Changed conditions and closures

There will be times when, in the interests of visitor safety and environmental sustainability, access roads, visitor sites or entire parks and reserves will need to be closed or have access restricted.

We acknowledge the vital importance of parks for public recreation and tourism, and endeavour to assess, remove risks, repair facilities and safely open areas as soon as possible following storms, fires and floods.

Stay informed

Monitor local conditions, stay out of any closed sections or parks including tracks and roads and travel using recommended routes.

Check for any changes affecting the park you intend to visit by going directly to the park page or contacting the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.

For a list of State Forest closures, visit the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

For the latest information on emergency information and warnings, visit VicEmergency.

For the latest information on road closures, visit VicTraffic.

For the latest weather conditions, visit the Bureau of Meteorology.

For park closures in neighbouring states, visit South Australia Department of Environment and Natural Resources and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Fire affected parks

Parks Victoria may close parks affected by bushfires to protect public safety.  Check the Fire affected parks page for information about park closures due to current bushfires.

Flood and storm affected parks

Parks Victoria may close parks affected by severe weather for public safety. Check the Flood and storm affected parks page for information about park closures due to current floods and storms.  

Seasonal road closures

Many roads and tracks are closed to vehicle traffic every year over winter for the safety of park visitors and to help limit track damage.

Find out more about seasonal road closures.

For other road conditions and information about driving in snow conditions you can contact the VicRoads Hotline on 13 1170 or visit the VicRoads website.

Fire Danger Rating closures

The VicEmergency website lists forecast Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Ban declarations for Victoria. On days of Extreme Fire Danger Ratings you should reconsider plans to visit parks and forests. Most parks and forests are closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger and if you are already within a park or forest the safest option is to leave the night before or early in the day.

The following higher risk areas are closed below the Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating:

Total Fire Ban (Central Forecast District) closures   

• Dandenong Ranges Gardens
  • Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens
  • George Tindale Memorial Gardens
  • Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (formerly National Rhododendron Garden)
  • Pirianda Garden
  • RJ Hamer Arboretum 
  • William Ricketts Sanctuary
  • Mt Dandenong Arboretum
  • The former Olinda Golf Course

• Dandenong Ranges National Park, including these visitor sites:
  • One Tree Hill Picnic Ground
  • Sherbrooke Picnic Ground
  • O’Donohue
  • Valley Picnic Ground
  • Eagles Nest Picnic Ground
  • Doongalla Homestead Picnic Ground
  • Grants Picnic Ground 
  • Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground
  • Kalorama Park
  • 1000 Steps - Kokoda Memorial Walk
  • Olinda Falls Picnic Ground

• Black Hill Reserve
• Perrins Creek
• Sassafras Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
• Silvan Reservoir Park 

Extreme Fire Danger Rating (Central Forecast District) closures

• Plenty Gorge Park - Yellow Gum Picnic Area (including Blue Lake)
• Warrandyte State Park visitor areas - Jumping Creek Reserve, Koornong Reserve, Norman Reserve and Pound Bend
• Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve
• Woodlands Historic Park  

• Haining Park
• Organ Pipes National Park 
• Great Otway National Park - Erskine Falls Precinct

Extreme Fire Danger Rating (South West Forecast District) closures

• Grampians National Park - Mackenzie Falls Precinct

Catastrophic Fire Danger park closures

On days of forecast Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating, Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will close the majority of parks in the relevant weather district for public safety. 

Find out more about Catastrophic park closures. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology for latest weather conditions.