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.  


Flood affected parks

Updated 3 October 2022

Rain in late September 2022 has temporarily closed some areas due to flooding- check below for latest closure information.

Following heavy rainfall in East Gippsland in late March/early April 2022, several parks were heavily impacted by flooding, with some areas, facilities and tracks temporarily closed. Some areas sustained significant damage and may be closed for some time. 

As flood waters recede, staff continue to assess and repair sites so that they can be safely opened to the public.

   

 

Croajingolong National Park - sites closed or impacted:

  • Peachtree Campground- closed 
  • Mueller campground - closed 
  • Clinton Rocks track - closed
  • Wilderness Coast Walk - closed from Bemm River to Shipwreck Creek
  • Shipwreck Creek Campground beach access track - visitors can access the beach, but the track is diverted in places
  • Swan Lake track - closed
  • Wingan Inlet Campground - water supply trough impacted by flooding, campers need to be self sufficient with water. 
  • West Wingan Road - 4WD only
  • Mt Everard Walk - closed
  • Wingan River Rapids Walk - closed
  • Lake View Track - will remain closed following the seasonal road closure period
  • Betka Track - will remain closed following the seasonal road closure period
  • Miners Track - will remain closed following the seasonal road closure period

 

Lake Tyers State Park - sites closed or impacted

  • Lonely Bay Walk - open but tree fern loop section at the end is closed
  • South Boundary Track - open, but slippery when wet
  • Gibbs Track - closed
  • Moras Break Road - closed
  • Reedy Arm No. 2 Track - closed
  • Morgans Landing Track to Ironbark Campground - open but to 4WD vehicles only
  • Morgans Landing Track to Morgans Landing Day Visitor Area - open
  • Trident Arm Track - 4WD access only to Trident Arm Campground and boat launch
  • Cameron’s Arm No.2 Track  - closed

  

Cape Conran Coastal Park

  • Pearl Point Rd between Pearl Point and Bemm River - closed
  • Binn Beach camp ground - closed
  • Pearl Point camp ground - closed
  • Gunnai Beach camp ground- closed
  • Py Yoot visitor area- closed
  • Yeerung Lookout - closed
  • East Yeerung Track - closed at Yeerung Bridge and is suitable for 4WD only
  • Yeerung Bridge - open to pedestrians only 
  • Swampy Ridges Track - closed
  • Hekarwe Track - closed west of Swampy Ridges Track
  • East Cape Boardwalk - closed for fire recovery rebuild

 

Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park:

  • Closed east of  Barrier Landing and Drews Jetty area and tracks, and will remain closed until further notice

  

Coopracambra National Park:

  • WB Line Track - 4WD only

 

Lakes Entrance - Lake Tyers Coastal Reserve:

  • Salmon Road Stairs - open, but there is a temporary diversion along the track where a landslip occurred

Bemm River Scenic Reserve:

  • McKenzie River Rainforest Walk- closed

Mitchell River National Park

  • Mitchell Views Track  - closed
  • Hortons Track - closed at the intersection of Angus Vale Track and the river crossing at the Rock Creek Camping Area. 

 

Snowy River National Park:

  • Raymond Creek Falls - open to 4WD vehicles only
  • Boundary Track - closed
  • Kangaroo Firetrail - closed
  • Garnets Track - closed
  • Varneys Track - closed
  • Hicks Track - closed
  • Hicks Campground - closed
  • Jacksons Crossing Campground - closed

 

MacLeod Morass State Game Reserve 

  • Open but there is a closed area at the south end of the distribution channel due to the track being washed away

 

Lind National Park

  • Euchre Valley Drive through Lind National Park - closed 

 

Parks Closed:

Cann River Bushland Reserve  

St Georges Plain Flora Reserve 

 

Alpine National Park 

  • Ingeegoodbee Track - closed
  • McFarlines Flat Track - closed
  • Cobberas Track - closed
  • Besford Track - closed
  • Refer to Seasonal Road Closures for more information

 

Flooding can occur anywhere at any time, particularly during and after severe weather and heavy rainfall. Take care around rivers, creeks and lakes. Water levels and currents may increase quickly and without warning. Never walk, ride or drive through flood water and take extra care on the road being aware of hazards such as mud, debris, damaged roads and bridges. Don't play, swim or go recreational boating in flooded creeks and rivers. Be careful around trees; the ground is soaked and soft so they are more likely to fall; Call Victoria State Emergency Services on 132 500 from anywhere in Victoria for flood and storm emergency assistance. For life-threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

For park closures in neighbouring states please see South Australia Department of Environment and Natural Resources and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service


Severe weather closures

Following severe storm events in 2021, Parks Victoria has been working across impacted parks and reserves to make them safe and reopen sites where possible. Many parks have since re-opened.

The storm impact on parks, reserves, gardens and marine sites was widespread and varied across Victoria, resulting in closures and significant impacts, in particular from fallen trees, debris, floods, damaged powerlines and landslips.

Among the areas most affected included Macedon Regional Park, the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges and parts of Gippsland, western Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula. 

Our crews are working as fast as they can as part of the dedicated storms response and look forward to welcoming you back to sites when it is safe.

See article: More parks reopen as storm response continues

 

Parks impacted by storm damage

Updated 15 July 2022

This page is being updated as information changes or becomes available. Please check for any updated changes affecting the park you intend to visit by going directly to the individual park page on the Parks Victoria website, or contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963. 

Please stay out of closed parks and sites – they are closed because they are not safe for visitors to enter.

  • Dandenong Ranges National Park - partial closure:
    • Valley Picnic Ground closed, Olinda Falls lower viewing area closed.
    • Work to restore access to park areas continues, with multiple key access tracks now cleared, enabling safe and rapid response for emergency vehicles. On-going works involve removing large fallen and hazardous trees, branches and excess debris on visitor sites and tracks. Due to the scale of the recovery task, large machinery and trucks will be in operation. Please observe signage and do not enter work sites.
    • Works will be carried out mindful of minimising any impact on environmental and cultural values, and where appropriate, fallen trees and debris important for protecting biodiversity values will be left in place. In instances where logs and debris are to be removed, Parks Victoria will assess whether the material can be used by the community or elsewhere in the park, for example, logs to border camping areas and walking tracks or salvaged for milling and other wood products, or for environmental purposes such as hollow logs in streams for fish habitat.
    • Works are being carried out in conjunction with DELWP, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Bushfire Recovery Victoria, Local Councils and VicForests.
  • 1000 Steps (Kokoda Memorial Track) - closed.  See article: Recovery progressing at 1000 Steps.
  • William Ricketts Sanctuary - closed, due to extensive storm damage.
  • Kinglake National Park - park open (bridge at eastern end of Mountain Creek Track is closed)

For closures in state forests please visit: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/visiting-state-forests/forest-and-road-closures


Fire affected parks 

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

For current fires go to www.emergency.vic.gov.au


Flood affected parks

Flooding can occur anywhere at any time, particularly during and after severe weather and heavy rainfall. Take care around rivers, creeks and lakes. Water levels and currents may increase quickly and without warning. Never walk, ride or drive through flood water and take extra care on the road being aware of hazards such as mud, debris, damaged roads and bridges. Don't play, swim or go recreational boating in flooded creeks and rivers. Be careful around trees; the ground is soaked and soft so they are more likely to fall; Call Victoria State Emergency Services on 132 500 from anywhere in Victoria for flood and storm emergency assistance. For life-threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

For park closures in neighbouring states please see South Australia Department of Environment and Natural Resources and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service


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.http://bom.gov.au/vic/


Two hikers reach the summit of Mount Nelse at Bogong High Plains
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