This summer, visitors to Gippsland will be able to experience nature and make new family memories thanks to rebuilding and recovery efforts by Parks Victoria and partners.
Three years on from the devastating summer of 2019-20, most park and reserve areas affected by bushfires have reopened, with a range of new facilities available for everyone to enjoy.
Ready for Summer
Parks Victoria rangers have rebuilt and reopened a dozen campsites and many popular walking tracks across Gippsland.
New facilities like park furniture, barbecues, shelters, and toilets are ready to use at sites like the Cape Conran Coastal Reserve, Potholes Cave Reserve, Muller Campground, Native Dog Flat in Alpine National Park, and the Fairy Dell Nature Conservation Reserve.
Spectacular tracks like the Wilderness Coast Walk between Wingan Inlet and Shipwreck Creek have reopened thanks to months of hard work to clear and rebuild tracks, steps and lookouts.
Ahead of Christmas, rangers visited many reserves in Gippsland to remove dangerous trees and undergrowth to make them as safe as possible for the summer holidays. The Banksia Bluff campground at Cape Conran, one of the most popular in the state, is also looking better than ever thanks to dedicated work by rangers based at the park.
Rebuilding fences at Wingan Inlet campground in Croajingolong National Park. Credit: Parks Victoria
Hazardous tree removal at Cape Conran Coastal Park. Credit: Parks Victoria
Road and parking works at Sailor's Grave in Cape Conran Coastal Park. Credit: Parks Victoria
Completed Works
Reconstruction and upgrades at some of the region's most popular parks have continued, with some notable new additions.
Thanks to a new lookout at Salmon Rocks, visitors to Banksia Bluff and Cape Conran can enjoy views along the wild Gippsland coast.
The new lookout provides views of Salmon Rocks to West Cape and all the way down the beach to Point Ricardo. Visitors can spot whales and dolphins and it's a great place to watch surfers out on the waves.
A new boat ramp at Cape Conran, delivered in partnership with Better Boating Victoria, has also made it easier for divers and fishers to enjoy the water.
Fairy Dell, outside Sarsfield, is another site that has fully reopened with new facilities. A very popular spot for birdwatching in a rainforest setting, the walking track, picnic area and toilets have all been rebuilt.
The new Salmon Rocks lookout at Cape Conran. Credit: Parks Victoria
New steps on the walking track at Fairy Dell. Credit: Parks Victoria
Ongoing Works
Work continues on several major reconstruction projects, including the ten new cabins for Banksia Bluff campground at Cape Conran.
The cabins are being assembled offsite while Parks Victoria works with First Peoples-State Relations on a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for cultural heritage and artefacts discovered during the works.
Updates on the cabins will be posted on the Parks Victoria website.
This Summer Is Different
The wet weather and flooding this spring and summer has affected some sites reopened since the fires. As with other flood-impacted sites across Victoria, work is underway to reopen them.
Even where the rain has stopped, the impacts of floods and storms will continue for months ahead. Things might not be as expected, and forecasts and park conditions may change rapidly.
Safety advice is available on the Parks Victoria website.
For up-to-date information on park closures and impacts on Parks Victoria estate, visit Flood and Storm Affected Parks.
