VIC

 

Alfred National Park
Alfred National Park contains some of the most southerly occurrences of warm temperate rainforest in Australia. Many plant species found in the park are uncommon in the rest of Victoria. The park protects high conservation values, rare flora and fauna and diverse landscape values. There are many wet forest and rainforest bird species including ground thrush, lyrebirds, pilot-birds, powerful owl and the brown flycatcher. Wallabies and wombats also inhabit the park. Warm temperate rainforest with many species of native orchid and Victorian tree-ferns including rough, smooth, soft and prickly varieties. Lilly-Pilly and Kanooka trees are also common in the park.

 

Alpine National Park
The Alpine National Park forms a protected area that covers almost all of Australia's high country. It's one of eight Australian Alps national parks that are managed co-operatively to ensure that Australia's mainland alpine and sub-alpine environments are protected consistently and that policies and guidelines across State and territory borders are compatible. Australia's Alps are vitally important as a source of water in our dry continent. Most of the major rivers of south-eastern Australia have their sources there.  Alpine National Park is the state's largest at 646,000 hectares and protects our highest mountains and varied alpine environments. Extensive snowfields are the primary winter attraction; the warmer months bring stunning wildflower displays and opportunities for bushwalks and four wheel driving. Enjoy varied and beautiful summer wildflowers, and discover a whole range of other plants and animals, all adapted to cope with climatic extremes. The Alpine National Park has the greatest range of flora and fauna of any national park in Victoria

 

Baw Baw National Park
The 13,300 ha Baw Baw National Park covers a substantial part of the Baw Baw Plateau and sections of the Thomson and Aberfeldy River valleys. One of the two Victorian national parks with large areas of sub-alpine vegetation, it offers outstanding views, colourful wildflowers in early summer and open grassy plains with Snow Gum woodlands.

 

Brisbane Ranges National Park
Little more than an hour's drive from Melbourne takes you to the state's richest wildflower habitat. Set in a low range of mountains dissected by rocky gullies, the unusual geology of Brisbane Ranges National Park has preserved plants that have long since vanished from the region, together with a correspondingly diverse bird population and the greatest density of koalas in Victoria

 

Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park
The two mountains in this park provide excellent and diverse opportunities for bushwalkers, campers, climbers, birdwatchers and nature lovers. Pine Mountain, one of Australia's largest monoliths, has a drier climate that supports many rare plants. Mount Burrowa, an area of higher rainfall, supports wet forest plants and is more heavily timbered

 

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park
This, recently expanded, 21,600ha park is located between Beechworth and the low hills surrounding Chiltern and includes the striking Mt Pilot Range and Woolshed Falls. Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park protects box-ironbark forest that once covered much of north-east Victoria and contains several historic gold mining sites. Short or day-long walks can be made on vehicle tracks through open forest and a 25km historic drive is marked from Chiltern through the forest and goldfields.

 

Churchill National Park
Churchill National Park at Rowville in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs is a remnant of natural bush and an example of the original landscape before clearing and settlement. Although most of the park is open regrowth woodland, there are small areas of original forest. Apart from the access road, there are no other vehicle tracks

 

Coopracambra National Park
Coopracambra National park is one of the most remote sections of Victoria and remains largely undisturbed. The red sandstone gorge of the Genoa River and the surrounding granite peaks form some outstanding scenery. The 35,000 ha. park protects high conservation values with undisturbed ecosystems, a heritage river, rare flora and fauna and diverse landscape values

 

Croajingolong National Park
Croajingolong National Park covers 87,500 hectares and extends for 100 km along the wilderness coast of Victoria's East Gippsland. It protects remote beaches, tall forests, heathland, rainforest, estuaries and granite peaks. Croajingolong is one of the state's largest parks, outstanding for its stunning wilderness coastline and a wealth of flora and fauna that has earned it a prestigious UNESCO World Bioshpere Reserve listing.  It is a diverse environment offering majestic forests, salt pruned heathland, delicate wildflowers, temperate rainforest, rocky headlands, towering sand dunes and magnificent beaches.  Here you can explore the waterways by canoe, swim, fish or walk through rugged bushland to expansive beaches and peaceful coves. 

