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
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BREAMLEA FLORAFAUNA RESERVE
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B11O
Leopold
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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
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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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