Lower Goulburn National Park National Park

Lower Goulburn National Park is a protected area in central Victoria, Australia, conserving a stretch of the lower Goulburn River floodplain and extensive stands of River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forest.

Visitors come for river-based recreation such as boating and fishing, for birdwatching in the floodplain woodlands, and to see large mature red gums that line the river. Established access points and low-impact camping areas give visitors opportunities to experience the river corridor and wetlands.

Park establishment and management have focused on protecting the lower Goulburn’s floodplain ecology and mature red gum stands, habitats that were historically subject to clearing and river regulation. Conservation aims balance habitat protection with permitted recreation along the river.

The park follows the lower reaches of the Goulburn River in central Victoria between towns along the river corridor, northeast of Melbourne, and encompasses riverine landscapes and adjoining floodplain country.

• Ecological importance: The park protects iconic floodplain River Red Gum woodlands and associated wetlands; seasons of inundation drive the area’s ecology.
• Recreation: Recreation centers on boating, fishing and birdwatching along the river; access points and low-impact camping are located at designated sites.

What to See#

• River red gum forest: Extensive stands of mature River Red Gum form the dominant vegetation, creating contiguous riverine forest along the Goulburn’s lower reaches.
• Goulburn River corridor: The Goulburn River channel and floodplain provide boating and fishing access, with river corridors linking camping and picnic areas at several points along the park.

The park lies along the lower reaches of the Goulburn River in central Victoria. Most visitors arrive by car from regional centers such as Shepparton or Echuca; follow local roads and park signage to access points and picnic areas. Some sections are best accessed by 2WD, but remote tracks may require higher clearance vehicles.

• Bring binoculars for waterbirds-river red gums and floodplain wetlands host abundant birdlife.
• Visit during late spring floods to see the floodplain alive, but check park alerts for closures.
• Some picnic areas are reachable only by vehicle-follow park signage and stay on designated roads.