Located in the heart of the Latrobe Valley, Morwell offers an exciting blend of city and country lifestyles with a wide range of things to see and do. Morwell, perfectly situated in the heart of the Latrobe Valley is an ideal base camp for touring the essential beauty of Gippsland: the mountains, streams and gullies of the Strzelecki and Great Dividing Ranges.

The main feature of the Morwell region is its enormous diversity- few other areas offer such a wide range of things to see and do in such a contained area. Morwell is within close proximity to the tranquil beauty of Australia's finest national parks and is in easy reach of historic towns nestling in the foothills of magnificent alpine areas. It is the centre of towering electricity generating power stations fed by giant brown coal open cuts - Victoria's energy heartland.

For further information about all of these attractions, contact the Tourist Information Centre, Shop 2, Southside Central, Princes Highway, Traralgon, freecall 1800 621 409.

PowerWorks

PowerWorks in the heart of the Latrobe Valley, location of Victoria's vast brown coal mines and power stations which are responsible for generating 85 per cent of Victoria's electricity.

The centre provides visitors with a close-up look at this amazing industry. It features a dynamic video presentation on the electricity industry, an extensive photographic display recording the history of the power industry in the Valley, a range of hands-on interactive displays and a gourmet café and gift shop.

phone for information and bookings, 5135 3415.

Morwell Centenary Rose Garden

Located at the Eastern end of Commercial Rd, Morwell. Two and a half acres of landscaped rose gardens, more than 2,000 bushes, featuring special Australian/New Zealand section. Popular wedding venue. Winner two awards in 1998. Annual pruning demonstrations. Open all year round. For further information phone Jim Dear on 5122 1384.

Morwell Community Playground

Playground designed by kids for kids up to about 12 years old, includes toddler "safe" zone, swings, climbing, crawl spaces, slides, sandpits, balance challenges, etc., Morwell Town Common, Elgin St, Morwell.

Scenic Views

Petersons Lookout

Enjoy magnificent views down to the tranquil Tyers river gorge, Viewing platforms perched above sheer cliff-faces allow for a birds-eye view of this unique area.

Tyers Lookout

By day enjoy panoramic views of the Latrobe Valley and beyond, ideal for sightseers and photographers. By night be enchanted by the twinkling lights of the valley.

Coach Road Lookout

A vantage point overlooking Yallourn Mine, with the magnificent views of the Latrobe Valley and surrounding mountains

George Bates Lookout

The Loy Yang lookout is set in natural bushland and features audio and information displays and electric barbecues - an ideal place to relax and view the state's largest power station.

Art & Craft

La Trobe Regional Gallery, phone 5134 1364.
Commercial Road Morwell. This gallery was opened in 1971 and has a very fine collection, including many works by Gippsland artists.

The Coalface Gallery
Yallourn College of TAFE, Monash Road, Newborough

The Switchback Gallery
Monash University College Gippsland, Switchback Road, Churchill
This gallery is the main showcase for artworks from the Churchill campus of the University College.

Art Resource Collective Inc. phone 5163 1310.
ARC Factory, Main Street Yinnar,
Artist-run facility open to the public. Annual programme of community arts projects & professional arts activities. Assisted by the Victorian Ministry for the Arts & the Australian Council. All welcome.

Mutsaers Studio
See local artists in training at the studios and view the fine works of John Mutsaers in his Home Gallery.
Open: By appointment only

Cinderella Dolls Display Centre
8 Andrew Street, Moe,
Modern Doll Collection over 1200 displayed. Be amazed by this wonderful collection of dolls covering the 1800's to the early 1900's and some modern well known favourites. Show dolls of all sizes, Teddys, prams, porcelains; everyone's Wonderland.

Dunalton Barn Gallery
Australiana Barn Gallery, set in extensive landscaped gardens, Brewsters Rd, Yinnar South, bookings essential, phone 5169 1551.

Blue Rock Lake

Blue Rock Lake is one of many close-by water storages which offer recreational facilities for picnics, fishing, sailing and other aquatic sports.

