Traveller safety information

Bunyip State Park is 16600 hectares in size. The exceptional natural condition of much of the Park, with its diversity of flora and fauna and high landscape values, creates a distinctive bush atmosphere.

• Visitors to Bunyip State Park are able to explore and experience the Park's rugged bush setting through a range of activities.
• Discover the park on foot. (See below for suggested walks.)
• Stop for a picnic lunch at Mortimer or Dyers Picnic Ground.
• Explore the Four Brothers Rocks. Go mountain bike riding. Pitch a tent, but please contact the Ranger for details on where to go camping.
• Visit the historical charcoal kiln utilised during World War II, which is located at Kurth Kiln Picnic Ground, within Kurth Kiln Regional Park.

Suggested walks

Lawson Falls Nature Walk
750m, 30 minutes one-way (Easy)
A short walk which takes you to the only falls within the park.

Mortimer Nature Walk
1.2km, 45 minutes return (Easy)
A self-guided nature walk introducing the plants, animals and other features of William Wallace and Diamond Creeks.

Mortimer Circuit
9.5km, 4 hours return (Moderate)
Starting from Mortimer Picnic Ground follow the Mortimer Nature Walk and turn into Steege Road. Tree Fern Track with its tall shady trees, is the next path to follow which crosses Link Road and then joins into Nichols Hut Track. The last leg of your journey is along Silvertop Ridge Track and Ferres Track, and before you know it, you are back at Mortimer Picnic Ground.

Dyers Circuit and Four Brothers
17km, 4 hours return (Moderate/Difficult)
Start from Dyers Picnic Ground. Follow Black Snake Creek Road then turn right into Reids Track and then right into Two Dams Track. At Helmet Track turn left and then right to Four Brothers Rocks, via Burgess Road. Return to Dyers Picnic Ground via Rankins Track and Pines Track.

Lawson Falls Circuit
5km, 2 hours return (Moderate)
Start at Forest Road or Tea Tree Road in the east of the park.

• Pitch a tent at Nash Creek Camping Area.
• Have a picnic at Mortimer or Dyers Picnic Ground.

The Balluk-William clan of the Woiworung (Yarra Yarra) tribe were the first people to live in the area.

The miners and prospectors of the mid 1850's were the first Europeans to visit the district, but they soon moved on to more promising goldfields.

The Bunyip State Park area has a long history of timber cutting. The Mortimer Mill of 1898, located at the present site of Mortimer Picnic Ground, is thought to be the earliest timber mill in the Park.

A narrow-gauge rail line from Ferntree Gully to Gembrook was completed in 1900. Tramways were then used to take timber from the bush sawmills to the Gembrook yard. Throughout the Park are remnants of timber tramways and large sawdust heaps. (A large sawdust heap can be seen opposite Dyers Picnic Ground.) Forest harvesting ceased in 1990 and in September, 1992, the Park was declared.

The Bunyip! Beware of the Bunyip, a dark furry animal with a round face, small ears and fiery eyes that glow in the dark!

According to Aboriginal mythology, the Bunyip or "Buneep" (the original spelling on early maps showing the river, first cattle run and township) is a spirit that punishes bad people. Local Aboriginal people believed the Bunyip lived in the swamps of the Bunyip River and avoided the area. Many early settlers, believing this story, never pitched their tents near a 'Bunyip hole'. People were also careful not to make ripples when collecting water. This upset the Bunyip.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria

The insect-eating Southern Emu Wren is the smallest of the birds inhabiting the swamp heathland. It has a unique long barbless tail of only six feathers. The White-eared and Crescent Honeyeaters are two of the birds that can be seen feeding on the nectar bearing flowers of the heathlands. The raucous call of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are sometimes heard as they search for wood grubs in nearby Silver Wattles on the steep southern slopes in the park's northern end.

Most of the animals which inhabit the park, such as possums, bats, owls and gliders, are active only at night. During the day you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Swamp Wallaby in the forest shadows or a goanna basking in the sun.

Swamp heathland covers much of the low poorly drained areas where heath and Prickly Tea-Tree are found.

The healthy woodland has some interesting plants, ranging from the taller Mealy Stringybark trees, to the understorey of attractive Hairpin Banksia, Furze Hakea and rare Swamp Bush-pea.

Foothill forests of Silvertop and Messmate are found higher up. Here you can see White-throated Tree Creepers hopping around tree trunks searching for insects. Below is a dense layer of smaller plants including Common Correa, Hop Goodenia and Dusty Miller, where Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Superb Fairy Wrens feed.

Mountain Ash, the tallest flowering plants in the world, grow on the steep southern slopes in the northern end of the Park.

• Take your rubbish with you.
• Firearms are prohibited.
• Dogs are not permitted, but are allowed on a lead within Kurth Kiln Regional Park.
• Do not collect plant or animal specimens as they are protected. Leave them for others to enjoy.
• Light fires in the fireplaces provided in the picnic and camping areas. Fires must be in properly constructed fireplaces, or in a built up fireplace of stone, or a 30 cm deep trench. No fires may be lit on Total Fire Ban days.
• Camp Sites have to be at least 20 metres from waterways.
• Dispose of soap and detergent at least 50 metres from waterways.
• Bury toilet waste to a depth of 15 cm and at least 100 metres from waterways.
• Respect the rights of other visitors. Avoid driving noisy vehicles in popular areas like picnic grounds.
• When driving or riding, keep to the constructed tracks. Observe signs for 'management vehicles only', 'walkers only' and 'horse riders only'.
• All roads and tracks in the park are public roads. Vehicles and motorbikes must be road registered and drivers and riders must be licensed.
• Vehicles must not drive off formed roads. Roads open to vehicles within the park are public roads, therefore normal road laws apply.
• Horse and mountain bike riding is permitted on roads and designated tracks, but is not permitted on 'Walkers Only' tracks or in picnic areas.

This park has been assessed to have a high level of bushfire risk and will be closed for public safety on days of Code Red (Catastrophic) Fire Danger Rating.

• When driving or riding be prepared for the unexpected. Other vehicles, hikers, horseriders, cyclists and native animals may be also using your chosen track. Always remember you may not be the only person on that road or track.
• Whether you take part in four wheel driving or trail bike riding planning the route you take will provide for a better experience. Be safety conscious and plan your trip carefully. Make sure your vehicle is maintained and fully equipped and leave details of your proposed trip with someone.

Emergency markers are currently installed in locations around in this park. More information regarding emergency markers can be found here.

Bunyip State Park is only 65km east of Melbourne. You can get there via Gembrook, from the Princes Freeway at Tynong North, or from Woori Yallock (Melway ref: 627 K6).

• Cardinia Reservoir Park
• Kurth Kiln Regional Park
• Tarago Reservoir Park
• Yarra Ranges National Park