Protected areas of Victoria

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Victoria is the smallest mainland state in Australia. since 2022Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) it contained 5,081 separate protected areas with a total land area of (17.64% of the state's area).

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.Template:Parks of Victoria (state) map

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, totalling (72.53% of the state's protected areas).

National parks of Victoria

Order	National park name	Image	Area		Declared as a national park	Notes
			ha	acre
1	Alfred			Template:Dts
2	Alpine	File:Parque Nacional Alpino 15.jpg		Template:Dts	Includes the former Tingaringy NP, Wabonga Plateau SP, Bogong NP, Wonnangatta–Moroka NP, Cobberas–Tingaringy NP
3	Barmah			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1987 (as Barmah State Park)
4	Baw Baw			Template:Dts
5	Brisbane Ranges			Template:Dts
6	Budj Bim			Template:Dts	Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park. UNESCO World Heritage listing from 2019
7	Burrowa – Pine Mountain			Template:Dts
8	Chiltern-Mt Pilot			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1980 (as Chiltern State Park); and in 1997 (as Chiltern Box–Ironbark National Park)
9	Churchill			Template:Dts	Formerly known as Dandenong National Park (1941-1944)
10	Cobboboonee			Template:Dts
11	Coopracambra			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1979 (as Coopracambra State Park)
12	Croajingolong			Template:Dts	Includes the former Wingan Inlet NP, Mallacoota Inlet NP, Captain James Cook NP
13	Dandenong Ranges			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1928 (as Ferntree Gully National Park)
14	Errinundra			Template:Dts
15	French Island			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1984 (as French Island State Park)
16	Grampians	File:Grampian National Park Victoria.jpg		Template:Dts
17	Great Otway	File:Otway Fly Treetop Walk 2010.jpg		Template:Dts	Includes the former Melba Gully SP, Otway NP, Angahook–Lorne SP, Carlisle SP
18	Greater Bendigo			Template:Dts	Includes the former Whipstick SP, Kamarooka SP
19	Gunbower			Template:Dts
20	Hattah – Kulkyne			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1960 (as Hattah Lakes National Park)
21	Heathcote-Graytown			Template:Dts
22	Kara Kara			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1984 (as Kara Kara State Park); Formerly known as St Arnaud Range National Park (2002-2012)
23	Kinglake			Template:Dts
24	Lake Eildon			Template:Dts	Includes the former Fraser NP, Eildon SP
25	Lind			Template:Dts
26	Little Desert			Template:Dts
27	Lower Glenelg			Template:Dts
28	Lower Goulburn			Template:Dts
29	Mitchell River			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1963 (as Glenaladale National Park)
30	Mornington Peninsula			Template:Dts	Includes the former Cape Schanck Coastal Park, and part of Nepean SP; Formerly known as Point Nepean National Park (1988-1995)
31	Morwell			Template:Dts
32	Mount Buffalo			Template:Dts
33	Mount Richmond			Template:Dts
34	Murray – Sunset			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1979 (as Pink Lakes State Park)
35	Organ Pipes			Template:Dts
36	Point Nepean			Template:Dts
37	Port Campbell	File:Twelve Apostles, East view 20230218 2.jpg		Template:Dts
38	Snowy River			Template:Dts
39	Tarra-Bulga	File:20110528 Tarra-Bulga National Park - Forest near Cyathea Falls.jpg		Template:Dts	Includes the former Tarra Valley NP, Bulga NP
40	Terrick Terrick			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1988 (as Terrick Terrick State Park)
41	The Lakes			Template:Dts
42	Warby-Ovens			Template:Dts	Proclaimed in 1975 (as Warby Range State Park)
43	Wilsons Promontory	File:Cleft Island (Skull Rock) - Cavity.jpg		Template:Dts
44	Wyperfeld			Template:Dts
45	Yarra Ranges	File:Monda Trail - Yarra Valley National Park 01.jpg		Template:Dts

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, totalling (3.94% of the state's protected areas).

State parks of Victoria

Order	State park name	Area		Declared as a state park	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Arthurs Seat		Template:Dts	Includes part of the former Nepean State Park
2	Black Range		Template:Dts
3	Broken-Boosey		Template:Dts
4	Bunyip		Template:Dts
5	Cape Nelson		Template:Dts
6	Cathedral Range		Template:Dts
7	Dergholm		Template:Dts
8	Enfield		Template:Dts
9	Holey Plains		Template:Dts
10	Kooyoora		Template:Dts
11	Lake Tyers		Template:Dts
12	Langi Ghiran		Template:Dts
13	Leaghur		Template:Dts
14	Lerderderg		Template:Dts
15	Moondarra		Template:Dts
16	Mount Arapiles-Tooan		Template:Dts
17	Mount Buangor		Template:Dts
18	Mount Granya		Template:Dts
19	Mount Lawson		Template:Dts
20	Mount Napier		Template:Dts
21	Mount Samaria		Template:Dts
22	Mount Worth		Template:Dts
23	Paddys Ranges		Template:Dts
24	Reef Hills		Template:Dts
25	Warrandyte		Template:Dts
26	Werribee Gorge		Template:Dts

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.

Metropolitan parks

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

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".

