Fire affected parks

Last updated:  4:40 pm 4 August 2020

This page may be updated many times a day when there are fires. Hit CTRL F5 to ensure you are seeing the latest details.

Parks and forests affected by current fires

For a list of State Forest closures, visit the DELWP website.

For the latest information on fires, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

For the latest information on road closures, visit traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au


Alpine National Park

Some areas of the Alpine National Park remain closed due to fire damage. Check the information below for details.

Mansfield

The following tracks and visitor areas within the Mansfield section of the Alpine National Park are closed:

  • Cairn Creek Track.
  • Brocks Road (from Refrigerator Gap Track through to the intersection of King Billy Track and Howitt High Plain Road).
  • King Billy Track from the Howitt Road (View Point) to Bluff Track.
  • Bluff Track
  • Lake Cobbler Track form Lake Cobbler Road to Speculation Road
  • Mt Speculation Road from Lake Cobbler Track to Little Cobbler Track intersection.

Heyfield , Licola and Dargo

The following tracks within the Heyfield, Licola and Dargo section of the Alpine National Park are closed:

  • King Billy Track from the Howitt Road (View Point) to Bluff Track.

For the latest information about conditions in and around Tali Karng check change of conditions on the Tali Karng page.

Barry Mountains (Upper Buckland and Buffalo Valleys)

The following tracks in the Buffalo River Valley are closed:

  • East West Buffalo Divide Track.

The following tracks in the Buckland Valley are closed:

  • Goldie Spur Track, Mt Selwyn Road, Walsh’s Track, Great Dividing Range Track, Canyon Road, Selwyn Track, and Selwyn Creek Road South of Kates Track.

Australian Alps Walking Track, North from Harry Shepherds Track to the Great Alpine Road, is closed.


Parks Victoria asks all visitors to respect this decision and not enter areas listed as closed.


Mount Bogong and the northern Bogong High Plains are closed in the areas south of a boundary connecting The Lanes, Kelly Track, Langford West Aqueduct and the Cope Aqueducts.

The following tracks and visitor areas within the Bogong High Plains section of the Alpine National Park are closed:

  • Young Hut, McNamara Huts
  • Young’s Tops
  • Young’s Walking Track

Visitors to all parks and reserves that are adjacent to or nearby areas affected by fire should be mindful of potential water quality issues as a result of the fire event. 

Eastern Alps

Sections of the eastern alps are closed, including Davies Plain Icon Drive, due to fire damage, including the following:

  • The Ingeegoodbee Track  north of Suggan Buggan 
  • Charlie’s Creek camping area
  • Davies Plain Hut camping area
  • Buckwong Creek camping area
  • The Poplars camping area
  • Buenba Flat camping area
  • Alpine Walking Track (between Johnnies Top and Cowombat Flat / NSW border)
  • Limestone Creek camping area
  • Cowombat Flat

Buchan Caves Reserve

Buchan Caves Reserve is partially reopened to visitors in the following areas:

  • Visitor Centre
  • Moon Hill walking track
  • Day Visitor Area (picnic area)
  • Partial closure of the campground. Check availability here. 

Severely fire-affected parts of the reserve remain closed to visitors for safety reasons:

  • All Cave tours
  • Spring Creek walking track
  • FJ Wilson’s walking track
  • Caves Reserve walking track
  • Granite Pools walking track

Budj Bim National Park

The Crater Rim Walk and Lava Canal Walk are open but have been re-routed near Tunnel Cave.

The following areas in  Budj Bim National Park remain closed due to the impact of bushfires:

  • The Lake Surprise walking track
  • Access to Tunnel Cave.

Cape Conran Coastal Park 

The majority of Cape Conran Coastal Park is closed, including Banksia Bluff campground and cabins, due to widespread bushfire damage, with the exception of the following sites that are open:

  • Cape Conran boat ramp
  • Joiners Channel
  • East Cape day visitor area
  • Yeerung day visitor area
  • Point Ricardo
  • Pearl Point
  • Gunnai Beach
  • Ocean Beach
  • Binns Beach

Coopracambra National Park

Coopracambra National Park is closed due to widespread bushfire damage.

Crawford River Regional Park

Crawford River Regional Park is closed due to fire damage. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity.

Croajingolong National Park

The majority of Croajingolong National Park remains closed, including The Wilderness Coast Walk, due to widespread bushfire damage, with the exception of the following sites that are open:

  • South West Arm day visitor area (no toilet facilities, no jetty access)
  • Sandy Point day visitor area (no toilet facilities)
  • Allens Head
  • Cemetery Bight
  • Goanna Bay
  • Narrows Jetty 
  • Cape Horn
  • The first 300 metres of Narrows walking track only.

