Located less than an hour from Melbourne, Millbrook Lakes is Victoria’s premier private stillwater fishery. With large Brown and Rainbow trout available across numerous impoundments including the superb Cabin Lake, it also provides year-round waterfront accommodation and professional guiding team with access to over twenty lakes in the region.
The stunning Lakes generally consist of spring-fed systems with prolific hatches and an abundance of natural aquatic vegetation, including wooded gums, islands, flats and bays to target. Sight casting opportunities are the highlight, with tailing fish in the shallows and cruising fish in the margins feeding on midge, caddis, mayfly hatches in the Spring, twilight mudeye migrations in Summer and Autumn smelters.
Averaging 2-4lb’s, many fish in excess of 7lb’s in perfect condition are landed throughout the year, perfect for beginner to advanced Fly Fishermen looking for a weekend city escape or mid-week fly fishing fix. Close to Ballarat and Daylesford, the Millbrook Private Lakes are perfectly situated also to enjoy the fine local produce and wines, arts, mineral spas and relics of Victorias famous Gold Rush era.
Millbrook has two private log cabins, nestled beneath towering gum trees, with exclusive lake access a few steps from the front door.
Accommodating up to ten guests with river rock open fires, fly tying benches, high red gum timber beams, kitchen facilities, spa bath and lounge areas, it’s very well equipped for couples or groups combining a retreat environment with great Fly Fishing access.
Each has an outdoor BBQ with lake views, rod storage racks and the quaint town of Gordon only a few minutes away for self-catering cooking supplies or your stay can be fully catered. The Gold Rush city of Ballarat is also only 20 minutes away, with the ability to also stay in nearby Daylesford there are numerous accommodation options for multi-day Fly Fishing escapes.
The Ballarat Fish Hatchery which was formed in 1870 received some of the first wild trout onto mainland Australia and is still responsible for stocking the beautiful well-conditioned trout found at Millbrook and the Central Highlands district.
Fly Fishing options at Millbrook are endless with guiding packages customised to suit every situation, from a single angler on a day visit, to a group of friends staying for a week.
With renowned guide team including Mark and Phil Weigall, it’s a great learning environment and their knowledge of fishing the lakes over twenty years ensuring great opportunities each day.
Fishing well throughout the year, the mayfly hatches in October marks the start of the peak season with prolific midge and caddis evening rises with consistent numbers of Brown and Rainbow trout in the 2-6lb range on a catch and release basis. Flooded lake margins are also good for tailing fish while polaroiding the lake edges can provide some outstanding sight fishing with stick caddis also working well. Five and Six weight outfits are ideal with floating lines and thigh waders perfect to access and fish the flooded margins.
Mudeyes, Dragonflies and Damsel feeders are to be found over the Summer and into the spring with grasshoppers, ants, termites and beetles also providing some exciting dry fly fishing. Early April the smelting fish start to fire up providing a consistently good fishery and with numerous options for the guides to choose from daily walking the bank or from assigned row-boats which give greater access.
Millbrook Private Lakes is a great learning environment and also ideal for larger groups or corporate events.
With a huge variety of private lakes to choose from within fifteen minutes of Cabin Lake, you can fish numerous locations in one day to suit your preferences and various hatches taking place.
All gear can be supplied, or you can bring your own, with the option of self-guided fishing also available on Cabin Lake.
As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, we will provide you with a comprehensive and detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide before departure.
Numerous flights are available to Melbourne Tullamarine airport, via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide or Perth.
Millbrook is easily accessible from Melbourne to the Gordon turn-off on the Western Freeway heading towards Ballarat. Travel time to Cabin Lake is approximately 60 minutes, or if flying into Melbourne, airport transfers can be arranged for multi-day trips.
With Daylesford and Ballarat nearby, Millbrook is also perfect for day visits with plenty of non-angling options and activities available in the region.
Fly Odyssey can facilitate private airport transfers, accommodation or self-drive itineraries in Victoria including the Ballarat region, Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Mornington Peninsula or Gippsland if you wish to extend your stay, or as part of a multi-destination itinerary throughout Australia.
A minimum of six months validity on all passports from date of arrival is required. An Electronic Travel Authority or Tourist Visa Stream is required by residents of eligible countries to enter Australia (excluding New Zealand)
Let us do the groundwork for you.
Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates.
Fly Odyssey have access to the best guiding and lodging rates, suitable tides and updated availability to this destination which can vary throughout the season.
This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences.
We specialise in group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in Melbourne will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water.
This includes extended stays in Ballarat, Daylesford, The Great Ocean Road and throughout Victoria.
Please enquire for the latest rates and availability, including information on any applicable special offers.
CONTACT OUR AUSTRALIAN OFFICE
Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion.
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