If you’ve been looking for somewhere to get out and about over the school holidays, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park is putting on a pretty impressive show at the moment.
Following the recent rain, the park is incredibly green. Areas that can often look dry and dusty have been transformed, with fresh growth across the ground and plenty of colour throughout the bush.
One of the best things about Hattah-Kulkyne is just how quickly the scenery can change.
You can be driving through one section surrounded by open Mallee country, then turn a corner and suddenly find yourself beside a creek, a lake, towering river red gums or a completely different patch of bush.
Then another few kilometres down the track it changes all over again.
That variety is part of what makes simply driving around Hattah-Kulkyne so enjoyable. You never quite know what the next bend in the track is going to look like.
Water is back in Chalka Creek
At the moment, one of the biggest changes in the park is the water.
Chalka Creek has started flowing again, bringing water back through parts of Hattah-Kulkyne and adding another reason to head out for a look.
Seeing water moving through this country completely changes the feel of the place, particularly when everything around it is already looking so green.
The wildlife seems to be enjoying the conditions as well.
There is plenty of birdlife around, along with kangaroos, emus and lizards. Take your time driving through the park and keep your eyes open, because quite often the best wildlife sightings happen when you’re not really looking for them.
Slow down around the lakes, creek crossings and quieter sections of track and you’ll be surprised how much you start noticing.
Stop at Lake Hattah for lunch
Lake Hattah is a good spot to make your base for a while during a day trip.
There are picnic and barbecue facilities at the Lake Hattah visitor area, making it an easy place to stop for lunch before heading back out to explore more of the park.
Bring a few sausages, burgers or whatever you fancy throwing on the barbecue, find yourself a spot and enjoy lunch surrounded by the bush rather than rushing straight through.
From there you can explore Lake Hattah, Lake Mournpall, Chalka Creek and the surrounding tracks, with each area offering something a little different.
Want to make a full day of it?
We’ve put together a Hattah-Kulkyne day trip with stops including Warepil Lookout, Lake Hattah, Lake Mournpall and Messengers Pump Station, along with a suggested route through the park.
A pretty easy school holiday day out
With the Victorian school holidays underway, it’s also a pretty easy day out for families from Sunraysia.
You don’t really need a complicated plan. Pack the car in the morning, head out for a few hours and see where the tracks take you.
The kids get a chance to spot kangaroos, emus, birds and lizards, there are plenty of places to stop and explore, and the changing scenery means there’s usually something new around the next corner.
What to take for a Hattah day trip
You don’t need to pack half the house, but a few basics will make the day much easier:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Lunch, snacks or something to cook on the barbecue
- Hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars for spotting birds and wildlife
- Camera or phone
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A rubbish bag so you can take everything home with you
- A basic first-aid kit
- A full tank of fuel before heading into the park
It’s also worth remembering that wildlife can appear on the tracks without much warning, so take it slowly and enjoy the drive rather than treating it as a race from one lake to the next.
Road and track conditions can also change after rain, so it’s worth checking current park conditions before heading onto the unsealed tracks.
Hattah is putting on a show
Hattah-Kulkyne is always worth a visit, but every now and then the conditions come together and the park really puts on a show.
At the moment you’ve got green country following the recent rain, water moving through Chalka Creek, plenty of birdlife and wildlife, and that classic Hattah experience where the landscape can look one way and then completely change after you turn the next corner.
Right now feels like one of those times when it’s well worth packing the car and heading out for a look.