 

Dandenong Ranges National Park
Located only 35km east of Melbourne.  Covering 3215 hectares, the park plays an important role in protecting a population of famous lyrebirds and other fauna, as well as protecting the forests and fern gullies of the Ranges. On the edges of the park are a string of Mountain townships with shops specialising in art and crafts, antiques, bric-a-brac and devonshire teas. Best known for its mountain ash and elegant ferns, there are over 350 native plant species growing here including stringy bark, native grasses, spider orchids, flowering bush peas and many different wildflowers. There are more than 30 animal species that inhabit the park including echidnas, wallabies, lyrebirds, cockatoos, rosellas, currawongs, kangaroos and many shy and elusive night feeders. Bushwalking is popular with over 300km of walking tracks across the park, they range from leisurely strolls to more challenging walks of 35km.  Picnickers are well catered for with natural forest settings, grassy glades, gas and electric bbqs and some fireplaces. 

 

Errinundra National Park
Errinundra National Park offers tranquil walks and scenic drives. It preserves the largest remaining stand of cool temperate rainforest in Victoria as well as ancient tall, wet eucalypt forests. The majority of the park is accessible only in the drier months. In winter, rain and snow generally make the unsealed roads impassable

 

French Island National Park
French Island National Park is a true paradise. Accessible only by 30 minute passenger ferry ride, French Island is a haven of peace and serenity. The 11,100ha park contains environments ranging from mangrove saltmarsh areas to open woodlands and plays home to an equally diverse range of wildlife

 

Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations. Renowned for its breathtaking rocky views, rich Aboriginal culture, European heritage and stunning spring wildflower displays, there is plenty to see and do in this rugged ancient landscape. Declared in 1984, the 170,000 hectare National park is home to a rich diversity of plants and animals, many of which are endemic to the park. Hosting over 1 million visitors each year, popular activities include bushwalking, camping, picnicking, nature study, rock-climbing, bike riding and fishing. The extensive network of roads makes car touring to surrounding villages another great way to explore. Since the Mt Lubra fire in January 2006 this ancient landscape has revealed many fascinating features in it’s recovery after fire. Now is the ideal time to visit - to witness both the stunning fire regeneration as well as all of the usual attractions the Grampians National Park is renowned for. 

 

Great Otway National Park
The Great Otway National Park incorporates the former Otway National Park and Angahook-Lorne, Carlisle and Melba Gully State Parks, as well as areas of State forest and other Crown land. The new national park covers 103,000 hectares, an increase in park area of more than 60,000 hectares. This park represents all that is special about the Otways: the tall wet forests, ancient rainforests, the drier forests of the inland slopes and the very diverse heathlands and woodlands, fringed by a spectacularly rugged coastline and studded with some of Victoria's most striking waterfalls and other attractions

 

Greater Bendigo National Park
This park includes the former Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks, One Tree Hill Regional Park, Mandurang State Forest and Sandhurst State Forest and spans 17 007 hectares. The park contains some of the highest quality Box-Ironbark forest in the Bendigo area, along with broombush mallee, grassy woodlands and Kamarooka mallee. The park conserves some of north-central Victoria's most outstanding natural features. The park itself is the product of intensive use over the past 150 years from gold mining, land selection, forestry, and eucalyptus oil production. Many significant relics of these industries, particularly the gold mining and eucalyptus oil industries, remain in the park today.

 

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park
Hattah-Kulkyne National Park protects an area of 48,000 hectares 580 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. It lies in typical mallee country with extensive low scrub and open native pine woodland. Superbly adapted birds, animals and vegetation thrive in the poor, sandy soils and searing summers. Hattah-Kulkyne is special because of the flow of permanent water in the nearby Murray River and the freshwater Hattah Lakes seasonally filled by creeks connected to the Murray which provide food and shelter for waterbirds and fish. These lakes can remain full for up to ten years without flooding, but flooding generally occurs, on average, once every two years.

