Protected areas of Victoria

Victoria is the smallest mainland state in Australia. As of 2022^[update] it contained 5,081 separate protected areas with a total land area of 4,012,888 ha (9,916,060 acres) (17.64% of the state's area).^[1]

The parks are managed by Parks Victoria, a state government agency. There are also many smaller state areas which are subject to commercial activity such as logging.

National parks of Victoria State parks of Victoria Marine national parks of Victoria Marine and coastal parks of Victoria Marine sanctuaries of Victoria Other parks of Victoria

Main parks

National parks

National parks provide the highest level of protection to diverse natural areas. They usually contain the best and most unique examples of our natural values and biodiversity. There are 45 national parks in Victoria,^[2] totalling 2,910,738 ha (7,192,590 acres) (72.53% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

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National parks of Victoria

National parks of Victoria

Order	National park name	Area[1]		Declared as a national park[1]	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Alfred	3,022	7,470	23 December 1925[3]
2	Alpine	662,354	1,636,710	2 December 1989[3]	Includes the former Tingaringy NP, Wabonga Plateau SP, Bogong NP, Wonnangatta–Moroka NP, Cobberas–Tingaringy NP
3	Barmah	28,490	70,400	27 June 2010	Proclaimed in 1987 (as Barmah State Park)
4	Baw Baw	12,784	31,590	26 April 1979
5	Brisbane Ranges	8,881	21,950	1 December 1975
6	Budj Bim	8,571	21,180	7 June 1960	Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park. UNESCO World Heritage listing from 2019
7	Burrowa – Pine Mountain	18,965	46,860	16 May 1978
8	Chiltern-Mt Pilot	21,665	53,540	30 October 2002[3]	Proclaimed in 1980 (as Chiltern State Park); and in 1997 (as Chiltern Box–Ironbark National Park)
9	Churchill	272	670	12 February 1941	Formerly known as Dandenong National Park (1941-1944)
10	Cobboboonee	18,553	45,850	11 November 2008
11	Coopracambra	38,513	95,170	1988[3]	Proclaimed in 1979 (as Coopracambra State Park)
12	Croajingolong	88,516	218,730	26 April 1979[3]	Includes the former Wingan Inlet NP, Mallacoota Inlet NP, Captain James Cook NP
13	Dandenong Ranges	3,534	8,730	13 December 1987[3]	Proclaimed in 1928 (as Ferntree Gully National Park)
14	Errinundra	43,144	106,610	21 June 1988
15	French Island	10,318	25,500	21 June 1988	Proclaimed in 1984 (as French Island State Park)
16	Grampians	168,277	415,820	18 December 1984
17	Great Otway	110,412	272,830	11 December 2005	Includes the former Melba Gully SP, Otway NP, Angahook–Lorne SP, Carlisle SP
18	Greater Bendigo	17,575	43,430	30 October 2002[3]	Includes the former Whipstick SP, Kamarooka SP
19	Gunbower	9,317	23,020	27 June 2010
20	Hattah – Kulkyne	49,983	123,510	26 April 1980[3]	Proclaimed in 1960 (as Hattah Lakes National Park)
21	Heathcote-Graytown	12,693	31,370	30 October 2002
22	Kara Kara	13,982	34,550	30 October 2002[3]	Proclaimed in 1984 (as Kara Kara State Park); Formerly known as St Arnaud Range National Park (2002-2012)
23	Kinglake	23,126	57,150	7 March 1928
24	Lake Eildon	27,822	68,750	4 June 1997[3]	Includes the former Fraser NP, Eildon SP
25	Lind	1,370	3,400	1926[3][4]
26	Little Desert	131,607	325,210	10 December 1968
27	Lower Glenelg	26,451	65,360	16 December 1969
28	Lower Goulburn	9,321	23,030	27 June 2010
29	Mitchell River	14,402	35,590	17 June 1986[3]	Proclaimed in 1963 (as Glenaladale National Park)
30	Mornington Peninsula	2,682	6,630	1988[3]	Includes the former Cape Schanck Coastal Park, and part of Nepean SP; Formerly known as Point Nepean National Park (1988-1995)
31	Morwell	565	1,400	29 November 1966
32	Mount Buffalo	27,484	67,910	1898[3]
33	Mount Richmond	1,738	4,290	7 June 1960
34	Murray – Sunset	665,694	1,644,970	5 June 1991[3]	Proclaimed in 1979 (as Pink Lakes State Park)
35	Organ Pipes	153	380	14 December 1971
36	Point Nepean	540	1,300	17 August 2005
37	Port Campbell	2,429	6,000	9 December 1964
38	Snowy River	114,729	283,500	26 April 1979
39	Tarra-Bulga	2,028	5,010	17 June 1986[3]	Includes the former Tarra Valley NP, Bulga NP
40	Terrick Terrick	6,388	15,790	15 April 1999[3]	Proclaimed in 1988 (as Terrick Terrick State Park)
41	The Lakes	2,407	5,950	30 October 1956
42	Warby-Ovens	14,708	36,340	27 June 2010	Proclaimed in 1975 (as Warby Range State Park)
43	Wilsons Promontory	48,202	119,110	8 July 1898[3]
44	Wyperfeld	359,855	889,220	20 October 1909
45	Yarra Ranges	77,229	190,840	15 December 1995

