Sale Common Wetlands

The Sale Common State Game Refuge is located on the South Gippsland Highway, just south of the city of Sale. The Sale Common covers approximately 300 hectares, 70 percent of which is freshwater marsh. The remaining area is covered by red gum woodland and grasslands. From the car park on the South Gippsland Highway, a short walking track leads through woodlands and grasslands past the information shelter to the lookout. A longer walk (7.2 kilometres, 2.4 hours return) along Flooding Creek Track can be accessed from the eastern end of the boardwalk. This narrow, winding track passes through Red Gum woodlands and ends near the Latrobe River. On the way there are extensive views of the morass. The lookout overlooks the northern section of the Common, while the bridge leading to the lookout allows visitors to examine some of the plants and smaller pond life of the morass. A key feature of the Sale Common is the extensive boardwalk that enables visitors to observe the wetland at a closer level. The boardwalk winds its way through a variety of habitats, starting from the edge of the swamp, through deeper water, past islands and through a small reed bed.