Fire affected parks

Last updated: 10:55 am 22 January 2021

This page may be updated multiple 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

Ongoing changes to conditions to parks affected by fire in 2019/2020

Some parks and sites remain closed due to fires during the 2019/2020 season. Closures are necessary while works are underway to make the areas safe for visitor access. Remember to check changes to conditions on the individual park page for a full list of closures.

Alpine National Park

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

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.
Mt Murray North Track and Dingo Creek Track, until tree risk mitigation has been completed.
Montana Track.

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

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 due to fire damage, including the following:

the area to the north of Dartmouth Dam, bounded by burnt fire edge to the east
the area north, south and west of Tom Groggin station
the southern area of the Bogong High Plains, bounded by the area of burnt fire edge south of Mount Cope
Toilets at The Poplars and Charlie Creek camping areas
Alpine Walking Track (between Johnnies Top and Macs Creek Road)

Australian Alps Walking Track (Eastern Alps)

A fire affected section of the Australian Alps Walking Track is currently closed between Johnnies Top and Macs Creek Road.

The following vehicle tracks would be suitable as an alternative route west to east from Johnnies Top to Macs Creek Road:

Beloka Log Road
Buenba Gap Track
Buenba Road
Mt Hope Road
Buckwong Track
McCarthys Track
Macs Creek Road

Upper Murray area

The following visitor sites are closed until further notice:

Mt Pinnibar
Glen Dart
Bunroy Station
Riley's Memorial
Surveyors Creek

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

Due to widespread bushfire damage, the following areas of Cape Conran Coastal Park are closed for safety reasons:

Banksia Bluff cabins
East Cape Boardwalk

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

Due to widespread bushfire damage, the following areas of Croajingolong National Park remain closed:

Sandy Point toilet
South West Arm Jetty - Mallacoota Inlet (toilets/steps)
Kingfisher jetty and Day Visitor Area
Captain Creek day visitor area and jetty
Captain Creek Fire Trail
Genoa River day visitor area and jetty - Mallacoota Inlet
Gravelly Point day visitor area and jetty - Mallacoota Inlet
Wilderness Coast Walk (between Cape Howe and Bemm River)
Double Creek walk and day visitor area
Genoa falls day visitor area
Fly Cove walk - Wingan Inlet
Mueller Inlet campground
Thurra River campground
Point Hicks Road (section south-east of Fishermans Track)
Cicada Trail
Swan Lake Track
Clinton Rocks Track
Wingan Inlet Rapids Walk
Elusive Lake Walk
Mt Everard Walk
South West Arm day visitor area (no toilet facilities, no jetty access)

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
Golden Gully Machinery Site Historic Area
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
St George Plain Flora Reserve

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 walking track

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 parks are closed to members of the public until further notice:

Bunroy Creek, Murray River Reserve
Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park
Mount Gibbo and Wild Boar Range Natural Features and Scenic Reserves
Mt Mittamatite (Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park and Mount Mitta Mitta Flora Reserve)
Wabba Wilderness

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.

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 Planned Burns Victoria website to view current and future planned burns. You can also sign up to receive automated SMS and email notifications about planned burns in your area when they are close to being carried out.