State parks

State parks help protect the state's natural values. They are very similar to national parks, however, the conservation values and landscapes they protect are smaller or less diverse. There are 26 state parks in Victoria,^[2] totalling 158,043 ha (390,530 acres) (3.94% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

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State parks of Victoria

State parks of Victoria

Order	State park name	Area[1]		Declared as a state park[1]	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Arthurs Seat	566	1,400	16 May 1978	Includes part of the former Nepean State Park
2	Black Range	11,731	28,990	21 June 1988
3	Broken-Boosey	1,010	2,500	30 October 2002
4	Bunyip	16,647	41,140	23 September 1992
5	Cape Nelson	229	570	26 April 1979
6	Cathedral Range	3,599	8,890	26 April 1979
7	Dergholm	10,886	26,900	23 September 1992
8	Enfield	4,323	10,680	3 August 1995
9	Holey Plains	10,746	26,550	16 May 1978
10	Kooyoora	11,455	28,310	18 December 1984
11	Lake Tyers	8,684	21,460	19 June 1984
12	Langi Ghiran	3,043	7,520	8 December 1984
13	Leaghur	2,045	5,050	23 September 1992
14	Lerderderg	20,545	50,770	21 June 1988
15	Moondarra	6,362	15,720	18 December 1984
16	Mount Arapiles-Tooan	7,457	18,430	17 December 1987
17	Mount Buangor	2,499	6,180	27 October 1989
18	Mount Granya	6,164	15,230	3 August 1995
19	Mount Lawson	13,366	33,030	21 June 1988
20	Mount Napier	2,939	7,260	24 June 1987
21	Mount Samaria	7,445	18,400	26 April 1979
22	Mount Worth	1,032	2,550	16 May 1978
23	Paddys Ranges	2,015	4,980	27 October 1989
24	Reef Hills	2,005	4,950	2 May 1986
25	Warrandyte	687	1,700	1 December 1975
26	Werribee Gorge	563	1,390	16 May 1978

Regional parks

Regional parks are found close to urban centres or major tourist routes. While still places of natural beauty, visitor recreation is the primary purpose of regional parks.

• Ararat Regional Park
• Baranduda Regional Park
• Bendigo Regional Park
• Cobram Regional Park
• Colquhoun Regional Park
• Crawford River Regional Park
• Creswick Regional Park
• Crossover Regional Park
• Echuca Regional Park
• Glenmaggie Regional Park
• Hepburn Regional Park
• Jarvis Creek Plateau Regional Park
• Kerang Regional Park
• Kororoit Creek Regional Park (being developed)
• Kurth Kiln Regional Park
• Macedon Regional Park
• Maryborough Regional Park
• Mirboo North Regional Park
• Mount Alexander Regional Park
• Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park
• Mount Raymond Regional Park
• Shepparton Regional Park
• St Arnaud Regional Park
• Tocumwal Regional Park
• Wandong Regional Park
• Werribee Regional Park
• Woowookarung Regional Park
• Yarrawonga Regional Park
• You Yangs Regional Park

Metropolitan parks

Metropolitan parks are very similar to regional parks, however, are located in metropolitan Melbourne.

