Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Morwell, Australia

The administrative center for the City of Latrobe in Gippsland seamlessly integrates significant industrial operations with the tranquil natural beauty of lakes, lush bushland, and the verdant forests of the Strzelecki Ranges.

This region serves as Victoria’s primary hub for energy production, housing the largest open-cut coal mines in the country, accompanied by coal-fired power stations. Some of these stations are in the process of decommissioning.

Visitors can appreciate the immense scale of these operations from designated lookouts and a visitor center, while Morwell also boasts an acclaimed rose garden, an engaging regional art gallery, and a range of exemplary museums nearby.

1. Morwell Centenary Rose Garden

Established in 1992 to commemorate Morwell’s centenary, the Centenary Rose Garden continues to be a remarkable tribute nearly 30 years following its inception.

Honored with the Award of Garden Excellence from the World Federation of Rose Societies, the garden features over 3,500 roses arranged in 100 meticulously maintained beds.

The varieties have been carefully chosen from 400 different options, showcasing a combination of time-honored favorites alongside contemporary hybrids.

Within the garden, a central gazebo adorned with roses, decorative climbing structures, a rockery, pergola, and an exquisite sunken sensory garden filled with aromatic Delbard roses further enhance the experience.

2. Gippsland Immigration Park

This park, located near the Mid Valley Shopping Centre, serves as a serene setting for a leisurely walk while celebrating the history of immigration to the Gippsland Region and the invaluable contributions of its migrant communities.

At the park’s core lies the Gippsland Wall of Recognition, comprising seven granite walls inscribed with the names of notable immigrant families, alongside a statue symbolizing a lone migrant with a suitcase.

The wall of honor is paired with visual materials that narrate the history of immigration through the themes of “Departing/Arriving, Settling, Working, and Achieving.” Central to the park is Kernot Lake, which is surrounded by the Heritage Walk featuring 72 panels detailing various aspects of Gippsland’s history, including indigenous Gunaikurnai culture, government, energy industries, legal frameworks, and life during the World Wars.

3. Latrobe Regional Gallery

The Latrobe Regional Gallery, situated in Morwell, is recognized as one of the largest public art galleries in eastern Victoria.

Throughout its 50-year existence, the gallery has amassed significant collections in contemporary Australian art, glass art, sculpture, and Asian art, alongside historical pieces connected to Gippsland, featuring artists such as Noel Counihan, Jessie Traill, and Jan Senbergs.

The space includes seven exhibition galleries and an outdoor sculpture courtyard.

The gallery regularly features national and regional touring exhibitions, innovative interdisciplinary displays, selections from its collection, and showcases the work of emerging artists from the Gippsland area in the Project Space.

4. Crinigan Bushland Reserve

Located to the north of Morwell, this tranquil and less-frequented nature reserve spans over 40 hectares adjacent to the town’s golf course.

If you seek a place for a run or a bushwalk, this reserve offers the most accessible options. It is advisable to dedicate ample time to immerse yourself in the picturesque scenery along trails named after birds that inhabit the area.

The trails include Ibis, Fantail, Honeyeater, Rosella, Kookaburra, Black Cockatoo, and Yellow Robin.

The terrain features gentle hills, accompanied by small ponds and picnic areas where you might encounter a curious wallaby.

5. Morwell National Park

Approximately 15 kilometers south of Morwell, you will find a protected ecological area, nestled in the northern foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges.

Morwell National Park is home to a rare remnant of the previously expansive wet sclerophyll forests and features patches of rainforest found deep in creek gullies, characterized by a diversity of creepers, ferns, blanket-leaf, pittosporum, and blue and grey gums.

The park spans over 500 hectares and is known for its biodiversity, hosting nearly 100 species of birds and over 300 species of plants, including 44 distinct orchid varieties.

6. Fosters Gully Nature Walk

The optimal way to experience the full splendor of Morwell National Park is by embarking on this self-guided walk through the lush Fosters Gully.

This trail, measuring just over two kilometers, is designed to be completed within an hour at a consistent pace.

You will gain insights into the park’s rich array of plant and animal species, including information on the butterfly orchid, which thrives only here and in a few other gullies across Australia.

During your exploration, you might encounter a kangaroo, echidna, wallaby, wombat, or possum darting into the underbrush. Remember to continually look upward to spot koalas in the trees or a wedge-tailed eagle gliding overhead.

7. Grand Strzelecki Track

Upon witnessing the verdant rolling hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, you may be inclined to undertake a more challenging hike.

The Grand Strzelecki Track offers a two-day expedition into the lush, humid forests of the ranges, beginning at Morwell National Park and extending south-east to Tarra-Bulga National Park.

Throughout your journey, you will traverse remote forests, under the tallest flowering hardwood trees on the planet (mountain ash), alongside pristine streams and waterfalls, with an overnight stop in the bush at the Jumbuk Rest Area.

The area’s significant rainfall and fertile soil enable trees in these ancient habitats to reach heights exceeding 50 meters.

