Charlton, the drive up from Melbourne to Mildura always seems a long one, but Charlton Traveller’s Rest offers a mixture of caravan park, ensuite sites and freedom camping. For freedom campers there is a spacious grassy area down the back and a well-kept toilet block near the entrance, it also serves as the town bus terminal. Put your feet up here and you’ve knocked over half the trip already.

Lake Tyrell, Sea Lake, for one of those never to be forgotten experiences you can camp on the shore of this famous Salt Lake and watch its many moods. You won’t be on your own as people are constantly arriving to see the sun, moon and stars reflected either in the water or off the salt. There are toilets up at the higher viewing point if you can drag yourself away from this unusual landscape. I must mention that the old saltworks, saltbush, and ochre of drying mud is a water colourists dream. A word of warning though, the high salt content in the air will have you craving fish and chips.

Wooroonook Lakes are not far from Charlton, so they are also a good way stop. There are powered camping spots available and flushing toilets. The beauty here though is in the birdlife and there’s lots of it. You’ll be mesmerised. And if all the bird watching makes you hungry there are the award-winning vanilla slices at Sharp’s Bakery in Birchip (Home of the Mallee Bull) for breakfast, it’s only 50k’s away. I’ll bet you can’t get through town without a chat, they’re a friendly lot in Birchip.