National & state parks

National & state parks


Around one-third of Victoria consists of public land. Discover a range of environments within these extensive areas of public land including urban manicured gardens, recreational parks, lush forests, remote wilderness parks, scenic coastal parks and large semi-arid regions.

National Parks (NP) are areas of nationwide significance which are usually quite extensive in size. They encompass outstanding natural environments, scenic landscapes or diverse land types which are predominantly unspoilt. Their aim is to preserve these landscapes from many forms of human activity, protect precious species of animals and plants, preserve areas of archaeological and historical significance, and to provide public enjoyment and education of these areas of nature.

State Parks (SP) are similar to national parks, but are generally smaller. They complement national parks and preserve the major land types and species of flora and fauna found in Victoria.

Regional Parks (RP) are easily accessible areas of land which include a variety of historic, cultural and conservation reserves. Their aim is provide recreation and enjoyment for large numbers of people while protecting the natural surroundings and limiting exploitation of resources.

Wilderness Parks (WP) are large areas with native plant and animal communities that are relatively unaffected by humans. They are managed for conservation, with no facilities provided for visitors and no vehicles are permitted.

State Forests (SF) conserve flora and fauna, protect water catchments and supplies, preserve landscapes and provide recreational areas. They also provide sustainable resources to supply the community, such as timber and other forest products. Hunting for pest animals may be permitted in some State Forests.

Victoria's National Parks, State Parks, Regional Parks and Wilderness Parks are managed by Parks Victoria. State Forests are managed by DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).

All of these parks are free to visit - there are no entry fees. If you are planning to camp in a state or national park, please refer to camping information.

Victoria has been divided up into 4 distinct geographical zones to classify the location of these parks and forests.

Regions of parks in Victoria
Park regions

Melbourne zone parks

Park Nearby cities, suburbs, towns
Arthurs Seat SP Arthurs Seat, Dromana, Main Ridge, McCrae, Red Hill, Rosebud
Churchill NP Dandenong, Endeavour Hills, Lysterfield, Rowville
Dandenong Ranges NP Belgrave, Ferntree Gully, Ferny Creek, Kallista, Kalorama, Montrose, Mount Dandenong, Mount Evelyn, Olinda, Sassafras, Selby, Sherbrooke, Silvan, Tecoma, The Basin, Tremont, Upwey
Mornington Peninsula NP Blairgowrie, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal, Flinders, Main Ridge, Portsea, Rye, Sorrento, St Andrews Beach
Organ Pipes NP Bulla, Calder Park, Diggers Rest, Keilor North, Taylors Lakes
Point Nepean NP Portsea
Warrandyte SP Bend Of Islands, Chirnside Park, Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Warrandyte, Wonga Park

West zone parks

Park Nearby cities, suburbs, towns
Ararat RP Ararat
Big Desert WP Murrayville, Yanac
Black Range SP Balmoral, Cavendish, Horsham
Cape Nelson SP Portland
Cobboboonee NP Heywood, Portland
Crawford River RP Dartmoor, Digby, Heywood
Dergholm SP Casterton, Edenhope, Harrow
Grampians NP Ararat, Cavendish, Dunkeld, Halls Gap, Hamilton, Horsham, Moyston, Pomonal, Stawell
Great Otway NP Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Cape Otway, Colac, Forrest, Lavers Hill, Lorne, Princetown, Wye River
Hattah-Kulkyne NP Mildura, Ouyen, Robinvale
Kara Kara NP Avoca, Moonambel, St Arnaud
Langi Ghiran SP Ararat
Little Desert NP Dimboola, Goroke, Horsham, Kaniva, Natimuk, Nhill
Lower Glenelg NP Dartmoor, Heywood, Nelson, Portland
Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP Natimuk
Mount Buangor SP Ararat, Beaufort, Elmhurst
Mount Clay & Annya SF Heywood, Portland
Mount Cole SF Ararat, Beaufort, Elmhurst
Mount Eccles NP Heywood, Macarthur
Mount Napier SP Hamilton, Macarthur
Mount Richmond NP Cape Bridgewater, Portland
Murray-Sunset NP Meringur, Mildura, Murrayville, Ouyen, Underbool
Port Campbell NP Peterborough, Port Campbell, Princetown
Pyrenees SF Avoca, Elmhurst, Landsborough, Moonambel
Rocklands SF Balmoral, Cavendish, Horsham
St Arnaud SF St Arnaud
Wail SF Dimboola, Horsham
Wyperfeld NP Hopetoun, Ouyen, Patchewollock, Rainbow, Underbool, Walpeup, Yaapeet, Yanac