• Albert Park
• Braeside Park
• Cardinia Creek Parklands
• Cardinia Reservoir Parks
  • Aura Vale Lake Park
• Dandenong Valley Parklands
  • Bushy Park Wetlands
  • Jells Park
  • Koomba Park
  • Nortons Park
  • Shepherds Bush
  • Tirhatuan Park
• Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park
• Greenvale Reservoir Park
• Karkarook Park
• Lysterfield Park
• Maribyrnong Valley Parklands
  • Brimbank Park
  • Horseshoe Bend Farm
• Maroondah Reservoir Park
• Merri Creek Park
• Mullum Mullum Park
• Plenty Gorge Parklands
• Silvan Reservoir Park
• Sugarloaf Reservoir Parks
• Toorourrong Reservoir Park
• Wattle Park
• Werribee Park
• Westgate Park
• Yan Yean Reservoir Park
• Yarra Bend Park
• Yarra Valley Parklands
  • Banksia Park
  • Birrarrung Park
  • Candlebark Park
  • Longridge Park Camp
  • Sweeneys Flats
  • Westerfolds Park
  • Yarra Flats Park

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are "areas of land and sea managed by Indigenous groups as protected areas for biodiversity conservation through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government".^[5]

There are 5 indigenous protected areas in Victoria, totalling 3,888 ha (9,610 acres) (0.1% of the state's protected areas).^[1] The following IPAs have been declared in Victoria:^[6][7][8]

• Budj Bim
  • Kurtonitj
  • Lake Condah
  • Tyrendarra
• Deen Maar
• Framlingham Forest

Historic and heritage

Parks Victoria is responsible for the largest and most diverse collection of heritage places on public land in Victoria. They manage more than 3,000 historic assets including cultural landscapes, buildings, infrastructure, significant trees, objects and artefacts, archaeological sites, and shipwrecks.

Historic and heritage parks

Historic or heritage parks are significant historic cultural landscapes of heritage value. There are 6 historic and heritage parks in Victoria^[9]

• Beechworth Historic Park
• Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park
• Point Gellibrand Heritage Park
• Steiglitz Historic Park
• Wimmera River Heritage Area Park
• Woodlands Historic Park

Historic and heritage areas

There are 75 historic and heritage areas in Victoria^[9] including:

• Coolart Historic Area
• Daylesford Court House Complex Historic Area
• Eldorado Historic Area
• Howqua Hills Historic Area
• Lal Lal – Bungal Historic Area
• Maldon Historic Area
• Moliagul Historic Area
• Oriental Claims Historic Area
• State Coal Mine Heritage Area
• Walhalla Historic Area
• White Hills Chinese Diggings Historic Area

Heritage River

There are 18 heritage rivers in Victoria, totalling 158,783 ha (392,360 acres) (3.96% of the state's protected areas).^[1] These are defined under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 as parts of rivers and river catchment areas that have significant nature conservation, recreation, scenic or cultural heritage values

• Aberfeldy River
• Aire River
• Bemm, Goolengook, Arte and Errinundra Rivers
• Big River^[10][11]
• Genoa River
• Glenelg River
• Goulburn River
• Howqua River
• Lerderderg River
• Mitchell and Wonnangatta Rivers
• Mitta Mitta River
• Ovens River
• Snowy River
• Suggan Buggan and Berrima Rivers
• Thomson River
• Upper Buchan River
• Wimmera River
• Yarra River

Marine protected areas

Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the world to create an entire system of highly protected marine national parks at the same time.^[12] As of 2020^[update] Victoria contained 30 separate marine protected areas with a total area of 121,242 ha (299,600 acres) (11.87% of the state's coastal waters).^[1] Marine national parks and sanctuaries contain important marine habitats and species, or encompass areas of significant natural features; and are highly protected areas in which no fishing, extractive or damaging activities are permitted.

