One does not check the condition of a road in a Victoria national park without turning to the proper official sources, and at that as near to your time of departure as you can make it. VicTraffic and VicEmergency are for the wider range of incidents and emergencies; Forest Fire Management Victoria has its access mapping; and Parks Victoria will have any changes to the park or track.
I am Simon Redcliffe. In my time fielding queries over Victorian parks and unsealed roads and the odd dubious navigation choice, I have come to understand that “it is fine on the map” is no way to be safe. A sealed road may be shut due to flooding, an open track might be more than rough and what was a sound plan on paper can be a mistake after some rain. Make sure you have the latest on things, put the important details offline and allow yourself some leeway for delays.
How To Check Victoria Parks
There is no map that gives you the complete picture so the prudent thing is to use a number of sources. You would do well to look at the park authority and emergency services as well as traffic data before you set off.
Go to the Parks Victoria website for visitor information and park information. Do not just do a general regional search but put in the name of the particular reserve, site or track.
Be specific with the park name
Enter the full name of where you are going, be it the Grampians, Alpine or Great Otway National Parks, or Wilsons Promontory. From there you can see what is on offer in terms of access points, campgrounds, walking tracks and the like, including seasonal closures in Victorian parks. An open park is not a guarantee of open facilities within it.
Pay attention to what is written. The notice could be about a temporary closure of a visitor site or one access road. And where you have Parks Victoria land abutting state forest or council areas, the dates for a closure on one side of the road may not apply to the other.
Do it before you go
Make a point of looking things over the night before and again in the morning. Storms, snow, bushfire and flood can alter access in a hurry. Put down the update time and any closure particulars or take a screen shot. There is no mobile coverage in the bush and you will not want to be staring at a loading symbol by a locked gate when a map would do.
Read Changes Of Conditions
Parks Victoria’s Changes of Conditions is a good place to start for anything park related. It will tell you of any current closures to the park, the roads or the walking tracks. But read the whole of the notice, not the headline alone. The title might say “road closed” but the rest of it will give you the why and where of it, how long it is likely to last and if four-wheel-drives or cyclists are impacted.
Your route against the notices
Note your destination and how you plan to get in and back out and run it by the listing. If you are putting a 4WD track or picnic area on the itinerary, search for them by name. People are often under the impression that a closure at one end of the park is all encompassing, or conversely think a remote track is open because the main centre is. In fact park access is something of a patchwork.
Then again, official data is only as good as the moment it was put together. A road can be open in theory yet damaged or only fit for a vehicle with the right tyres and clearance. Should a notice put you off travelling, heed it. No amount of driving 40 kilometres makes a muddy track any safer. That is the way a day trip turns into a costly exercise in winching with a passenger who is none too pleased and you in wet socks.
The Public Access Map
For a wider perspective of what is on public land, the Public Access Map from Forest Fire Management Victoria is worth using, particularly if you are moving between a national park and state forest. The interactive map is for getting a feel for the network rather than an assurance you can drive every line on it. Any gates or restrictions still need to be verified with the day’s notices.
A Careful Reading of Map Layers
Put in the time to zoom in on a map and make out the name of the road or track. You will want to see what access is there, any gates, recreation sites and how routes connect. Where you can, set public roads against management tracks and walking routes; this way one is not inclined to put down a narrow fire trail as an ordinary through-road.
MapshareVic is of service in putting information from public land into a broader mapping context. Be aware that what appears as a line on a digital map is a mapped route, not necessarily a tourist road in good order. Some are restricted to authorised vehicles, others are steep, narrow or only open in season.
Have a Return Route in Mind
Make sure there is at least one viable return route and a place to turn around safely before you head out. Do not count on a loop being open if you have not verified each section of it. An unopened gate, a tree across the way or a washed-out crossing will have you backtracking where you do not want to be.
For a 4WD track, see that you have the fuel range, spare tyres, recovery gear and communications in order. Advise someone of your destination and expected time of return. “I’ll be back for dinner” does not constitute a plan in remote country.
What the Seasons Bring
In the parks of Victoria seasonal closures are put in place to safeguard the visitor and the ground – the soil, vegetation and the road itself – from vehicle damage when conditions warrant. This is to be expected on unsealed and 4WD roads in the colder or wetter months, though it depends on the location.
Do not make of a seasonal closure what is a weather one. A storm or flood will shut a route on short notice, whereas a seasonal road closure will be done according to the published dates.
Mud and Snow Are to be Expected
Even with dry going in the low country, ice and snow can be a hazard in the high country. In the forests, a spell of rain will leave soft shoulders and ruts in the clay which has a way of looking solid until a tyre is in it, at the worst possible moment.
Give yourself more time than the distance on the road would indicate. Figure 60 minutes for 20 km at 20 kph before you factor in the stops and difficult stretches. On a rough track your speed could be less.
See What the Closure Dates Say
Find the dates for the road or track in question and look for any notice of an extension or early opening. The fact a track was open last weekend is no guarantee it will be for you.
Gates and signs must be heeded. Do not go about moving barriers or driving past a locked gate in the wake of another vehicle. Beyond the damage to the track you could find yourself in an area inaccessible to park staff or an emergency crew.
A Word on VicTraffic
Before you drive, VicTraffic is a good resource for major and public roads in Victoria, whether for roadworks, flooding, crashes or to consult the road closures map. It is an adjunct to the information you get from the park since the issue may be some way from the national park.
It is worth checking the whole way from home to the entrance, not the last few kilometres. An incident on the highway or a bridge closure can put hours on your trip and have you there in the dark.
Separate Major Roads And Tracks
But keep in mind VicTraffic is for general conditions. There will be temporary restrictions on a narrow park road or access route it does not cover. Rely on Parks Victoria and the Public Access Map as well. Do a practical check by inputting the region and looking over the roads to your accommodation and fuel stop. Only put down alternative roads if they are open and your vehicle can handle them.
Keep an Eye on VicEmergency
When it comes to warnings of bushfires, floods and the like, VicEmergency is the place to be. An emergency in the vicinity can render travel unsafe or bar the approach even if the park is officially open.
Have the alerts to hand during the trip where there is reception and check them close to departure. On a hot and windy day an emergency situation can develop quicker than any printed itinerary.
Fire and Flood
Bushfires mean smoke, poor visibility and evacuation warnings as well as closures. With flooding, a shallow-looking waterway can be a dangerous crossing and bridges may be compromised.
Unless the authorities say otherwise, do not put a four-wheel-drive through floodwater. It is not a submarine and the water will conceal strong currents, potholes and debris.
Use A Simple Decision Rule
Should an official warning be in your way, make a different destination of it or put off the trip. And where a critical road is concerned, do not put stock in the assumption it is open if you have no way to verify its status; consider it unconfirmed.
You will want to have a charged phone, torch, some warm clothing, water and food as well as emergency numbers in the car. Do not think of them as preparations for the worst but as elementary travel safety. The bush has no regard for your timetable.
Prepare For The Drive
After putting current conditions to one side, you can plan the journey proper. Whether you can get on the road is a matter of the vehicle, how experienced the driver is, the state of the route, fuel, daylight and the weather.
The following table offers some working estimates for your planning. It is not an official classification and local signage or any closure will override it.
| Route Type | Typical Planning Speed | What Can Catch You Out | Best Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed park access road | 40-80 kph | Cyclists, fog, wet surfaces, bends and wildlife | Make allowance for daylight and drive accordingly |
| Unsealed gravel road | 20-50 kph | Loose shoulders, dust, potholes, corrugations | Have water with you, check the tyres and take it easy |
| 4WD track | 5-25 kph | Locked gates, fallen trees, steepness and mud | Verify access and have the right equipment |
| Snow or wet-weather route | Often much slower and variable | Ruts, ice, sudden closures and little visibility | Look at recovery options and forecasts |
Pack For Delays
In addition to a good spare tyre, first-aid kit and warm clothes, put in some provisions and a way to charge the phone. Put maps on your device while still in reception. Travelling with a dog? See if the park allows them before you set out, most national parks are restrictive with domestic animals.
Be conservative with fuel stops. In regional Victoria a station is not always conveniently located and a detour can use up more than you count on. There is no sense in making for a remote gate at sunset when hazards are less visible and help is not so quick to come.
Choose The Right Trip
With a day to spare, go for a park that has a short walk, a dependable return and sealed access. Resist the urge to put together an itinerary of several 4WD tracks, lookouts and a late dinner; it seems like a good idea until you hit the first corrugation and then it is just foolish.
Those new to it would be wise to forgo solo excursions on remote country after a rain or in the snow, or when one does not have the knowledge or equipment to recover from trouble. An easier site or a guide is preferable until one gets to know how fast things can turn in Victoria.
Answer Common Road Questions
Travellers will ask these because they are under the impression a map or a universal pass will tell them all they need to know. The answer is usually dictated by the activity, the reserve or the road in question.
Are Roads Closed Today?
Victoria may have its share of closed roads today but it is the location and the road itself that matters. A word of advice is to check VicTraffic for incidents and general closures and Parks Victoria or Forest Fire Management Victoria for anything on public land. Do it again on the point of departure.
Are Parks Closed Today?
One part of a park could be shut down while another is not. Search the specific facility in the Parks Victoria Changes of Conditions listing. An “open” result is no guarantee your route is there to be had.
Does Parks Victoria Have An App?
Do not put your faith in an app for current conditions as what is available can change. The website and listings are the place to start. Download maps and have the details of any closure to hand.
Do You Need A Park Pass?
Not every visit to a Victorian national park is the same. Permits, camping, parking and entry can be subject to different rules. If an event is being organised or one intends to fish or camp, have a read of the official visitor information for the park in question.
Can I Trust A Map Route?
It is an aid to plan with, nothing more. It is not evidence a 4WD track has been maintained or is even open. Follow the signs and give yourself time to turn back. Should a route appear rough as guts or run counter to an official closure, the closure is to be believed.
Make The Final Check
VicEmergency, VicTraffic, the Public Access Map and the park notice should be consulted before leaving. See that the vehicle is up to it, put the itinerary in front of someone and factor in the odd delay.
A routine is better than a clever bit of searching: VicTraffic for the wider roads, Forest Fire Management Victoria for the public land, VicEmergency for any urgent warnings and the park for local access. Then you can enjoy the bush instead of having to account to the man in the tow-truck over a map that said 15 minutes.