Central zone parks

Park Nearby cities, suburbs, towns
Barmah NP Barmah, Strathmerton
Bendigo RP Bendigo
Bendigo SF Bendigo
Brisbane Ranges NP Anakie, Bacchus Marsh, Meredith
Broken-Boosey SP Katamatite, Numurkah, Tungamah
Castlemaine SF Castlemaine, Maldon, Newstead, Malmsbury, Taradale
Cathedral Range SP Alexandra, Buxton, Marysville
Cobram RP Cobram
Craigie SF Maryborough, Talbot
Creswick RP Ballarat, Creswick
Dunolly & Inglewood SF Bridgewater, Dunolly, Inglewood, Tarnagulla
Enfield SP Ballarat, Rokewood, Smythesdale
Greater Bendigo NP Bendigo
Gunbower NP Cohuna, Gunbower
Gunbower Island SF Cohuna, Koondrook
Heathcote-Graytown NP Heathcote, Nagambie, Rushworth
Heathcote & Rushworth SF Heathcote, Murchison, Nagambie, Rushworth
Hepburn RP Daylesford, Hepburn Springs
Kimbolton SF Redesdale
Kinglake NP Flowerdale, Kinglake, St Andrews, Whittlesea, Yarra Glen
Kooyoora SP Inglewood, St Arnaud, Tarnagulla, Wedderburn
Kurth Kiln RP Gembrook, Yarra Junction
Lake Eildon NP Eildon, Jamieson, Mansfield
Leaghur SP Boort, Kerang
Lerderderg SP Bacchus Marsh, Blackwood, Gisborne, Melton, Trentham
Lower Goulburn NP Barmah, Echuca, Kyabram, Nathalia, Shepparton
Lower Ovens Wildlife Reserve Bundalong, Rutherglen, Yarrawonga
Macedon RP Gisborne, Macedon, Mount Macedon, Woodend
Maryborough SF Avoca, Carisbrook, Clunes, Maryborough, Talbot
Marysville SF Marysville
Mount Alexander RP Harcourt
Mt Disappointment SF Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Wandong, Whittlesea
Mount Samaria SP Benalla, Mansfield
Paddys Ranges SP Maryborough, Talbot
Reef Hills SP Benalla
Rubicon SF Buxton, Eildon, Marysville, Taggerty, Thornton
Shepparton RP Shepparton
Strathbogie SF Boho, Euroa, Strathbogie, Swanpool, Violet Town
Tallarook SF Broadford, Seymour, Yea
Terrick Terrick NP Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill
Toolangi SF Healesville, Yarra Glen
Werribee Gorge SP Bacchus Marsh, Ballan
Woowookarung RP Ballarat
Yarra Ranges NP Healesville, Marysville, Narbethong, Warburton, Woods Point
Yarrawonga RP Yarrawonga
You Yangs RP Geelong, Little River

East zone parks

Park Nearby cities, suburbs, towns
Alfred NP Cann River, Genoa, Mallacoota
Alpine NP Benambra, Bonang, Bright, Cheshunt, Dargo, Dartmouth, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Gelantipy, Harrietville, Licola, Mansfield, Merrijig, Mitta Mitta, Mount Beauty, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Omeo, Whitfield
Avon WP Licola
Baw Baw NP Baw Baw Village, Erica, Rawson, Walhalla
Beechworth SF Beechworth, Stanley
Briagolong SF Briagolong, Stratford
Bruthen SF Bruthen
Bunyip SP Bunyip, Garfield, Gembrook, Nar Nar Goon, Powelltown, Tonimbuk, Tynong, Yarra Junction
Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP Corryong, Cudgewa, Tintaldra, Walwa
Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Barnawartha, Beechworth, Chiltern, Eldorado
Colquhoun SF Bruthen, Buchan, Lakes Entrance, Nowa Nowa
Coopracambra NP Cann River, Genoa
Croajingolong NP Bemm River, Cann River, Genoa, Mallacoota
Dargo SF Dargo
Errinundra NP Bonang, Cann River
French Island NP Tankerton
Holey Plains SP Longford, Rosedale, Sale
Lake Tyers SP Lakes Entrance
Lind NP Bemm River, Cann River
Mitchell River NP Bairnsdale, Dargo, Lindenow
Moondarra SP Erica, Moe, Yallourn North
Morwell NP Churchill, Morwell, Yinnar
Mount Buffalo NP Myrtleford, Porepunkah
Mount Granya SP Granya, Talgarno, Tallangatta
Mount Lawson SP Granya, Koetong, Walwa
Mount Worth SP Warragul, Yarragon
Snowy River NP Bonang, Buchan, Gelantipy, Orbost
Tarra-Bulga NP Balook, Traralgon, Yarram
The Lakes NP Loch Sport, Paynesville (by boat)
Wabba WP Corryong, Staceys Bridge
Warby-Ovens NP Glenrowan, Rutherglen, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga
Wilsons Promontory NP Fish Creek, Foster, Sandy Point, Waratah Bay, Yanakie
Won Wron & Mullungdung SF Rosedale, Traralgon, Woodside, Yarram
Yackandandah SF Yackandandah
Yarra SF Noojee, Powelltown, Warburton, Yarra Junction

Interesting facts about our parks

Victoria's largest park is the Alpine National Park which spans 6,460 square kilometres. It is located in the east of the state, extending into both Gippsland and the High Country regions. It has the largest diversity of flora and fauna out of all parks with almost 1,000 native plant species and over 300 native animal species. Coming a close second in size is the semi-arid Murray-Sunset National Park at 6,330 square kilometres, located south of Mildura.

Victoria's busiest park is the Mornington Peninsula National Park which extends along the southern coastline of the Mornington Peninsula and also inland. There are over 4 million visits per year made to this park, mainly by people accessing the surrounding ocean beaches.

Victoria's quietest park is the Big Desert Wilderness Park, located in a very remote area of the state, adjacent to the border with South Australia, south of Murrayville. It is estimated to receive less than 300 visitors a year due to its remoteness and lack of tracks or any type of facilities for visitors.

The Grampians National Park, which surrounds the village of Halls Gap, contains the most Aboriginal rock art sites in Victoria.