 

Heathcote-Graytown National Park
The Heathcote-Graytown National Park was proclaimed with the passing of the Box-Ironbark Bill on 30 October, 2002. Covering 12 833 hectares, it is located in central Victoria and encompasses much of the southern section of the extensive Rushworth-Heathcote State Forest, from the McIvor Range and Mt. Ida near Heathcote to Mt Black, Spring Creek and Graytown. It includes some of the most significant environmental, cultural and recreational values in the largest remaining Box-Ironbark forest in Victoria. It supports sixteen threatened species including the crimson-spider orchid, squirrel glider and swift parrot. Home to a concentration of large old tree sites and fauna refuges, Heathcote-Graytown National Park also contains significant Aboriginal cultural sites and places

 

Kinglake National Park
Only 65 km north of Melbourne, this 21,600 hectare park lies on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Scenic lookouts offer dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs. Forests, fern gullies and waterfalls are among the other attractions.

 

Lake Eildon National Park
Lake Eildon National Park is in the northern foothills of Victoria's Central Highlands, 150 km north-east of Melbourne. Situated on the shores of Lake Eildon, the park protects 27,750 ha of rugged hills with open woodlands through to dense forest. It is very scenic, and offers the opportunity to experience an array of wildlife, natural and historic features and a wide range of recreational activities

 

Lind National Park
The small area of Lind National Park protects a suprising number of forest types including significant areas of Warm Temperate Rainforest. The picnic facilities allow visitors to take a break and enjoy the refreshing smell of the river which grow along Euchre Creek. There are picnic tables,a fireplace and a toilet at Growler Creek. The park has a gold mining history centred around the creeks. Nearby Club Terrace is named for the Ace of Clubs mine and the terraces of mining spoils that were left behind after the mining operations had ceased. The park was named after Sir Albert Lind, the Minister for Lands who was responsible for the reservation of five of Victoria's National Parks. 

 

Little Desert National Park
The Little Desert National Park is situated 375 km north-west of Melbourne. The three blocks of the park have a rainfall range of 400 mm per year in the north-east to 600 mm in the south-west. The range of soil types causes marked differences in vegetation across the areas. Here in the Little Desert - a desert in name only - you can discover how many species of plants and animals have succeeded, on poor soils with little water, in creating a kind of arid landscape where survival depends on maintaining a delicate balance of natural forces. The best time to visit the park is between late winter and early summer when the temperatures are comfortable and the park is full of blossoms and wildflowers. The eastern block is the most accessible.

 

Lower Glenelg National Park
Lower Glenelg National Park, 27,300 hectares in area, is situated in the south-western corner of Victoria. The Glenelg River is the central feature. Along the last part of its winding 400 kilometre path to the sea the river has carved a spectacular gorge up to 50 metres deep through limestone. River erosion and the action of rainwater have created a remarkable cave. The rich variety of bush plants and animals, not to mention activities such as canoeing, fishing and bushwalking, are ample reasons to visit Lower Glenelg National Park.

 

Mitchell River National Park
Mitchell River National Park surrounds the spectacular Mitchell River where it passes between high cliffs. There are several gorges, including the Den of Nargun mentioned in Aboriginal Legends. Remnants of temperate rainforest line some of the gorges. The park is 11,900 ha in size and contains some of Gippsland's best forest country

 

Mornington Peninsula National Park
95km south-east of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula National Park has long been a favourite for summer holidays. Its diverse coastal environments range from the basalt cliffs at Cape Schanck to the native bushland of Greens Bush and the roaring surf of Gunnamatta. The park is close to many holiday towns and is extremely busy over summer.  Popular activities include: swimming, surfing, beachcombing, bushwalking, picnicking, rock-fishing, diving and wildlife spotting. History buffs, those seeking adventure and families wanting to relax and enjoy the coast's sun, surf and sand will find plenty to occupy them. 

