Enjoy a leisurely picnic at Donnelly’s Weir, Badger Weir, Dom Dom Saddle or Maroondah Reservoir Park. Short walks from the picnic areas into the rainforest will often be rewarded with sightings of charismatic wildlife such as lyrebirds, King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas and wallabies.
Longer and more challenging walks are rewarded with fantastic scenery, stunning views and an even better chance of spotting wildlife. The Mount Juliet summit walk rises from 200m to 1100m and is one of the most difficult in the Yarra Ranges, while the Mount St Leonard Track incorporates part of the National Bicentennial Trail
Extend your scenic drive deeper into the Yarra Ranges by continuing beyond the Black Spur to Marysville and beyond on the Lady Talbot Forest Drive, which leads to the Beeches Walk, Taggerty Cascades and Phantom and Keppel Falls.
Things to do in the area
Everything about this park seems ancient. From the towering Mountain Ash trees to the moss-covered rainforests. This is a heartland for some of our nocturnal possums and gliders. Bring a torch and see if you can spot a Greater Glider or Yellow-bellied Glider in the tall trees but be sure to watch the ground for grumpy wombats.
The forests of the Yarra Ranges are thought to be among the last strongholds of the critically endangered Leadbeater's Possum. This shy animal needs a particular mix of trees of varying ages to thrive and has suffered from habitat loss due to bushfires and logging. You are unlikely to see a Leadbeater's Possum, but it is nice to know that one might be resting in the hollow of a tree as you walk past.
In all, around 40 native mammals are known to occur in the park. The large areas of undisturbed old and mixed-age forests are particularly important for the conservation of hollow-dwelling species including bats, owls, parrots and the Leadbeater's Possum.
The park provides habitat for 120 species of native birds. Hollow-using species found here are the Sooty Owl, Powerful Owl and Barking Owl. Other important species include the Pink Robin, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot and Grey Goshawk. Crimson Rosellas are common.
The park features tall Mountain Ash forests, with an understorey of tree ferns, and gullies of cool temperate rainforest. Large pristine areas of these and other vegetation types are of national and state botanical significance. Damp river valleys are home to stands of Myrtle Beech festooned with mosses, ferns and lichens.
The highest elevations, such as Lake Mountain and Mount Donna Buang, are characterised by sub-alpine vegetation, and receive regular snowfalls over the winter months.
Fourteen plant species occurring in the park have been identified as being rare or threatened, including the Slender Tree-fern and Tree Geebung.
Maroondah Reservoir Park
Badger Weir
Black Spur
Dom Dom Saddle
Donnelleys Weir
How to get there
Healesville and the Black Spur
When you're there
Need to know
Healesville and the Black Spur
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area (Yarra Ranges National Park)
Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area - Toilet Closure
Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area toilets are permanently closed and will be removed in their entirety at a later date.The nearest toilets are at Fernshaw Picnic ground. -
Cambarville Picnic Area (Yarra Ranges National Park)
Partial walking track closure on Cumberland Circuit walk (South of Woods Point Road)
There is a partial closure in place on the Cumberland Circuit walk due to hazardous tree fall risk south of Woods Point Rd (see map attached)Attachments: Cambarville_A4_0412 (1,190KB)
Cambarville toilet block closed until further notice
Cambarville toilet block is closed until further notice due to water supply issues and structural problems -
Yarra Ranges National Park
Summit Loop Trail - Partial Closure - Lake Mountain Summit
The Summit Loop walking trail is partially closed at Lake Mountain until further notice.Attachments: Lake Mountain Summit Loop Partial Track Closure (562KB)
Restricted night time access due to Deer control Program at Mount Donna Buang and along the O'Shannassy Aqueduct trail
Parks Victoria will be undertaking deer control in the Yarra Ranges National Park on the southern fall of Mount Donna Buang. This program will be taking place between the hours of 5pm and 6am on a number of nights between the 1st of March and the 12th of June 2026. These control works are being undertaken by accredited and authorised contractors.For reasons of public safety, various areas of the park will be inaccessible during the evening throughout this period. This includes the O’Shannassy Aqueduct trail and the Mount Victoria walking track. Signage onsite will provide specific dates control will take place. Please refer to the attached map for further information.Signage will be in place at access points when control activities are occurring. For our own safety please observe the signage during this time and do not enter any closed areas.For further information please call 131963Attachments: Donna Deer Control zone map (652KB)
Areas of Yarra Ranges National Park closed for aerial deer control operations
Areas of Yarra Ranges National Park closed for aerial deer control operations
Parts of the Yarra Ranges National Park will be closed from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm daily on the following dates:· Monday 15 June 2026· Tuesday 16 June 2026· Wednesday 17 June 2026· Thursday 18 June 2026· Friday 19 June 2026These closures are required for aerial shooting operations to control introduced deer species.For public safety, do not enter these areas before or during operations. Warning signs will be displayed at all official entrance points to the control zones and at visitor sites while the program is underway.Affected Areas & Closures
All campgrounds and visitor areas within the control zones will be closed while activities are active. Closed areas include:· Upper Yarra Reservoir Park – Picnic Area and Campground· Big Peninsula – The Goldfields Walk· O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail (Partial closure) – Closed East of Cement Creek Road· O’Shannassy Weir Picnic AreaWhy is this work being done?
Parks Victoria is responsible for conservation management to restore and protect park habitats, including the control of introduced plant and animal species.This program aims to:· Protect native vegetation: Reduce damage to rare and threatened plant species.· Preserve waterways: Minimise deer impact on significant waterways and vegetation within the Upper Yarra and Armstrong catchments.· Improve road safety: Reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents involving deer on surrounding roads.More Information
For your own safety, please strictly observe all signage and do not enter any closed areas.For further information or updates, please call Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or visit the Parks Victoria website.Attachments: Armstrong Creek Aerial Shoot (1,094KB)
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Big Peninsula Picnic Area (Yarra Ranges National Park, Yarra River)
Big Peninsula access to tunnel entry viewing platform and Goldfields walk via Peninsula Rd temporarily closed during road works
Melbourne Water are repairing the crossing on Peninsula Rd. During this time, the walking track beyond the Big Peninsula maintenance vehicle gate will be inaccessible. Works are scheduled to start in early June 2026 and finish in late June or early July 2026.Attachments: Big Pen culvert works (238KB)
Big Peninsula Stepping Stones permanently closed due to erosion
Due to instability caused by erosion, the Big Peninsula Stepping Stones are permanently closed for visitor safety.