Help me find a good river near Melbourne...

February 16, 2011 3:18 AM

Does anyone know any sections of rivers or creeks not too far out of Melbourne (Australia) that are very wide yet quite shallow? You know the type, like something you see in a documentary about Alaskan bears with pebbles on the bottom and crystal clear water. After swimming in an amazing river in West Virginia may years ago I've dreamed about finding a similar one over here.
posted by soymilk to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

I'm FB friends with the brother of a chick I vaguely knew at school... he's a photographer, lives at Bendigo, but travels all over Vic for shoots. I'll ask him if he knows of anywhere.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:13 AM on February 16, 2011

What is your idea of 'not too far' out of Melbourne?
posted by Trivia Newton John at 5:16 AM on February 16, 2011

The Ovens River and the Kiewa River are both beautiful. My favourite spots were generally not deep enough to swim in properly but there are definitely good swimming areas. A popular swimming area is where the Ovens River goes through the town of Bright... if you start there, I'm sure you'd find other good spots.
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 2:35 PM on February 16, 2011

Warrandyte. Less than an hour from Melbourne out along the Eastern Freeway. Try Pound Bend (especially near the Tunnel) and the section of the river that runs through the village (especially under the bridge). The village has a century old wood-fired bakery overlooking the river as well as a nice pub. Also try a tad further upstream in South Warrandyte or Wonga Park.
posted by Kerasia at 3:11 PM on February 16, 2011

The only decent rivers near Melbourne are the Goulburn (near Yea) and the Yarra. For the Yarra, head a bit further upstream to Yarra Junction and Warburton. For the Goulburn I'm not actually sure where is particularly picturesque.
posted by wilful at 6:42 PM on February 16, 2011

Thanks Malibustacey9999, that would be great :)
I guess my idea of not too far out of town is within a two hour drive.
Thanks Alice, both those rivers look perfect! Maybe it's going to have to be a bit of a weekender trip since they are up in the High Country.
I've had a swim at Warrandyte but I might have to go back and explore a bit more. Same with Warbuton and Yarra Junction.

I guess the lovely thing about the river in the US was it was sooo wide and shallow and almost pool-like. It was really a sit-in-and-wallow rather than swimming kind of river... :)
posted by soymilk at 7:34 PM on February 16, 2011

I guess the lovely thing about the river in the US was it was sooo wide and shallow and almost pool-like. It was really a sit-in-and-wallow rather than swimming kind of river... :)

Ah ha! In that case, I've got just the spot for you! The Ovens river at Porepunkah... last time I was there was a while back, but I remember that there was a motel with Cabins relatively near the main street - it had river access and it was wide and sit-in-and-wallowable. Perfect place to sit with a beer!
posted by Alice Russel-Wallace at 3:54 AM on February 17, 2011

Awwww Alice if my google image search is anything to go by I think you've done it!
Thank you! :)
posted by soymilk at 4:05 AM on February 17, 2011