East Gippsland - other parks and reserves

These parks and reserves are currently closed due to widespread bushfire damage:

  • Alfred National Park
  • Bemm River Scenic Reserve (McKenzie River Rainforest Walk)
  • Cann River Bushland Reserve
  • Fairy Dell Flora Reserve
  • Lind National Park
  • Mallacoota Bushland Reserve
  • Maramingo Creek Flora Reserve
  • Martins Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
  • Martins Creek Scenic Reserve
  • Mottle Range Flora Reserve
  • Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve
  • Mount Murphy Historic Area
  • Victoria Falls Historic Area

Marble Gully - Mount Tambo Nature Conservation Reserve

Marble Gully - Mount Tambo Nature Conservation Reserve is closed due to fire. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity.

Mount Buffalo National Park

The majority of Mount Buffalo National Park has re-opened. However, the following areas remain closed until further notice:

  • Dicksons Falls
  • Back Wall
  • South Buffalo
  • Mollisons Galleries Track at Eagle Point
  • Rocky Creek Track south of Macs Point
  • Rocky Creak camping area

Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve

Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve is closed due to fire damage. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity.

Plenty Gorge Park

Due to recent fire activity, the section south of Memorial Drive is closed in Plenty Gorge Park. This will allow emergency services to continue conducting safety works including hazardous tree management in preparation for rehabilitation works. Closed areas include Yellow Gum Recreation Area, Nioka Bush Camp, Tanunda Wetlands and Janesfield South. Read the community update (PDF).

Point Hicks Lightstation Reserve

Point Hicks Lightstation Reserve is closed due to widespread bushfire damage.


Upper Murray Parks and Reserves

A fire in the Upper Murray area around Corryong has impacted several parks and reserves.

As a result of the fire, the following campsites and parks are closed to members of the public until further notice:

 

Stay informed during bushfires 

For the latest information on fires, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

Any closures to tracks or other changed conditions resulting from past bushfires or planned burning will be noted on the individual park pages.

  • Via www.emergency.vic.gov.au
  • Tune to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.
  • Call the VicEmergency Hotline – 1800 226 226.
  • Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can call via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
  • For help with English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to telephone the VicEmergency Hotline. If you know someone who cannot speak English, provide them with this number.
  • Download the VicEmergency App.
  • Road closures: check VicRoads website.
  • Check weather conditions and your fire risk before leaving home as you may not have mobile phone reception across regional Victoria.
  • Check which parks and picnic areas are regularly closed when the forecast Fire Danger Rating is Severe, Extreme or Code Red.

Ongoing changes to conditions to parks affected by fire in 2018/2019

Some parks and sites remain closed due to fires during 2018/2019. Closures are necessary while works are underway to make the areas safe for visitor access.

Alpine National Park

Due to fires in March 2019, many tracks are currently closed in the Tali Karng area of the Alpine National Park. See the current status on the Tali Karng page

Bunyip State Park

Several areas of Bunyip State Park remain closed due to fire impact. Mortimer Picnic Ground and Cannibal Creek horse unloading area are now open. View the Bunyip State Park Community Update (PDF) for a map of visitor sites, walking tracks and roads currently closed to the public. Seasonal road closures in the eastern section of the park have reopened, including Western Track, Gentle Annie Track, Lawson Falls Picnic Ground, Lawson Falls Track and the Discovery Track. Tea Tree Track remains closed. 

Holey Plains State Park

Holey Plains State Park has reopened following a fire earlier this year but is currently a day visitor site only, with no camping permitted due to rehabilitation works being carried out on the campground area.



After a fire

When an area has been affected by fires, the reasons for closure may include:

  • hazardous trees, limbs and fallen timber
  • damaged tracks, bridges, signs, recreation sites and other facilities
  • unstable soils and/or stream crossings
  • presence of hazardous materials or substances.
 

Once recreation sites and tracks have been accessed, risks removed and necessary facilities rebuilt, they are reopened to the public.

The Change of Conditions section on individual park pages is regularly updated to reflect the most current conditions. Please check individual park pages for closure information.

 

Planned burning

Planned burning is carried out by Forest Fire Management Victoria to help reduce bushfire risk to communities, property and the environment. Bushfire fuel management includes planned burning and other activities, like slashing, mowing and creating fuel breaks.

Ignition of burns is weather dependent and plans can change at short notice; visit the Forest Fire Management Victoria website to view a map of burns scheduled in parks and forests for the next 10 days. You can also sign up to receive automated SMS and email notifications about planned burns when they are close to being carried out via the Planned Burning Notification System (PBNS).

 

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