Blue Rock situated on the Tanjil River, approximately 30kms north-west of Morwell caters for a range of outdoor recreational activities. In the area adjacent to the dam are extensive parking areas, picnic and barbecue facilities, a boat ramp and information displays.

Boating, swimming and fishing can be enjoyed on this magnificent lake. The surrounding environment features a wide variety of birds and mammals, as well as evidence of long ago mining sites.

Amenities: BBQ, picnic facilities, shelter, boat ramp, parking, toilets.

At the Old Tanjil Road site, similar facilities are provided as well as a swimming area. On the eastern shore a small bush picnic area is available with pit-type toilets and barbecue facilities. Power boats (only up to 4.3m length and 7.5kw power), are permitted as well as sail boats, boards and canoes. Fishing is popular as well as walking to enjoy the native bush, birds and animals.

Moondarra Reservoir

For that restful stop-over in tranquil surroundings why not visit Moondarra Reservoir located off the Moe-Erica road, 25kms north-east of Morwell. The reservoir is a closed water body with no public access to the shoreline to protect the quality of the water.

There are splendid views from vantage points around the spillway and the reservoir boasts a beautifully landscaped picnic and barbecue area in the pleasant surroundings amidst well established native and European trees. Children and adults can enjoy the several nature trails which range from a pleasant ten minute walk to a four hour hike through the bush.

Hazelwood Cooling Pondage

This man-made lake used to cool the water for the nearby power station, This unique lake contains warm water year round and offers excellent boating, sailing and skiing.

Excellent camping facilities are available at the picturesque picnic ground abutting the lake foreshore.

Lake Narracan

Lake Narracan is the place to go water skiing, jet skiing, boating, canoeing, fishing or swimming or go bushwalking. Originally built as a storage dam to guarantee water for the Yallourn Power Stations and to control flooding of the Latrobe River, this lake is being upgraded for recreational use. The local ski club uses Halls Bay on the eastern shore for excellent water skiing, there is also a shallow area for the children to splash around.

Caravanning enthusiasts can stay at the caravan park, there are plenty of shady areas for your picnic or BBQ.

Morwell National Park
phone the Ranger, 5122 478

Morwell National Park 16 kilometres south of Morwell, is situated in the foothills of the South Gippsland highlands. Although small in size, it is of great value in preserving a remnant of the area's original plant and animal life.

The park is a picturesque picnic spot providing shaded seating, tables, BBQ facilities and public conveniences. Walking tracks allow visitors to discover gullies, tree fern, fern glades, as well as an abundance of native birds and animals.

Things to do and see

The best way to enjoy Morwell National Park is to walk through it.

• Fosters Gully Nature Walk provides an excellent introduction to the natural features of the park, and is an enjoyable walk for families. This walk is 2.3km long and takes about an hour at an easy pace. It will introduce you to some interesting and beautiful features of the forest. Nature walk leaflets are available at the start of the track.
• Stringybark Ridge Track leads through the drier section of the Park.
• There are some fine views of the Latrobe Valley from Jumbuck Road.

Tarra Bulga National Park

Tarra-Bulga National Park is located in the rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges in south eastern Victoria. It is a perfect park to visit in all seasons and is accessible from the Grand Ridge Road at Balook, and can be approached from Morwell, Yarram and Mirboo North. The Visitor Centre car park is 700m from the Bulga Picnic Area. The park is well known for its giant Mountain Ash trees and beautiful fern gullies, is popular for picnics, walks and nature studies.

Things to see and do

Take time to meander along the nature walks, enjoy a picnic, or explore the scenic drives. In the Visitor Centre, displays and an audio-visual describe the diverse plants and animals in the park and take you back to yesteryear when European settlers lived under harsh conditions in the Strzelecki Ranges.

The rainforest is full of song birds. Keep watch out for the unique Lyrebird, Pilot bird, Crimson Rosella and the Yellow Robin.

Walking Tracks

There is a bush walk to suit everyone:

Ash Track: The Ash Track branches off the Lyrebird Ridge Track and leads visitors from the Visitor Centre to the suspension bridge.

