The
Corangamite Shire may be best known for the coastal region of the
Twelve Apostles, but the unique beauty further inland is nothing to be sniffed at either.
The Lakes and Craters Region of Corangamite.
The Lakes and Craters region is a key feature of the area's Volcanic Plains, with
Lake Corangamite taking the title of Victoria's largest inland lake. Its impressive size is hard to fathom, with the surface area spanning more than two hundred square kilometres.
Lake Corangamite
This distinctive body of water has extremely high levels of salinity and is prone to evaporation. It was, in fact, almost completely dry during the drought, leading to the discovery of a World War II RAAF Wirraway as the waters receded in 2005.
A beam of light over the Corangamite lakes.
The lake has only just refilled in recent years, with the rise of inflow creeks and springs, to become home again to a vast variety of waterbirds, including ducks, terns, petrels, ibis and black swans.
Black Swans in the Lakes and Craters Region.
These species can be found in large numbers in the other smaller lakes nearby as well, including Lake Gnarpurt, and around the
Floating Islands Lagoons.
Part of the diversity of the Corangamite Shire.
Also characterising this part of
Corangamite are
The Stoney Rises and the small hills and mountains caused by ancient volcanic activity, which are strangely complementary to the sweeping pastoral plains of grazing sheep and cattle, and the bright seasonal fields of canola and sunflowers.
The Volcanic Plains provide grazing land for sheep and cattle.
There's no doubt that
Corangamite is a shire of rich diversity, offering volcanic vistas, startling sights of lakes and wildlife and charming country scenes – as well as the more famous tropical and coastal panoramas.
A picturesque pastoral scene in Corangamite.
The
Corangamite Shire begins within an hour's drive east of Warrnambool, and around the same distance west of Melbourne. Visitors to the area can visit any of the region's
tourist information centres for directions to scenic lookouts of the lakes and the
Red Rock volcano, or simply take a tour of the back roads – there's plenty to see wherever you go.
