the Orange-bellied Parrot. BreedinginTasmaniaover summer, this species migrates north via Bass Straitislandsto Victoria’scoastlinefor the winter.It is thought that LakeConnewarre forms one ofonlyfive known over-winter sites.

Befirereadyandstaysafe

Manyparksandforests arelocated in highfirerisk areas.Ondaysofforecast CodeRedFire Dangerthisparkwillbeclosedforpublicsafety.

Ifyou arealreadyintheparkyoushould leavethe night before orearlyin the morning for your own safety.

Closure signs will be erected and rangerswill patrolwherepossible, howeveryoumay not

receivea personalwarning that the park is closed

so check thelatest conditionsbycalling 131963 orvisit

For up to date information onfires in Victoria or generalfire safetyadvice call theVictorianBushfireInformationLineon1800240667.

How to get there

Thereserve issituatedon the Bellarine Peninsula approximately65km southwest of Melbourne and 8km south east of Geelong.

LakeConnewarre can be accessed from BrimsmeadLane,Mollers Lane,Wallington Road andBarwonHeads Road.

Taits Point Picnic Area can be accessed from StaceysRoad.

ReedyLake can be accessedviaCoppards Road,CalderStreet,MoolapStation Road,Whitehorse Roadand O’Hallarons Road.

December 2010

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