Fern Gully Nature Walk: A self guided nature walk that takes you through a lush fern gully and includes the suspension bridge. This is a 400m short walk. Start from the Bulga car park.

Lyrebird Ridge Track: The one hour Lyrebird Ridge Track is 2.4km (return) and is accessible for people with disabilities. Start from the visitor Centre.

Scenic Track: The scenic track starts from the suspension bridge and finishes at the Bulga car park. This track takes visitors through a 300 year old Mountain Ash Forest.

Tarra-Valley Rainforest Walk: From Tarra-Valley car park, the 30 minute, 1km (return) walk to the Cyathea Falls lets you meander through the rainforest and across little creeks and bridges. The walk has information signs that tell you about this special rainforest.

Wirilda Environment Park

Wirilda provides the nearest picnic site to Morwell, offering easy access, a sparkling clear river in a bush setting with toilets, shelter and barbecue facilities.

Birds call picnickers to share the nearby bush with them, and several walking tracks make this offer an easy exercise. For the energetic, the tracks lead further up the river to the Tyers Gorge and eventually the Moondarra Dam.

Resources

By virtue of its access to the parks behind it, Wirilda has impressive resources. They include:

• A range of vegetation from mountain to valley, from rainforest to drier areas and from regenerated to untouched bush.
• The lovely Lyrebird, no doubt imitating some of the 90 other bird species here.
• Animals such as the Grey Kangaroo, Wombat, Possum, Wallaby and Koala.
• Various walking tracks.
• Fragments of local history in Traralgon's first water supply, an old lime kiln and Moondarra grazing run.
• Fossils revealing the prehistory of the area.
• Scenic beauty at Petersons Lookout and in the Tyers River Gorge.

Historic Township of Walhalla
freecall 1800 621 409.

Walhalla is one of Australia's most famous gold mining areas.

Attractions include - Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine (guided daily tours), Walhalla Cemetery, the old Fire Station, Museum, Windsor House, Mechanics Institute Walhalla Goldfields Railway and the cricket ground perched on top of a hill 200 metres above the town.

For Bushwalkers, the Alpine Walking Track commences at Walhalla.

Gippsland Heritage Park

Gippsland Heritage Park has been created to recapture the life and times of early Gippsland through the 'eyes' of the primary producer, gold prospector, the retail trader and early industrialist.

The Pioneer Township represents a lasting memory of a town of yesteryear, an open air museum with superb examples of unique and authentic buildings, objects and documents dating from the 1840's to the 1930's.

It is the ideal choice for groups, and includes; tours of the museum, catering, films in the old Tynong Theatre and horse and buggy rides. Throughout the reserve there are homes, agricultural machinery, jinkers, buggies, wagons, omnibuses and tools which belonged to that bygone era.

Edward Hunter Heritage Reserve

Within the town boundary of Moe, this 57 hectare reserve offers a picnic area and several walks that are being upgraded for all year round enjoyment. Rich in birdlife and wildflowers, especially native orchids this natural bushland setting should be a must see during your visit.

Horse Racing

Located within easy reach of Morwell, at Moe and Traralgon.

Moe,

Enjoy a day at the races at the biggest and prettiest racecourse outside Melbourne, hosting 15 meetings per year, highlight being the Moe Cup, run in October as a prelude to the Spring Racing Carnival .

Undercover BBQ area and playgrounds are available in the nearby park.

More Attractions

Morwell River Falls Reserve
Barbecue, walking track to falls, Morwell River Rd, Boolarra.

Narracan Falls
Picnic in idealic country surroundings and view the spectacular falls or swim in the cool waters.

Grand Ridge Rd
140 kilometres from near Warragul to Carrajung, windy road through spectacular rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges, care recommended when driving on the Grand Ridge Rd.

Mirboo North
Grand Ridge Brewery, street murals, art and craft, emu farm, regular Sunday market.

Rail Trail
Walk along the disused railway line between Boolarra and Mirboo North.

Coal Creek Historical Village
South Gippsland Highway, turn of the century coal mining village.

Powerscourt Country House
Maffra, historic homestead.