Swifts Creek: Art, Literature and Walking Trails

Swifts Creek brings together cultural and scenic attractions. Exhibitions and workshops are the focus at the Great Alpine Gallery; walking trails lead to a poem, riverbanks and views across the Tambo Valley. You can plan your stay around art, literature or the landscape, and choose trails according to their individual themes.

Art, Literature and Local Creativity

The Great Alpine Gallery presents a range of exhibitions. At various times throughout the year, it also offers workshops led by local and visiting artists. While exhibitions are part of its offering year-round, the dates of individual workshops vary. If you would like to attend a particular workshop, check its date before travelling.

The one-kilometre Poet’s Walk was inspired by “A River’s Mark,” a poem by the late artist John Butler. Six stone cairns line the trail, each engraved with one of the poem’s six stanzas. The trail begins at the Great Alpine Road bridge, follows Swifts Creek to its confluence with the Tambo River, and ends at the bridge on McMillan Street. The poem is therefore not only the trail’s cultural inspiration but is also present along the route in the engraved stanzas.

Another cultural attraction is the Mosaic Seat near Sheltons Lane. Artists from the Great Alpine Gallery created it with the support of children from Swifts Creek Primary School. The collaboration brings the gallery’s artists and local schoolchildren together in a shared work.

Walking Trails with Varied Landscapes

The Town to Sheltons Lane trail follows a path parallel to the Great Alpine Road. It runs from the McMillan Street intersection to Sheltons Lane. Along the way, there are wide views of the river flats and the elevated, forested ridges above the Tambo Valley. The route description thus connects the trail between two named points with views of the river landscape and wooded heights.

The Caravan Park to McLarty’s Gate trail begins at the caravan park on the McMillan Street bridge over the Tambo River. From there, it runs for over a kilometre to a farm gate on the opposite side of the road. The quiet country road follows the river; rustic wooden fences and views of the surrounding farmland shape its character.

Along the riverbanks, you can look for platypuses in the early morning or evening, especially during the cooler months. Sightings are not guaranteed. The trail lengths also differ: the Poet’s Walk is one kilometre long, while the trail to McLarty’s Gate is over a kilometre long.

Discover more destinations: Beeac, Kialla, Mornington, Portsea, Glenaire, Sutherland, Pyramid Hill, Lalbert

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.