TRAVEL – Lake Anderson Caravan Park
BY ALISON HUTH, EDITOR AT LARGE
Read the original article by Alison Huth in What’s Up Down Under here.
One of the best things about travelling around in our van is finding gems of caravan parks. And Lake Anderson Caravan Park in Chiltern, Vic, is a prime example.
We got to the entrance and turned in. That was the first sign that this park is different. We didn’t come up to a boom gate area, we drove through a beautiful treed area with a few tourist cabins on the left and Lake Anderson on the right.
We were on a drive-through site, and with expert help from the Manager, we got on, set up and relaxed. It was obvious to us, even after only being at the park for 30 minutes, that peace, quiet and calm were a major part of this park’s atmosphere.
Hair Dryers for Campers
Once we were set up it was time to explore. The amenities block isn’t new, well the brick part of it isn’t. The showers are great, with a bench and hooks! The taps and basins have been updated plus there are two hairdryers fixed to the wall.
The Camp Kitchen is a beautiful old stone building updated inside with excellent facilities. There’s an outside sitting and eating area. This is the place for the park campfire and it’s a beautiful piece of artwork too. Just one of a few around the park. Tucked away behind the Ned Kelly artwork is a small library. I don’t think he’s protecting the library though!
The Kelly Connection
We needed to get a few groceries and there is a supermarket in Chiltern that’s open full time and well stocked. It’s an easy walk there, and the old town is – well what can I say – it’s different. Sadly some of the shops are closed, and many only open during the weekend. The Court House has some serious history. It’s where the arrest warrants for the Kelly Gang were issued, helping to explain the Ned Kelly statue within the park.
Grapevine Grandeur
Chiltern is laid back during the week, but come the weekends it’s as busy as Chiltern can be. It is also famous for one grapevine planted in 1867. Local sources say it wasn’t watered or fertilized. However, it still bears fruit in March each year. Like so much in historic Chiltern the development of this park goes back 130 years. The entrance once led to the former Footy Club Oval which is said to have been bigger than the MCG!
Active in Chiltern
Today that land is home to the Caravan Park and the Bowls Club plus a couple of extra things in the area. The Bowls Club literally is within walking distance!
We were really happy to have a few days in Chiltern. It’s so easy to just sit back and relax, let life flow past you and just enjoy the calm atmosphere that Lake Anderson Caravan Park, a member of Kui Parks, has. We loved it here.
Chiltern Fast Facts: Did You Know?
- Chiltern was surveyed in 1853
- Established in 1858–59 during the Victorian Gold Rush
- Post office opened in 1859
- Population of 1,590 at the 2021 Census
- John (Black Jack) McEwan, 18th Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Chiltern 29th March 1900
- Chiltern played its first game of Aussie Rules against Beechworth in 1876
