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 20 May 2022 14:30

 

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.

A toxic blue green algae bloom is also currently impacting Gippsland Lakes and contact with water should be avoided. 

  

 

Croajingolong National Park - sites closed or impacted:

  • Mueller campground - closed 
  • Clinton Rocks track - closed
  • Wilderness Coastal Walk - closed from Bemm River to  Pebbly Beach due to flood and fire damage
  • Beach access track at Shipwreck campground - closed
  • Swan Lake track - closed
  • Wingan Inlet Campground - water supply trough impacted by flooding, campers need to be self sufficient with water. 

 

Bemm River Scenic Reserve:

  • McKenzie Rainforest Walk - closed

 

Lake Tyers State Park - sites closed or impacted

  • Pettmans campground - closed, including Old Orbost Road to campground
  • Marsdenia Rainforest Walk  - closed
  • South Boundary Track - closed at intersection of Princes Hwy and South Boundary Track, and Peterson Road and South Boundary Track
  • Gibbs Beach Track - closed at the intersection of Lake Tyers House Road
  • Morass Break Track - closed at the intersection of Lake Tyers House Road and Morass Break, and Pettmans Road and Morass Break
  • Reedy Arm No. 2 Track - closed at the intersection of Lake Tyers House Road
  • Morgans Landing Track to Ironbark Campground is open, 4WD only.
  • Morgans Landing Track from the intersection of Ironbark Tk - closed
  • Trident Arm and Morgans campsites - open but to 4WD vehicles only
  • Cameron’s Arm No.2 Track  - closed

  

Cape Conran Coastal Park - some sites closed and impacted:

  • Yeerung River Road east of canoe launch area - closed
  • Yeerung Day Visitor Area - closed, however the canoe launch area is open
  • East Yeerung Track - open to 4WD vehicles from Old Coach Road
  • Yeerung bridge - open to pedestrians only 

 

Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park:

  • Closed east of  Barrier Landing and Drews Jetty area and tracks.
  • Other areas yet to be assessed, there may be other impacted areas not listed. 

 

Nyerimilang Historic Park:

  • All walking tracks - access is still possible, but track surface is damaged and heavily rutted. Walk with caution. 

 

Coopracambra National Park:

  • WB Line Track - 4WD only

 

Lakes Entrance - Lake Tyres Coastal Reserve:

  • Red Bluff - closed
  • Barracuda access - closed

 

Mitchell River National Park

  • Mitchell Views Track  - closed
  • Billy Goat Bend Road - closed at intersection with Bairnsdale-Dargo Road, and at intersection of Bull Creek Divide Track
  • Billy Goat Bend Campground is open and can be accessed by 2WD, via Park Road only
  • 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 only
  • Assessments still ongoing and other areas my also be closed. 

 

Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve 

  • Cabbage Tree Palms Road is 4WD access only
  • Assessments in the Reserve are still ongoing

 

Parks Closed:

Ewings Morass Wildlife Reserve

Lake Curlip State Game Reserve

Cann River Bushland Reserve 

Macleod Morass Wildlife Reserve

St Georges Plain Flora Reserve 

Lind National Park

 

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 5 May 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.


  • Arthurs Seat State Park - park open; Kings Falls circuit walk is partly closed to visitors, accessible from Waterfall Gully Road or 2 Bays walking track
  • Dandenong Ranges National Park:
    • partial closure; Valley Picnic Ground, Olinda Falls picnic area and the western Sherbrooke Forest tracks are closed. Sherbrooke Falls open - Hillclimb and Wattle tracks closed.
    • Work to restore access to park areas continues, with multiple key access tracks now cleared, enabling safe and rapid response for emergency management 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 local 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 root balls 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 - due to the extent of damage to buildings at this site, the entire location will remain closed into 2022.
  • Kinglake National Park - park open (bridge at eastern end of Mountain Creek Track is closed)
  • Morwell National Park - Brewster and Braniffs Road entries, Grand Strzelecki Track and sections of Billy Creek Track are 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

 

Fire Danger Rating closures

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

 

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 

 

Severe 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 

 

Extreme Fire Danger Rating (Central Forecast District) closures

  • 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

 

Code Red Park Closures

On days of forecast Code Red 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 Code Red park closures and see the lists of affected park lists in each forecast district. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology for latest weather conditions.http://bom.gov.au/vic/

 

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.

 

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

 

Code red park closures

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

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