The track is well marked; however, to successfully navigate the more remote stretches, you must be in good physical condition and adequately prepared as infrastructure is sparse along these sections, despite the trail primarily featuring light to moderate grades.

8. Lake Narracan

Positioned adjacent to the expansive Yallourn open-cut mine, the largest in Australia, Lake Narracan is an artificial body of water with industrial origins.

Constructed on the Latrobe River in the late 1950s, the reservoir was created to provide cooling water for the Yallourn Power Station.

Spanning 281 hectares, Lake Narracan is predominantly reserved for cooling purposes, making it an ideal locale for water sports, swimming, nature walks, and outdoor barbecues.

With the mine and power station located several kilometers away, the lakeshore is bordered by grassy areas and forests.

Approximately midway along the southern shore, you will find the Lake Narracan Caravan Park, featuring a boat ramp, beach, and the 18-hole Moe Golf Club, regarded as the finest in the Latrobe Valley.

9. Morwell Common

This expansive green space in the heart of Morwell has received considerable enhancements in recent years, including updated landscaping and new recreational equipment.

Morwell Common now serves as an ideal retreat, conveniently located just steps away from local shops.

The impeccably maintained lawns resemble a bowling green, complemented by barbecues, a shelter, restroom facilities, and ample picnic tables.

Children will delight in the expansive playground, centered around a wooden fort with multiple towers and walkways, in addition to features like a sandpit with a mechanical sloop, slides, a rope net, scrambling wall, tire swing, and much more.

10. Mathison Park

Situated on the southern outskirts of Morwell in Churchill, this charming park features Lake Hyland and is equipped with picnic tables, shelters, and barbecues.

A gravel pathway surrounds the lake, including a boardwalk section that elevates visitors above a wetland area.

With patience, you will likely encounter a variety of water birds, including ducks, pelicans, and egrets.

Mathison Park occupies a former agricultural site, featuring informative panels detailing the history of the land, while exhibits near the old farmhouse describe the plants historically utilized by the Gunai nation over millennia.

If you’re a licensed angler, you may fish in the lake, referencing information boards to identify your catch.

11. PowerWorks Energy Education Centre

Coal mining and related industries have historically underpinned Morwell’s economy since the 1880s.

Established in 1994 by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, the PowerWorks museum in Morwell delves deeply into the coal and coal-fired energy production processes.

Upon arrival, you will encounter the imposing Dredger 21, a notable piece of equipment donated in 2010. Inside the facility, a timeline details the origins of the area’s vast open-cut mines and associated power stations (two of which have recently been decommissioned), complemented by interactive displays and various industrial instruments.

The center is staffed by volunteers and typically operates on weekends.

12. Miners’ Lookout

The vast scale of coal mining in this portion of the Latrobe Valley inspires a unique fascination.

The Miners’ Lookout, located just a few minutes east, offers an excellent vantage point from which to observe the Loy Yang brown coal mine, a large and striking chasm in the earth.

From a wooden platform, visitors can take in the remarkable view while learning about the mine and its associated power stations, Loy Yang A and B, which feature prominent cooling towers and chimneys to the south.

13. Trafalgar Holden Museum

Located approximately fifteen minutes along the M1, this museum is dedicated to Australia’s most iconic automotive brand.

The Trafalgar Holden Museum showcases a comprehensive collection curated by Neil Joiner, featuring several rare models.

Highlighting cars from the 1960s, the collection includes a 1963 EJ, a 1965 HD Premier, and a 1967 HK, each with minimal mileage.

The museum occupies a repurposed butter factory from the 1930s and offers interactive displays along with a small theatre showcasing footage.

In tandem with the vehicles, various artifacts chronicle the history of the Holden brand, including aircraft engines, pedal cars, and saddles.

14. Old Gippstown

Located in nearby Moe, Old Gippstown provides insights into the European settlement of Gippsland through a well-curated open-air museum experience.

The museum encompasses over 40 historic buildings, relocated from their original sites and dating from 1850 to 1950. Among the structures are a school, church, bank building, coach house, halfway house, water wheel, iron house, general store, and a Masonic lodge.

Each building is furnished with historical objects that bring the past to life, including furniture, decorative arts, tools, machinery, peculiar home appliances, books, photographs, and documents.

Old Gippstown hosts a busy event calendar, featuring celebrations for major holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and Australia Day, in addition to regular monthly markets.

15. Traralgon Railway Reservoir Reserve

The nearby town of Traralgon emerged in the late 19th century as a significant railway junction, contributing to the establishment of this former reservoir located in the southern part of Traralgon.

The Traralgon Railway Reservoir encompasses nearly 30 hectares of bushland and grassland, featuring a walking trail that lines its banks.

Equipped with an information shelter along the waterfront, visitors can learn about the reserve’s history, the European settlement of the Latrobe Valley, and insights into the indigenous Gunaikurnai culture.

The shelter’s wooden deck affords a charming view of the lake, and a bird hide along the trail enables birdwatching opportunities for observing the numerous avian species inhabiting the reserve’s wetlands.