Five National Parks near Melbourne worth the drive this weekend
Australia’s National Parks are areas of natural beauty set aside for eternity so folks like us can enjoy them, so if you're looking for an outdoor adventure, this is for you.The good news is, you don’t have to travel far to find one, and if you live in Melbourne, there are plenty at your doorstep or at least a short car ride away. Here are five beauties close to Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula National Park
Bayside beaches, hilltop wineries, country restaurants and endless holiday houses are all part of the Mornington Peninsula’s appeal, but did you know a huge stretch of The Ninch is also National Park? The whole coast along Bass Strait from Portsea to Flinders is included, meaning stunning clifftop walks to Bushrangers Bay and Cape Schanck are on the cards. Then there’s the spine of remaining forest called Greens Bush full of walking tracks and kangaroos. It’s been preserved just for you and is only about 90 minutes south of Melbourne so make the trip!
Yarra Ranges National Park
Those who live in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs are within a stone’s throw of the Yarra Ranges and everyone else will also love this mountainous National Park, bounded roughly by Warburton, Healesville and Narbethong. There’s a bit of everything here: towering mountain ash forests along the Black Spur, ski fields topped by a lookout tower on Mount Donna Buang, waterfalls such as Steavenson Falls near Marysville and much more. For something different, drive to the redwood forest to see some Californian sequoia tall timber.
Organ Pipes National Park
You won’t believe how close to Melbourne the Organ Pipes NP really is. Wedged between Keilor and Tullamarine Airport, it’s only 30 minutes from the CBD and gets its name from the columnar cliffs cut by Jacksons Creek into the volcanic basalt covering much of western Victoria. Walking to the viewing area is pretty easy and on the way check for birdlife in the eucalypts. If you’re continuing along the Calder highway to Mount Macedon, this is definitely worth a stop.
Wilsons Promontory National Park
A bit further afield (about three hours from Melbourne) and worthy of a night or two away, the splendour of Wilsons Prom has been perfectly preserved for bushwalkers, campers, beachgoers and anyone who loves beautiful scenery. The Prom juts into Bass Strait, is topped by Mount Oberon and other granite peaks and is crisscrossed by walking trails. Tidal River is the focal point and if you like cold-water beaches, few are better. You’ll spot koalas, wombats, kangaroos and abundant birdlife so get on down for a wonderful taste of Victorian wilderness.
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
The Grampians rise majestically from the plains of western Victoria and stretch some 50 kilometres north to south so if you haven’t made the three-hour trip from Melbourne, do it soon. The village of Halls Gap is the epicentre and walking trails take you to rock formations such as The Pinnacle or The Balconies, or waterfalls such as the marvellous MacKenzie Falls. There’s so much to see and do, a few days is barely enough to fit it in and thankfully accommodation and camping options are many. Kangaroos and koalas abound and the kids will never forget the spectacle.
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