Corryong

Corryong is a country town located in the far north-eastern corner of Victoria, around 120 kilometres east of Wodonga and near the pristine upper reaches of the Murray River. It is famed for its picturesque scenery and unspoilt natural attractions including rivers, mountains and forests.

The main road through Corryong is the Murray Valley Highway which is a wide boulevard with sections lined by deciduous trees whose leaves erupt into vibrant colours during the autumn. Corryong's shopping facilities are largely concentrated along the stretch of Hansen Street between Jardine Street and Donaldson Street. A large sports complex with an oval, golf course, tennis courts and lawn bowls, is located at the northern end of Jardine Street.

A good overview of Corryong and its immediate surroundings can be enjoyed from Playles Lookout which is accessed via Back Thowgla Road. There are picnic and BBQ facilities surrounded by extensive lawns.

Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson wrote "The Man From Snowy River" which captured the heart of the nation and tells the story of a horseback pursuit in the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. It is claimed that the inspiration for the character in Paterson's poem was local stockman Jack Riley (born in 1841), and his grave can be found in Corryong's cemetery via the entrance off Parish Lane. The Man From Snowy River Museum, situated in the old shire offices at the corner of Hansen Street and McKay Street, provides further insight into the life of this legend and the history of the area.

Corryong provides a gateway to the nearby Snowy Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park. Follow the Murray Valley Highway east of Corryong for 6 kilometres to the junction with Murray River Road. Turn right and around 3 kilometres further on is the Towong Gap Lookout which provides impressive views along the valley below. A few kilometres further on, the road crosses the pure waters of the Murray River which forms the state border between Victoria and New South Wales. Around 15 kilometres away is the town of Khancoban, located on the western slopes of the Snowy Mountains and adjacent to the Kosciuszko National Park. The nearby Murray 1 Power Station has a visitor centre open allowing people to learn about the huge scale of the Snowy Mountain hydro-electric scheme.

The historic community of Towong is located 11 kilometres north-east of Corryong on Murray River Road. A turf club was established in 1871 and the picturesque Towong Racecourse with the state's oldest grandstand and century old elm trees continues to host regular racing events. An old wooden bridge crosses the Murray River at Towong leading to a pleasant riverside picnic area just inside New South Wales.

Around 5 kilometres north of Towong on Murray River Road is Farrans Lookout where spectacular views of the river can be experienced.