Marine national parks

There are 13 marine national parks in Victoria,^[2] totalling 52,191 ha (128,970 acres) (43.05% of the state's protected waters).^[1]

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Marine national parks of Victoria

Marine national parks of Victoria

Order	Marine national park name	Area[1]		Declared as a marine national park[1]
		ha	acre
1	Bunurong	2,048	5,060	16 November 2002
2	Cape Howe	4,078	10,080	16 November 2002
3	Churchill Island	670	1,700	16 November 2002
4	Corner Inlet	1,414	3,490	16 November 2002
5	Discovery Bay	2,790	6,900	16 November 2002
6	French Island	2,980	7,400	16 November 2002
7	Ninety Mile Beach	2,652	6,550	16 November 2002
8	Point Addis	4,419	10,920	16 November 2002
9	Point Hicks	3,803	9,400	16 November 2002
10	Port Phillip Heads	3,473	8,580	16 November 2002
11	Twelve Apostles	7,502	18,540	16 November 2002
12	Wilsons Promontory	15,586	38,510	16 November 2002
13	Yaringa	776	1,920	16 November 2002

Marine sanctuaries

There are 11 marine sanctuaries in Victoria,^[2] totalling 864 ha (2,130 acres) (0.71% of the state's protected waters).^[1]

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Marine sanctuaries of Victoria

Marine sanctuaries of Victoria

Order	Marine sanctuaries name	Area[1]		Declared as a marine sanctuaries[1]
		ha	acre
1	Barwon Bluff	16	40	16 November 2002
2	Beware Reef	220	540	16 November 2002
3	Eagle Rock	18	44	16 November 2002
4	Jawbone	30	74	16 November 2002
5	Marengo Reefs	13	32	16 November 2002
6	Merri	29	72	16 November 2002
7	Mushroom Reef	57	140	16 November 2002
8	Point Cooke	292	720	16 November 2002
9	Point Danger	22	54	16 November 2002
10	Ricketts Point	121	300	16 November 2002
11	The Arches	48	120	16 November 2002

Coastal and marine parks

Coastal Parks and Marine Parks protect areas of coastal, intertidal or subtidal land. There are 6 marine (or marine & coastal) parks in Victoria, totalling 68,187 ha (168,490 acres) (56.24% of the state's protected waters).^[1] There are also 5 coastal parks in Victoria, totalling 45,284 ha (111,900 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected land areas).^[1]

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Marine and coastal parks of Victoria

Marine parks of Victoria

Order	Marine park name	Area[1]		Declared as a marine park[1]	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Bay of Islands	935	2,310	4 June 1997	Coastal park
2	Bunurong	1,260	3,100	17 December 1991	Marine & coastal park
3	Cape Conran	11,576	28,600	4 June 1997	Coastal park
4	Cape Liptrap	4,327	10,690	4 June 1997	Coastal park
5	Corner Inlet	28,567	70,590	18 April 1986	Marine & coastal park
6	Discovery Bay	10,643	26,300	26 April 1979	Coastal park
7	Gippsland Lakes	17,803	43,990	26 April 1979	Coastal park
8	Nooramunga	30,200	75,000	18 April 1986	Marine & coastal park
9	Shallow Inlet	1,972	4,870	18 April 1986	Marine & coastal park
10	Wilsons Promontory	6,187	15,290	18 April 1986	Marine park & marine reserve

• The former Point Cook Coastal Park (proclaimed in 1978) became part of the Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary.
• The former Cape Schanck Coastal Park (proclaimed on 1 December 1975) became part of the old Point Nepean National Park in 1988.