 

Morwell National Park
Proclaimed in 1967, Morwell National Park is an area of natural beauty that is also suitable for passive recreational activities. The park has regional significance as one of the few remaining areas of remnant vegetation in the Strzelecki Ranges

 

Mount Buffalo National Park
An all-seasons park, Mount Buffalo has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. First reserved in 1898, the 31,000 hectare park contains vegetation and fauna adapted to extremes of weather, as a result of its sub-alpine location. There is plenty of wildlife such as Lyrebirds, Eastern Rosellas, Wombats and Swamp Wallabies, however we do ask that you drive carefully when moving throughout the park  

 

Mount Eccles National Park
Mount Eccles National Park, 6120 ha in size, stands at the western edge of the volcanic plains that stretch from Melbourne to Port Fairy, extending northwards to Hamilton and Ararat. Beginning about 20,000 years ago, volcanic eruptions opened the earth's crust and poured out thousands of tonnes of molten lava, forming Mount Eccles and the surrounding landscape. Today, the three main craters hold a 700 metre long lake known as Lake Surprise, which is fed by underground springs. The once red-hot lava has been covered with the lush green of heathland and Manna Gum forest. Geological features to be seen are extensive lava flows, lava caves, scoria cones and crater lakes

 

Mount Richmond National Park
Mount Richmond is an extinct volcano surrounded by low, flat land. The volcano is covered with a layer of sand blown inland long ago from Discovery Bay. Noted for its flora and fauna, the park is covered with forest, open heath, and scattered swamps

 

Murray-Sunset National Park
Murray-Sunset National Park, in Victoria's far north-west corner, is the State's second largest national park. It is in one of the few remaining semi-arid regions in the world where the environment is relatively untouched. With its wide open landscapes, breathtaking sunsets and starry nights, its vastness and isolation, the park is not the place for a day trip - longer stays are recommended

 

Organ Pipes National Park
A set of basalt columns as straight and regular as organ pipes is the central feature of this 152 ha park in a deep gorge in the bare Keilor plains. There are other rock phenomena and the park is worth visiting for its native vegetation and variety of birds

 

Point Nepean National Park
Point Nepean is a popular tourist destination renowned for its historic features, outstanding coastal scenery and panoramic views of Bass Strait, the Rip and Port Phillip Bay. Point Nepean has a long history of use by indigenous people and contains a wide number of aboriginal archaeological sites. The density of sites is amongst the highest in Victoria. Historic Point Nepean has old fortifications interpreted by displays and soundscapes, and spectacular views of the Port Phillip Heads

 

Port Campbell National Park (Twelve Apostles)
Famous for the Twelve Apostles and historic shipwrecks, Port Campbell National Park contains the most significant areas of vegetation and fauna native to south-western Victoria. The diverse range of coastal environments includes woodlands, dunes, wetlands, coastal cliffs, limestone stacks, caves, arches and blowholes. The Twelve Apostles are stacks made of rock formed up to 20 million years ago, and are created by the sea gradually eroding the soft limestone cliffs. The coast is slowly changing and there are frequent small rock falls. There are also infrequent major events, the most recent occurred on Sunday 3 July 2005 when a large stack collapsed.

 

Snowy River National Park
Located in eastern Victoria along the iconic Snowy River, this park is in a remote wilderness area and features some magnificent river scenery, spectacular deep gorges and forests of Grey Gum, Alpine Ash, Messmate and Native Pine. The landscape is rugged, vegetation is thick and the almost mythical Snowy River courses through the park. 
Seeking views of the mighty Snowy River is the main attraction along with bushwalking, canoeing, rafting, 4WD touring, trout fishing and horse riding. It is an ideal park for adventurers, who need to be well equipped and prepared.

