Coola Outstation Historical Walk

Coola Outstation Historical Walk winds past the old Coola Outstation which was part of the Benara sheep station, occupied by stockmen and their families. It was occupied until the mid 1950s and is now a ruin. With interpretive signage and old farm machinery along the way you can discover the story of early European settlement. The trail is 7kms and is 20kms from Millicent. It is easily accessible with a 2WD vehicle. The walk includes the Coola Lookout, offering views of the lake, dunes and farmland surrounds. The trail passes along a boardwalk in an area of dryland tea-tree known as the ‘singing forest’ for the noise it makes on breezy days. There are picnic facilities available here. Walking south from the outstation, the trail passes the remains of a boat, then crosses Beggs Swamp before reaching Sandy Bar, on the banks of Lake Bonney. This wetland area provides valuable feeding grounds for many wetland birds, including terns, ducks and herons. You may even spot a kangaroo or emu on your walk. Keep a watch out for the scratchings of the short-beaked echidna, or a splash of red which may be a beautiful firetail finch. Continue on the loop, heading north away from the lake and returning to the carpark across sand dunes and boardwalks.