Tarwin Lower on the Tarwin River

Tarwin Lower is located on the banks of the Tarwin River. The river, walking paths, nature and local history give this destination a variety of highlights. If you are looking for a hotel in Tarwin Lower, you can consider whether fishing, a route on foot or by bike, nature or historic buildings should be the focus of your stay.

On the Tarwin River: walking paths, fishing and picnics

The Tarwin Lower to Venus Bay Shared Pathway is 5 kilometres long and runs between Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay along the Tarwin River. You can cover the route on foot or by bike. In Tarwin Lower, it starts at the Long Table, which is itself a picnic destination. This means the spot combines a possible place to rest with the start of a route between two towns.

The Long Table is 35 metres long and shaped with curves that represent the course of the river. Its design therefore takes a specific local landscape as its inspiration. It is a destination for a picnic and also marks the start of the Shared Pathway. These two features make it a special point of reference in the town.

Tarwin Lower is considered a popular fishing destination on the Tarwin River. There are numerous wooden fishing platforms along the river. The Tarwin Lower Boardwalk also runs along the river and is a fishing spot. Fishing and a waterside path are among the activities on offer here; the platforms and the boardwalk are distinct features along the river.

Bushland and paths through greenery

The Flora-and-Fauna-Reserve is home to a wide variety of native plants and animals. The 1-kilometre Manna Gum Loop Track circles the reserve and passes through native bushland. There are several places to sit along the track.

When choosing a route, length and layout are useful points of comparison: the Manna Gum Loop Track circles the reserve over 1 kilometre. The Shared Pathway is 5 kilometres long and runs between Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay. This means you can choose between a loop around the bushland and a route connecting two towns; the longer path can be covered on foot or by bike.

Near Tarwin Lower, in the direction of Walkerville, lies Bald Hill Wetlands Reserve. It is home to a diverse birdlife and mangroves. The natural highlights therefore offer different experiences side by side: native bushland along the Manna Gum Loop Track, and birdlife and mangroves at the nearby reserve.

Local history and historic buildings

The John Simpson Monument was erected around 1861 on River Drive in Tarwin Lower. It has local historic significance for the district. The Tarwin Lower Memorial Hall was built later, in 1890, and extended between 1926 and 1933. It is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the South Gippsland Shire.

The hall therefore has two distinct building phases: its original year of construction and its later extension. Its significance also extends beyond its building history, as it is of social and aesthetic importance to the South Gippsland Shire. The John Simpson Monument, in turn, combines an approximate construction date with its significance to the district.

The former Tarwin Lower Butter Factory is an important landmark at the entrance to the town. Along with the monument and the Memorial Hall, it provides another point of reference for the town’s history. The three buildings represent different aspects: the monument’s local historic significance, the hall’s building phases and multiple forms of significance, and the former factory’s role as a landmark at the town entrance.

Discover more destinations: Barongarook, Lake Boga, Smythesdale, Chepstowe, The Basin, Mount Sabine, Gladysdale, Colac

Go to the main travel overview: Victoria.