Warrandyte State Park

Dotted with relics of the gold mining era, the hills around Warrandyte have a distinctive bluish-green hue, typical of the foliage of Red Box, a common eucalypt of the area. The Yarra links a number of areas which together form Warrandyte State Park, only 24 kilometres from Melbourne by road. The 620 hectare park's treasures include spring wildflowers, native wildlife and the site of Victoria's first gold discovery in 1851.

Things to Do

• The clear light and peace and silence of the bush have always been a source of inspiration to artists, writers and people who wish to contemplate nature.
• Picnicking, bushwalking, swimming, bird-watching, fishing, exploring forgotten goldfields, nature walks and photography are popular.
• So is canoeing on the Yarra River, but sufficient time must be allowed for this activity - the journey by canoe from the canoe access ramp at Wittons Reserve (Mount Lofty) to Jumping Creek Reserve is about six hours.
• Horse riding is permitted along designated trails, and gold panning is allowed in Andersons Creek.
• Abseiling and rock climbing are permitted at Whipstick Gully Quarry by arrangement with the senior ranger.
• At Pound Bend it is possible to see the tunnel which was dug to divert the river and enable the exposed river bed to be dredged for gold.

Warrandyte State Park Mine Safety Works - Parks Victoria in its management of the Warrandyte State Park encompasses numerous disused mines, a legacy of the gold mining era. Recent assessments of the safety of these mines have confirmed that the mines do not conform to current safety requirements for visitor access. To prevent risk to visitors, Parks Victoria will be implementing programmed safety works at the following mines within Warrandyte State Park; Victory, Johnson's, Monument, Upper Monument and Geraghty's.