Cotton Tree Campground

🏕️ Cotton Tree Campground – Granya, VIC 🏕️

📍 DESCRIPTION & LOCATIONCotton Tree Campground is a basic, peaceful bush camp tucked into the eastern edge of Mount Granya State Park, about 6 km south of Granya township via Murray River Road. Set among tall eucalyptus and close to Cottontree Creek, it offers a quiet escape for hikers, birdwatchers, and self-sufficient campers. This is a true off-grid spot—no frills, just forest, fresh air, and a cracking campfire under the stars.

🕰️ HISTORYMount Granya and its surrounding ranges form part of Dhudhuroa Country, rich in Indigenous heritage. European settlers grazed the area in the 1800s, and the surrounding park was later preserved for its granite ridgelines, dry forests, and biodiversity. The nearby Granya township was a small mining and farming settlement, now mostly a rural residential locality.

🚿 FACILITIES AND AMENITIES

• Designated bush camping area (unmarked sites)

• Drop toilet

• Picnic table

• Fire pits (seasonal use – check fire regulations on arrival)

• No drinking water

• No rubbish bins – pack in, pack out

• No pets (Mount Granya State Park rules)

🚛 VEHICLE ACCESS

• Unsealed track off Murray River Road

• Suitable for 2WD in dry conditions; 4WD strongly recommended in wet weather

• Not recommended for large caravans or motorhomes

• Surface can be rutted and narrow – take care with trailers

🛌 STAY INFORMATION (as at July 2025)

• Free stay

• No bookings required – first come, first served

• Small capacity – early arrival advised on weekends

• Best suited to tents, camper trailers, and rooftop setups

• No time limit signage present, but Parks Victoria generally enforces 14-day max stays

• Suitable only for self-contained campers

🍻 PUBS & CLUBS NEARBY

• Walwa Hotel (~20 min drive) – rustic country pub with woodfire, beers on tap, and hearty pub meals

• Tallangatta Hotel (~35 min drive) – popular locals' pub with bistro menu and family dining

• Victoria Hotel (Tallangatta) – historic pub with counter meals and takeaway options

• Tallangatta Bowling Club – casual club with bar service, bistro nights, and community events

⛺ NEARBY CAMPGROUNDS

• Kennedy’s Reserve (Dartmouth Rd) – grassy riverside camp ~25 min east along Murray River Road

• Mount Granya Summit Walk Camp – walk-in tent site at the end of the summit trail

• Shelley Forest Camp – informal camping ~30 min south near the old railway line

• Colac Colac Caravan Park (Corryong) – fully serviced option ~45 min northeast

🌄 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

• Mount Granya Summit Track – challenging 8 km return hike with panoramic views over the Murray and surrounding ranges

• Granya Pioneer Museum – open by appointment; local mining and settler history

• Cottontree Creek – seasonal creek offering shade, birdsong, and ferny gully ambience

• Shelley–Koetong Historic Rail Trail – scenic section of the High Country Rail Trail

• Murray River – fishing and paddling access at nearby Walwa and Kennedy’s Reserve

🛒 NEAREST SUPPLIES

• Walwa (~20 min):

  • General store – groceries, fuel, bottled gas, bait

  • Café and post office

• Tallangatta (~35 min):

  • IGA supermarket

  • Fuel (including LPG), pharmacy, bakery

  • Hardware, auto spares, water refill station

• Water refill: None at campground – refill in Tallangatta or Walwa

🗣️ REVIEWS SUMMARY

Loved for:

• Quiet bush setting away from crowds

• Campfires and stars in a rugged forest backdrop

• Proximity to Mt Granya hiking tracks

Watch-outs:

• No water or rubbish services – bring all provisions

• Access may be slippery or rutted in wet weather

• Very basic – not for big vans or those needing facilities

🚨 BREAKDOWN & EMERGENCY INFO

• Emergency: 000

• Fuel and LPG: Walwa and Tallangatta

• Auto repair: Tallangatta Auto Repairs

• Medical: Walwa Bush Nursing Centre / Tallangatta Health Service

• Mobile reception: Very limited – weak Telstra signal in elevated areas only

• CB UHF: Channel 40 (road traffic) | Channel 5 (emergency only)

📝 FINAL NOTECotton Tree Campground is a minimalist bush camp perfect for those seeking solitude, campfire evenings, and forest trails. It's best suited to well-prepared campers with their own supplies and an appreciation for peace, dirt roads, and starry skies.