Fire affected parks

Last updated: 4:50 pm 28 February 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

The majority of the Alpine National Park remains closed, but some areas are re-opening. Check the information below for details.

Southern Alps

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

King Billy Track
Zeka Spur Track at Howitt Road (leads to Wonnangatta)
Wonnangatta Valley Tracks and campsites
End of Pioneer Racecourse Track (leads to Wonnangatta)
Cynthia Range Track/Crooked River Intersection (leads to Wonnangatta)
Basalt South Track (leads to Blue Rag)
Blue Rag Range Track
Brewery Creek Track
Eaglevale Track
Access to Wonnangatta from north east Victoria is closed.

Mansfield

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

Refridgerator Gap Track
Cairn Creek Track
Brocks Road (from Nobs Track intersection to King Billy)
Australian Alps Walking Track (from Mt Speculation heading north)

Mount Feathertop (between the Great Alpine Road to Dinner Plain and the Alpine Walking Track from Mount Hotham to the Cobungra River)

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

Brandy Creek Mine
Dead Timber Hill Track
Tabletop Walking Track

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
Ryders Yards

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.

Buchan Caves Reserve

Buchan Caves Reserve is partially reopen to visitors. Although more severely fire-affected parts of the park remain closed, visitors can camp at the main camping area, picnic, and stay in Caves House. Walking tracks and other areas within the reserve will remain closed to visitors for safety reasons, and cave tours are not being offered at this time. Find out more.

Budj Bim National Park

Budj Bim campground and picnic area are open from 29 February 2020. Natural Bridge and the Natural Bridge walking track are open. 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 remains closed due to fire. However, the following visitors areas have reopened:

Cape Conran Boat Ramp at West Cape and adjacent Joiner Channel area. Access to the boat ramp is via West Cape Road.
The area to the west of the beach access track at Point Ricardo.
Pearl Point Campground. Access to the campground is via Pearl Point Track.
Gunnai Beach
Binns Beach
Ocean Beach

Crawford River Regional Park

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

Croajingolong National Park

Croajingolong National Park is closed due to fire. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity.

East Gippsland

The following East Gippsland parks and reserves are closed due to fire:

Alfred National Park, Arte River Flora Reserve

Bald Hills Road Bushland Reserve, Bemm River Scenic Reserve, Bendoc Nature Conservation Reserve, Bidwell Education Area, Boggy Creek Nature Conservation Reserve, Bonanza Gully Historic Reserve, Brodribb Flora Reserve, Buchan (AT) Cave Reserve, Buchan Bushland Reserve, Buchan River Water Frontage

Cann River Bushland Reserve, Cape Conran Coastal Park, Cassilis Historic Area, Cobon Nature Conservation Reserve, Cobungra Bushland Reserve, Cobungra Streamside Reserve, Combienbar River Nature Conservation Reserve, Coopracambra National Park, Croajingolong National Park, Cutfinger Education Area

Dawson-Murrindal Nature Conservation Reserve, Deddick River Water Frontage, Deddick River Streamside Reserve, Delegate Hill, Delegate River Streamside Reserve, Detarka Bushland Reserve, Dicksons Cave Reserve

Errinundra National Park, Errinudra Reserve

Fairy Dell Flora Reserve

Golden Gully Machinery Site Historic Reserve, Goodwin Creek Bushland Reserve, Green Hills Nature Conservation Reserve

Kanni Flora Reserve

Lind National Park, Little Bog Creek Flora and Fauna Reserve, Livingstone Creek Water Frontage, Livingstone Creek Natural Features and Scenic Reserve, Lower Cann River Nature Conservation Reserve, Lower Errinundra Nature Conservation Reserve

Macfarlane Lookout Natural Features and Scenic Reserve, Mallacoota Bushland Reserve, Mallacoota Coastal Reserve, Mallacoota Inlet, Maramingo Creek Flora Reserve, Marble Gully - Mount Tambo Nature Conservation Reserve, Martins Creek Nature Conservation Reserve, Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Melwood Education Area, Mississippi Creek Water Frontage, Mitta Mitta River Water Frontage, Morass Creek Flora and Fauna Reserve, Mossiface Bushland Reserve, Mottle Range Flora Reserve, Mount Bendock Bushland Reserve, Mount Delegate Scenic Reserve, Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve, Mount Murphy Historic Area, Mount Stewart Nature Conservation Reserve, Mount Stewart Natural Features and Scenic Reserve, Murrindal & Lilly Pilly Cave Reserve, Murrindal Flora Reserve, Murrindal River Water Frontage

Omeo Bushland Reserve, Omeo Swimming Pool & Camping Area

Pyramid Creek And Bemm River Water Frontage

Sardine Creek Education Area, Sarsfield Bushland Reserve, Serpentine Creek Education Area, Sinnotts, Snowy River Water Frontage, Snowy River National Park, St George Plain Flora Reserve, Sunnyside Education Area, Swifts Creek Water Frontage

Tambo Bushland Reserve, Tara Range Park, Terlite-Munjie Bushland Reserve, The Billabong Flora and Fauna Reserve, The Gap Scenic Reserve, The Glen Flora Reserve, The Pyramids Cave Reserve, Thirty-Two Mile Nature Conservation Reserve, Timbarra River Water Frontage, Tonghi Creek Streamside Reserve, Tongio Bushland Reserve

Victoria Star Mine Historic Reserve

W Tree Falls Natural Features and Scenic Reserve, Wallagaraugh River Streamside Reserve, Wf - Bemm River Water Frontage, Wf - Pyramid Creek Water Frontage, Wingan River West Nature Conservation Reserve, Wiseleigh Bushland Reserve, Wombat Creek Nature Conservation Reserve, Wood Point Flora Reserve, Wulgulmerang Creek Bushland Reserve, Wy Yung I17 Bushland Reserve, Wy Yung I18 Bushland Reserve, Wy Yung I19 Bushland Reserve

Errinundra National Park

Errinundra National Park is closed due to active fires in the area and the closure of major road access points. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity.

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. Access into the park will be through to the Cathedral Saddle car park but all visitor facilities and most tracks north are open and accessible. Some areas in the north have restricted access until further assessments and rehabilitation works are complete. These areas are:

Reservoir Road
Rocky Creek Track
Mt McLeod Track
Macs Point Track from near the Leviathan Long Plain Track to Mt Dunn and surrounds.

Refer to the map (PDF) for more detail on areas that are open and those that remain closed.

Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve

Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve is closed due to fire. 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).

Snowy River National Park

Due to fires in the area, Snowy River National Park is closed until further notice, including all roads, walking tracks, campgrounds and day-visit sites within the park on the eastern and western side of Snowy River. The closure includes Snowy River, so visitors on kayaks and rafts travelling south from the NSW border are advised to leave the river at McKillops Bridge.

Upper Murray Parks and Reserves

A recent 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:

Bunroy Creek, Murray River Reserve
Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park
Mount Gibbo and Wild Boar Range Natural Features and Scenic Reserves

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. No access is currently available to Tali Karng itself, with only a section of the Wellington River walking track from the Tamboritha Road to the intersection of Chromite Mine vehicle track open. This section of the track was not fire affected, has been assessed by local rangers and is safe for public access.

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).