Green Hill Lake — Hotel in Ararat

Why hadn't I stopped here before? Over 30 years driving up and back to the Grampians and Mt Arapiles, I'd never taken the time to stop and so wish I had. Arriving around 8am to use the toilets, I was greeted with the most stunning view across the water back to Langi Ghiran and the wind farm turbines in the distance. Abundant bird life added to the magic and a slight mist rising from the water made for an etherial experience. If you follow the road around to the right of the lake you'll find the main camping area. There are many variations of campers were staying there - camper trailers, tents, caravans, minibuses and everything between. Some were quite fancy and others very simple. But all had spread themselves out from each other, making the most of seizing themselves a little piece of paradise here at Green Hill Lake. A note for campers to be aware of the trees and not to camp under them. Some of the larger trees are very old river red gums. Majestic. But also known to drop branches without waring. Although there are no camping fees, it's nice to add a donation to the suggestion box. Facilities include picnic shelters (good for undercover cooking on wet days), toilets with the added bonus of free hot showers and powerpoints. There is also a playground and the barbecues are free. Plenty of rubbish bins but ideal that you take your own rubbish home so aminals and birds don't open the bins. Boat ramp is available, please observe the signs. Plenty of wildlife around particularly birds but fishing available as well plus the mandatory kangaroos, emus, echidnas, wombats, possums and more. The water from the taps is drinkable with no worries of contamination. Only 4kms east of the medium sized town of Ararat, with a paved track to and from the site which is handy. The locals enjoy coming here as well from fishing (stocked with trout), boating, swimming, having a picnic or barbeque and even bushwalking (it's quite flat). Wheelchair accessible in most parts. Definintely kid friendly with lots to do. Dogs are permitted if on a leash. Please pick up their poop and dispose of appropriately. Notes: beware of snakes. A must visit and well worth stopping for a few hours and...

We stayed here for 3 days and 2 nites, the view is just spectacular. On our last day, we woke up to mist and we can hardly see the lake. The place is very relaxing.

The place is just massive site, the first stip was a bit more populated with toilets and hot showers. There is also 2 bbq areas, an old and a new one. The new one is by the playground overlooking the lake.

Then the old one which although clean, the surrounding area has tall grasses around.

The 3rd stop has another toilet blocks, not sure if it has hot water, and few more campers are camping out and rvs too. One shower and one toilet for male and females, compared to the first site with 2 showers and 3 toilets each for men and women with hot shower.

There is also a dump site.

This is by donation so please DONATE before you leave so these free places survive and be maintained for all of us to use.

Below is our view in different...

A great campsite run from donations. Toilets and cold showers are available, but don’t expect them to be pristine. A few spiderwebs and leaves were in the drains, but can easily be removed before a shower.

Unfortunately every dog we saw was off lead and roaming around which was not surprising, but still disappointing.

Lots of beautiful birds to be seen. We even had the pleasure of watching two pelicans stop for a quick feed before taking flight again.

We stayed up the road further where there is more of a wetland than the lake. It was more spread out between campers and still felt like we had decent privacy.

The police did a drive by each day we were there, so if you are feeling unsafe I’m sure you could approach them if need be.

If you are tent camping, try to set up on the grass as the ground is very soft and sandy and the tent pegs might take some...