Heathcote-Graytown National Park National Park

Address: Heathcote-Graytown National Park, central Victoria (access via Heathcote, Graytown, and surrounding shire roads)

Website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/heathcote-graytown-national-park

Hours: Open 24 hours (public park); park facilities may have limited access

Admission: Free

Heathcote-Graytown National Park is a protected area in central Victoria, Australia, conserving remnants of box-ironbark forest and woodland between the towns of Heathcote and Graytown. It is important for native flora and birdlife and for preserving landscape and goldfields heritage from Victoria’s 19th century gold rush.

The park offers a network of walking tracks and informal routes through woodland and mallee scrub, with opportunities for birdwatching, wildflower viewing and exploring relics from the gold-mining era. Tracks are generally low-key rather than developed visitor circuits, so expect short walks and scenic roadside viewpoints rather than large visitor centres or formal lookouts.

The area was extensively used for gold mining from the 1850s and for timber harvesting and grazing in later decades. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the state government increased formal protections to conserve remaining box-ironbark vegetation and cultural heritage features.

The park lies in central Victoria between the small towns of Heathcote and Graytown, roughly 100-130 km north of Melbourne by road. The landscape is rolling, dominated by dry woodland and ridges rather than alpine terrain.

• When to visit: Best wildflower displays and bird activity occur in spring, typically September to November.
• Access note: Much of the park is reached on unsealed roads; a high-clearance vehicle may be required in wet conditions.

The park lies roughly 120-140 km north of Melbourne; the nearest service towns are Heathcote (to the south-west) and Graytown (central to the park). From Melbourne take the Calder Freeway (M79) or Hume Freeway and follow signs toward Heathcote, then use local roads (Heathcote-Graytown Road and unsealed forest roads) to access different entry points. GPS navigation to Heathcote will place visitors within short driving distances of various trailheads.

• Check Parks Victoria alerts before visiting-some tracks close after rain or during the fire season.
• Drive cautiously on unsealed park roads; a 2WD is possible in dry weather but 4WD is recommended after rain.
• Bring binoculars and a field guide for birds-the park is excellent for honeyeaters and eucalypt specialists.
• Explore old gold-era relics on quieter tracks around Graytown for traces of miners' cottages and fossil diggings.