There are 5 indigenous protected areas in Victoria, totalling (0.1% of the state's protected areas). The following IPAs have been declared in Victoria:

• 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

Historic and heritage areas

There are 75 historic and heritage areas in Victoria including:

Heritage River

There are 18 heritage rivers in Victoria, totalling (3.96% of the state's protected areas). 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

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. since 2020Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) Victoria contained 30 separate marine protected areas with a total area of (11.87% of the state's coastal waters). 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, totalling (43.05% of the state's protected waters).Template:Parks of Victoria (state) map

Marine national parks of Victoria

Order	Marine national park name	Area		Declared as a marine national park
		ha	acre
1	Bunurong		Template:Dts
2	Cape Howe		Template:Dts
3	Churchill Island		Template:Dts
4	Corner Inlet		Template:Dts
5	Discovery Bay		Template:Dts
6	French Island		Template:Dts
7	Ninety Mile Beach		Template:Dts
8	Point Addis		Template:Dts
9	Point Hicks		Template:Dts
10	Port Phillip Heads		Template:Dts
11	Twelve Apostles		Template:Dts
12	Wilsons Promontory		Template:Dts
13	Yaringa		Template:Dts

Marine sanctuaries

There are 11 marine sanctuaries in Victoria, totalling (0.71% of the state's protected waters).Template:Parks of Victoria (state) map

Marine sanctuaries of Victoria

Order	Marine sanctuaries name	Area		Declared as a marine sanctuaries
		ha	acre
1	Barwon Bluff		Template:Dts
2	Beware Reef		Template:Dts
3	Eagle Rock		Template:Dts
4	Jawbone		Template:Dts
5	Marengo Reefs		Template:Dts
6	Merri		Template:Dts
7	Mushroom Reef		Template:Dts
8	Point Cooke		Template:Dts
9	Point Danger		Template:Dts
10	Ricketts Point		Template:Dts
11	The Arches		Template:Dts

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 (56.24% of the state's protected waters). There are also 5 coastal parks in Victoria, totalling (1.13% of the state's protected land areas).

Marine parks of Victoria

Order	Marine park name	Area		Declared as a marine park	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Bay of Islands		Template:Dts	Coastal park
2	Bunurong		Template:Dts	Marine & coastal park
3	Cape Conran		Template:Dts	Coastal park
4	Cape Liptrap		Template:Dts	Coastal park
5	Corner Inlet		Template:Dts	Marine & coastal park
6	Discovery Bay		Template:Dts	Coastal park
7	Gippsland Lakes		Template:Dts	Coastal park
8	Nooramunga		Template:Dts	Marine & coastal park
9	Shallow Inlet		Template:Dts	Marine & coastal park
10	Wilsons Promontory		Template:Dts	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 (2.81% of the state's protected areas) and all but are located inside other protected areas including:

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, totalling (5% of the state's protected areas).

There is 1 nature park in Victoria, totalling (0.05% of the state's protected areas).

Wilderness & Nature parks of Victoria

Order	Park name	Area		Declared as a wilderness park	Notes
		ha	acre
1	Avon		Template:Dts	Wilderness park
2	Big Desert		Template:Dts	Wilderness park
3	Phillip Island		Template:Dts	Nature park
4	Wabba		Template:Dts	Wilderness park

Wilderness zones

There are 19 wilderness zones in Victoria, totalling (15.98% of the state's protected areas) and all but are located inside other protected areas.

• 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 (3.77% of the state's protected areas).

Remote and natural area

There are 24 remote and natural areas in Victoria, totalling (7.55% of the state's protected areas).

Other reserves

In Victoria, there are a total of 2776 nature reserves, totalling (11.64% of the state's protected areas) divided is the following different groups:

Bushland Reserve

There are 1592 bushland reserves in Victoria, totalling (1.13% of the state's protected areas).

Cave Reserve

There are 9 cave reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.01% of the state's protected areas).

Conservation park / reserve

There are 13 conservation parks / conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.52% of the state's protected areas).

Flora & Fauna Reserve

There are a total of 186 flora and/or fauna reserves in Victoria, totalling (2.98% of the state's protected areas).

Geological Reserve

There are 14 geological reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.01% of the state's protected areas).

Gippsland Lakes Reserve

There are 39 gippsland lakes reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.18% of the state's protected areas).

Nature Conservation Reserve

There are 263 nature conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling (3.41% of the state's protected areas).

Natural Features and Scenic Reserve

There are 49 natural features reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.26% of the state's protected areas).
There are 50 scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.24% of the state's protected areas).
There are 24 combined natural features and scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.49% of the state's protected areas).

Streamside Reserve

There are 259 streamside reserves in Victoria, totalling (0.2% of the state's protected areas).

Tall Trees Reserve

There is 1 tall trees reserve in Victoria, totalling .

Wildlife Reserve

There are 277 wildlife reserves in Victoria, totalling (2.2% of the state's protected areas).

Some of the nature reserves include

• Dexter's Bush
• Deep Lead Nature Conservation Reserve
• Jackass Flat Nature Conservation Reserve
• Kurrawonga 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
• Snape Reserve
• Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve

See also

• Protected areas of Australia
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

External links

• Parks Victoria
• Victoria National Parks
• Travel Victoria – National & state parks
• Travel Victoria – Metropolitan parks
• Travel Victoria – Coastal & marine parks