Yarra Ranges National Park sprawls across Victoria’s Central Highlands, stretching between Melbourne and the foothills of the Victorian Alps and reaching the gateway towns of Warburton, Healesville and Marysville. It protects cool-temperate rainforest, towering eucalypt forest, and stands of Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) — the tallest flowering tree on earth, growing to around 80 metres. The park sits within the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri People and is recognised as part of a living Aboriginal cultural landscape. Its forested headwaters are also vital to the city: roughly 70 percent of Melbourne’s water supply rises here, and much of the park lies within designated water-supply catchment.
From the Warburton end, the most popular destination is Mount Donna Buang, whose 1,245-metre summit is reached by a scenic drive of around 17 kilometres and crowned by a 21-metre lookout tower. In winter — snow usually falls between June and August — three toboggan runs open when there is enough cover, with plastic toboggans only permitted at the summit. A short distance back down Donna Buang Road is the Rainforest Gallery at Cement Creek, a free site built around a 40-metre-long elevated platform set 15 metres above the forest floor, with myrtle beech 300 to 400 years old and old-growth Mountain Ash. The park is also threaded with celebrated scenic drives, including the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville and the Acheron Way toward Marysville.
Beyond these highlights you will find the Redwood Forest, Badger Weir and Donnellys Weir picnic areas, Maroondah Reservoir and Lake Mountain, all set among tree ferns, fast-running streams and tall forest. Superb lyrebirds are frequently seen and heard. The park was established in December 1995, covers more than 76,000 hectares, and was created in large part to protect intact Mountain Ash forest and habitat for the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum, Victoria’s faunal emblem. Note that, as a national park, dogs are not permitted.
The park is open daily, though some water-supply areas such as Badger Weir, Donnellys Weir and Maroondah Reservoir run seasonal gated hours — 8am to 8pm October to April, 8am to 6pm in the April and September–October shoulder weeks, and 8am to 5pm May to August. Roads can close in heavy weather or snow, and individual facilities and tracks are sometimes closed for repairs, deer-control operations or maintenance. Before you set out, check the official Parks Victoria page for the park, which carries live alerts, or call 13 19 63.