Reference areas

Reference areas are tracts of public land containing viable samples of one or more land types that are relatively undisturbed. There are 144 reference areas in Victoria, totalling 112,628 ha (278,310 acres) (2.81% of the state's protected areas) and all but 23,032 ha (56,910 acres) are located inside other protected areas^[1] including:

• Anser Island
• Baw Baw
• Benedore River
• Cobboboonee
• Cobboboonee
• Disappointment
• French Island (East)
• French Island (North)
• Kooyoora
• Little Desert (East)
• Little Desert (West)
• Merragunegin
• Mitta Mitta
• Mount Buffalo
• Pine Mountain
• Raak Plain
• Reef Hills
• Stringybark Creek
• Sunset
• Tambo River
• Terrick Terrick
• Tooan
• Warby Range
• Wonnangatta River
• Yan Yean North
• Yan Yean South

Other nature areas

Wilderness and Nature parks

Wilderness parks 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. There are 3 wilderness parks in Victoria,^[2] totalling 200,699 ha (495,940 acres) (5% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

There is 1 nature park in Victoria, totalling 1,925 ha (4,760 acres) (0.05% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

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Other parks of Victoria

Wilderness & Nature parks of Victoria

Order	Park name	Area[1]		Declared as a wilderness park[1]	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Avon	39,566	97,770	27 November 1987	Wilderness park
2	Big Desert	141,713	350,180	26 April 1979	Wilderness park
3	Phillip Island	1,925	4,760	27 June 1997	Nature park
4	Wabba	19,395	47,930	30 June 1992	Wilderness park

Wilderness zones

There are 19 wilderness zones in Victoria, totalling 641,441 ha (1,585,040 acres) (15.98% of the state's protected areas) and all but 131 ha (320 acres) are located inside other protected areas.^[1]

• Bowen
• Buchan Headwaters
• Cape Howe
• Chinaman Flat
• Cobberas
• Galpunga
• Genoa
• Indi
• Minook
• Mount Cowra
• Mount Darling – Snowy Bluff
• North Wyperfeld
• Razor-Viking
• Sandpatch
• Snowy River
• South Wyperfeld
• Sunset
• Tingaringy
• Wilsons Promontory

Natural catchment area

There are 25 natural catchment areas in Victoria, totalling 151,368 ha (374,040 acres) (3.77% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Remote and natural area

There are 24 remote and natural areas in Victoria, totalling 302,990 ha (748,700 acres) (7.55% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Other reserves

In Victoria, there are a total of 2776 nature reserves, totalling 467,092 ha (1,154,210 acres) (11.64% of the state's protected areas)^[1] divided is the following different groups:

Bushland Reserve

There are 1592 bushland reserves in Victoria, totalling 45,305 ha (111,950 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Cave Reserve

There are 9 cave reserves in Victoria, totalling 532 ha (1,310 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Conservation park / reserve

There are 13 conservation parks / conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 20,994 ha (51,880 acres) (0.52% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Flora & Fauna Reserve

There are a total of 186 flora and/or fauna reserves in Victoria, totalling 119,632 ha (295,620 acres) (2.98% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Geological Reserve

There are 14 geological reserves in Victoria, totalling 436 ha (1,080 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Gippsland Lakes Reserve

There are 39 gippsland lakes reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,129 ha (17,620 acres) (0.18% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Nature Conservation Reserve

There are 263 nature conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 136,909 ha (338,310 acres) (3.41% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Natural Features and Scenic Reserve

There are 49 natural features reserves in Victoria, totalling 10,402 ha (25,700 acres) (0.26% of the state's protected areas).^[1]
There are 50 scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 9,649 ha (23,840 acres) (0.24% of the state's protected areas).^[1]
There are 24 combined natural features and scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 19,799 ha (48,920 acres) (0.49% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Streamside Reserve

There are 259 streamside reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,895 ha (19,510 acres) (0.2% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Tall Trees Reserve

There is 1 tall trees reserve in Victoria, totalling 14 ha (35 acres).^[1]

Wildlife Reserve

There are 277 wildlife reserves in Victoria, totalling 88,396 ha (218,430 acres) (2.2% of the state's protected areas).^[1]

Some of the nature reserves include

• Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve
• Jackass Flat Nature Conservation Reserve
• Long Forest Flora & Fauna Reserve
• Marble Gully - Mount Tambo Nature Conservation Reserve
• Mount Elizabeth Nature Conservation Reserve
• Mount Hope Nature Conservation Reserve
• Mullinger Swamp Wildlife Reserve
• The Spit Wildlife Reserve
• Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve

See also

• Protected areas of Australia
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne