Explore Outdoors

Victoria has more than 8 million hectares of public land for local communities and visitors to explore.

State forests make up more than 3.1 million hectares of this land, providing many exciting recreational opportunities as well as supporting diverse conservation. This is an addition to over 4 million hectares of land and marine parks and reserves managed by Parks Victoria.

Our state forests are open to visitors for camping, horse riding, four-wheel driving, trail bike riding, mountain biking, prospecting and recreational hunting.

With hundreds of free recreational sites and great visitor facilities, it's time to plan your next outdoor adventure.

Camping with care

Our state forests are great places to explore during spring and summer, but make sure you’re prepared for warmer – and sometimes unpredictable – weather!

Check out essential information to help you stay safe when visiting our state forests.

Learn more

On this site

Where to start

Ready to plan your next outdoor adventure? Here's all the information you need for a fun and safe visit.

Regions

Find out more about in Victoria's unique regions and the activities you can experience there.

Activities

Find the best walking trails, campgrounds, mountain biking trails, 4WD tracks and more in state forests and parks.

More to Explore app

Download this handy app and get information about more than 600 forest attractions, complete with online and offline maps.

Victoria's Great Outdoors

A $106.6 million investment in better campgrounds, walking trails, 4WD tracks and visitor facilities in our parks and forests

Suburban Parks Program

Melbourne is getting new and upgraded large suburban parks, local parks, dog parks and walking and cycling trails.

Current news

A family walk along a bridge in the bush

01 Nov

November is Try bushwalking month

Bushwalking Victoria is hosting more than 70 free and guided bushwalks in Victoria's parks and state forests in November.

23 Oct

Nature play ideas for Children's Week

Nature play ideas for children in Victoria's state forests.

A round pale red flower with narrow prongs and green leaves with spiked edges.

02 Sep

Wildflower season in the Big Desert

Discover vibrant wildflowers this spring in the Mallee's Big Desert.

Four-wheel drive vehicles beside a wet and snowy road in the bush

14 Aug

Top tips for exploring Victoria by 4WD

Victoria offers diverse landscapes and over 45,000km of vehicle tracks, making it a premier destination for four-wheel driving enthusiasts.

Parents and their small child look out at a waterfall surrounded by ferns.

13 Aug

Waterfall walks for kids this winter

Short and easy waterfall walks for kids of all ages in Victoria's state forests.

A grey four-wheel-drive vehicle drives along a track in a foggy bush landscape

12 Jun

Check for seasonally closed roads in state forests

Many roads and tracks in Victoria's state forests are closed between June and November to protect the environment and visitors.

A large grassy campground with picnic tables among tall trees

17 May

Scenic spots to discover this autumn

Discover the best spots in Victoria's state forests to immerse yourself in autumn's vibrant scenery and colourful displays.

A man rides a mountain bike down a large and steep boulder

23 Apr

World-class mountain biking is back at La Larr Ba Gauwa Park

La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park in Harcourt is open again to visitors following the repair of all 11 trails and campground upgrade.

See all news