 

St Arnaud Range National Park
St Arnaud Range National Park has 13,900 hectares of mainly steep, forested terrain and is an ideal place to experience what the forests were like before the gold rushes. The park has one of the largest intact areas of Box-Ironbark vegetation. It encompasses the former Kara Kara State Park and much of the St Arnaud Range State Forest

 

Tarra-Bulga National Park
Tarra-Bulga National Park in South Gippsland is well known for its giant Mountain Ash trees, beautiful fern gullies and ancient myrtle beeches. The park covers 2015 ha of some of the best examples of original cool temperate rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges. Within the low folds of the Strzelecki Ranges, the small park protects cool temperate rainforest, its well watered, often misty valleys hide  a world of silvery waterfalls, rock pools and mountain streams. The dense vegetation is home to swamp wallabies, wombats, platypus and native rats as well as brush tailed possums, owls and bats.  Birds are plentiful, watch our for the small brown ground-dwelling pilotbird, crimson rosella, the tiny eastern yellow robin, lyrebirds and the eastern whipbird.  Walking through the towering old-growth forest, listening to the tinkling of creeks and waterfalls is the perfect way to explore the park. The park can look especially beautiful in winter with the waterfalls at their best and water dripping from the trees, it can be extremely cold, wet and slippery underfoot, so be well prepared. 

 

Terrick Terrick National Park
Situated north of Bendigo, this park contains the most significant remaining area of the once extensive native grasslands of northern Victoria. It is home to many rare or threatened species such as Buloke mistletoe, Woolly Cloakfern, Bush Stone-curlews, Barking Owls and Greycrowned Babblers

 

The Lakes National Park
The Lakes National Park is a peaceful bushland retreat in the Gippsland Lakes, fringed by the waters of Lake Victoria and Lake Reeve. The park occupies 2,390 hectares of low-lying woodland and coastal heath, consisting of Sperm Whale Head peninsula, Rotamah and Little Rotamah Islands. This is a birdwatchers paradise, a tranquil retreat edged by blue waters.  There are more than 190 bird species with bird hides at Lake Killarney and Rotamah Island. Family friendly walking trails criss-cross this park.  Climb the Lookout Tower near the carpark for views of the shimmering lake waters. 

 

Wilsons Promontory National Park
Located only 200km from Melbourne, it is the southernmost point of the Australian mainland, Wilsons Promontory (affectionately known to Victorians as 'the Prom') is arguably the most loved national park in Victoria. Its 130 km coastline is framed by granite headlands, mountains, forests and fern gullies.  Tidal River, 30 km inside the park boundary, is the focus for tourism and recreation. The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria. The park offers a multitude of activities, but it is also the perfect place to simply wind down and enjoy nature at its finest. A must is a walk along Squeaky Beach with its "singing sands".  Walks range from easy flat boardwalk trails of under 1km through to the 36km round trip hike to the lighthouse.  Things to do include, swimming, surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, bushwalking, canoeing, photography, birdwatching, wildlife spotting (guaranteed to see wombats, kangaroos and if you are lucky, emus). 

 

Wyperfeld National Park
Located in the flat, semi-arid north-western corner of Victoria, Wyperfeld is one of Australia's most fascinating national parks. The central feature of this huge, 356,800 ha park, is a chain of lake beds connected by Outlet Creek, the northern extension of the Wimmera River. The lakes only fill when the Wimmera River over-supplies Lake Hindmarsh to the south of Lake Albacutya. When it rains the semi-arid landscape is transformed by tiny desert plants that sprout from long-dormant seeds, carpeting the ground with clusters of flowers

 

Yarra Ranges National Park
70km north-east of Melbourne, a vital catchment for Melbourne's water supply, Yarra Ranges National Park is home to forests of Mountain Ash, rainforest and fern gullies, and the endangered Leadbeater's Possum. Stretching from Healesville to Warburton, from the headwaters of the Yarra to Marysville, this national park was declared in 1995. The park provides both a winter playground for family fun with skiing, tobogganing and snow play and a picturesque environment of forests and gullies for walking and picnicking and scenic driving at most times of the year.