Find a quiet escape at the Nangara Reserve, a bushland reserve that combines nature and sculptures aplenty.
Nangara Reserve, once a quarry but now a picturesque parkland near Jindivick adjoins the Bunyip State Park. The meaning of Nangara is “meeting of the waters”, with the Labertouche Creek meeting the Tarago and Bunyip Rivers here. The reserve is home to walking trails, including the easy Quarry Walk, a loop stroll that takes under an hour to complete.
Horseriding is permitted at Nangara Reserve.
Members of the Kurnai Brayakoloong people have contributed artwork to this easy stroll in the bush, a nod to the indigenous history of the area. Installations on the trail include work from Brayakaloong artists Dale Hayes and Lionel Rose Jnr, and there is a memorial to the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 near the entry gate on Nangara Road.
The Reserve is home to lots of Australian natives, including Mapie Larks, tawny frogmouths and fairy wrens. Listen out for the sounds of Lyrebirds and keep an eye out for echidnas, wombats and the Southern Brown Bandicoot. If you’re lucky, you might spot an aptly named Powerful Owl as you stroll the gum forest through wildflowers and pink heath.
Picnic areas mean you can pack your lunch too.
How to get there
Nangara Reserve is easily accessible by car from Jindivick. The reserve is located on Nangara Road, with parking available.
