Bonnie Doon is kick-back central

Eildon views from the Mt Pinninger scenic road

Bonnie Doon has a proven ability to provided genuine stress relief for jaded city people. The small town is situated in North East Victoria on the edge of Lake Eildon. It is best known as a holiday/weekend destination for waterskiiers, fisherman and boat enthusiasts.

About two and a half hours easy driving from the Melbourne CBD it is a "kick-back" location with plenty to do if that is what takes your fancy. Bonnie Doon offers camping, fishing, water skiing and boating, sailing, scenic drives, bowls, golf, horse riding, bush walking, swimming and tennis.

Family  Parks of Australia chain member Bonnie Doon Caravan Park is worth a stay. It is peaceful, natural and powered sites run from $22 to $35 a day. The range of cabins runs from  $65 to $85 a day off  peak. Children can be introduced to possums. The park has a pet friendly policy (off-peak). As is the case in most caravan parks which welcome friendly pets they may not be taken into the caravan park's cabins, but if they come in their own accommodation, fine.

Bonnie Doon Caravan Park has an adventure playground, nine-hole pitch and put golf course, sauna and ski drying room, tennis courts, covered  barbecue area and a fully-stocked kiosk with takeaway available.

About 20 minutes from Mansfield and an hour from the Victorian snowfields Bonnie Doon Caravan Park is a good base camp for water sports in summer and snow skiing or fishing in the winter. Add to that the excellent wineries of the surrounding High Country and life gets really pleasant.

Bonnie Doon Caravan Park also caters for weddings, parties, family reunions and groups who just enjoy being together in a beautiful bit of Australia.

Anglers keep coming back

Bonnie Doon has a small population, but in holiday periods it swells to several times its normal size. There are three caravan/camping parks in and around the town and one hotel which is situated on the waters edge.

There is plenty of water in the reservoir for water sports. Bonnie Doon is on Brankeet Inlet, which is on the northern extremity of Lake Eildon.

Originally called Doon, the township was on the Brankeet Creek. The name was changed to Bonnie Doon shortly before 1900, and in 1956 the town was moved to higher ground when Lake Eildon was enlarged.

Great country

The name "Doon" was given by an early settler, Thomas Nixon, probably after the Doon Loch in Scotland. Selectors took up land at Bonnie Doon in the 1870s. Bonnie Doon is on the Maroondah Highway just west of where the Bonnie Doon Bridge crosses the Brankeet Inlet. Beside the road bridge is the railway, which ceased to be used in 1978.

Editor's Note, also see:

Bonnie Doon is kick-back central

Motorhomes and Go See Australia

Travel Australia with (and without) your pets

Ducato makes home any place at all

For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia Directory
Phone:  02 6294 1941
Fax:     02 6284 9275
Email: garth@contact.com.au

Good fishing	Good dirt road on the Mt Pinninger Loop, near Eildon
Scenic Drives	Millie Lee and Garth
Guiness is certainly good for you	Good story