Paddling in Lower Goulburn National Park

The lower Goulburn River is flatwater country — a slow, meandering river corridor through northern Victoria's river red gum forests, protected along most of its length between Shepparton and its junction with the Murray.

Lower Goulburn National Park, created in 2010 specifically to protect these red gum forests and riparian lands, wraps around the river for roughly 160 kilometres, making the Goulburn the defining water of the park and the reason most paddlers come here.

The river in this stretch is calm and well-suited to canoes and kayaks.

There are no significant rapids; the character is defined by the meander, the red gums leaning over the banks, and a sense of remove from the surrounding farmland that sets in quickly once you're on the water.

Platypus are present, and the birdlife — kingfishers, sea eagles, whistling kites — is a consistent part of the experience. This is multi-day paddling territory.

Common put-in and take-out points used by paddlers running the lower river include Wyuna, Yambuna Bridge, McCoys Bridge, Kanyapella, and the downstream run toward Echuca where the Goulburn meets the Murray.

Wyuna sits roughly 25 kilometres east of Echuca and is a practical starting point for several itineraries.

The Stage One Murray River Adventure Trail project, currently in development, proposes new canoe and kayak launches and improved facilities at key sites through the park — worth checking on before you plan access, as infrastructure may have changed.

Because this is a national park, the usual Victorian fishing licence applies, but check with Parks Victoria on any park-specific conditions before you go.

The park's set-aside determinations specify what activities are permitted and whether permits are required, so confirm current rules directly with Parks Victoria rather than assuming open access. The lower Goulburn rewards patience.

It's not a river that announces itself — it draws you in gradually, through the quiet of the red gum forest and the long, unhurried bends that have made this stretch a benchmark for river camping in Victoria.