New campground opens in lerderderg state park

Visitors to the picturesque Macedon Ranges can stay the night in true bush style following the opening of a new campground in Lerderderg State Park.

Toured today by Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, the new Lerderderg Campground sits deep within gumtree forests at the northern end of the state park and offers camping sites with fire-pits, picnic tables and toilets.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested around $80,000 to develop the campground and Parks Victoria plans to continue expanding the site over the coming years.

Lerderderg State Park offers visitors 20,000 hectares of mountain, bush and river landscapes to explore, with walking, hiking, picnicking, swimming and scenic driving opportunities.

Lerderderg River, which runs north-south through the park, sets the course for a number of walking tracks and feeds popular swimming spots at Mackenzies Flat and Grahams Dam. Over time, the river has cut a 300-metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate to shape the park’s most prominent feature.

The park is also important for wildlife, with koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas visible during the day, while at night-time, keen-eyed visitors can see greater gliders, mountain brushtail possums, bent-wing bats and powerful owls.

Lerderderg Campground is located on Upper Chadwick Track, five kilometres from O’Brien’s Crossing. Accessible with two-wheel drive vehicles, the campground is available without bookings, on a first-in, first-served basis.

For further information visit www.parks.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas:
"Just an hour from Melbourne and Ballarat, Lerderderg State Park is one of the state’s hidden gems and a gateway to the vibrant Macedon Ranges."

"Parks Victoria has done a wonderful job creating an accessible bush camping experience for the local community and our ever-growing list of tourists."

"This campground will encourage more people to explore the spectacular scenery Lerderderg State Park has to offer, and to learn more about Victoria’s parks, plants and animals."