Winton Wetlands

Winton Wetlands is an 8,750-hectare wetland restoration reserve near Benalla in north-east Victoria, on the site of the former Lake Mokoan. Decommissioned in 2009, it is one of Australia's largest wetland restoration projects, returning an artificial lake to a natural ephemeral wetland system. The reserve features open water, marshes, grasslands and woodlands, supporting diverse birdlife, cycling and walking trails, camping and outdoor art.

Visitors can expect a vast, flat open wetland landscape with shallow lagoons, reed beds, grasslands and scattered red gums. The reserve offers sealed and unsealed roads, walking and cycling trails, bird hides, picnic areas and large-scale outdoor art installations. The Mokoan Hub and Cafe provides visitor information, exhibitions and refreshments. Activities centre on nature observation, photography, cycling and camping in a quiet, semi-arid environment.

The site was originally Winton Swamp, a natural ephemeral wetland. In 1971 it was dammed to create Lake Mokoan, an artificial water storage. The lake was decommissioned in 2009 and the wall breached to restore natural wetland hydrology. The Winton Wetlands restoration, managed by the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management, is one of Australia's largest wetland restoration projects, re-establishing native vegetation and habitat.

Located on Yorta Yorta Country, the wetlands have long-standing cultural significance for Yorta Yorta people connected to water, land and wildlife. The reserve includes cultural interpretation, Indigenous place names and collaborative management acknowledging Traditional Owners.