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Yarra and Dandenong Ranges · official-source index

Yarra Ranges National Park

A two-precinct ranges and forest park around Warburton and Marysville, where facility closures, partial track works and gated hours are usually scoped to one site rather than the whole park.

Source state

Official source checked

Last successful check
23 Aug 2026, 6:07 pm AEST

Active source matches

Conditions in the latest valid snapshot

Snapshot checked 23 Aug 2026, 6:07 pm AEST

Weather impactAffecting access or use

❄ Mt Donna Buang Snow Play: What to Know Before You Go ❄

❄ Mount Donna Buang Snow Play: What to Know Before You Go ❄ Looking for snow near Melbourne this winter? Located just two hours away in Yarra Ranges National Park (Wurundjeri Country), the 1,245-metre summit of Mount Donna Buang typically sees snow from June to August. Access is completely free. When there is enough snow, you can enjoy three dedicated toboggan runs, build snowmen, and enjoy family snow fights. Because of its proximity to Melbourne, the mountain gets extremely busy on weekends and right after fresh snowfall. Here is how to plan a safe, enjoyable winter trip. 1. Check Weather & Road Conditions Mountain weather changes rapidly. Be prepared for cold, wet, and windy conditions regardless of the morning forecast. Pack Essentials: Bring extra warm layers, spare dry clothes, food, and water. Emergency Kit: Travel with a full tank of fuel, blankets, and a torch in case of traffic delays. Connectivity: Mobile coverage is patchy. Download maps/guides before leaving and let someone know your plans. Live Updates: Check the Parks Victoria website for road closures and conditions changes before departing. The Waterwheel Visitor Information Centre in Warburton also provides real-time local updates. 2. Time Your Departure & Driving If heading up after a fresh snowfall, always check the road conditions before setting out. Don't leave too early—give Dept. of Transport road crews time to grit and clear the ice. Snow Chains: While not mandatory, carrying chains is highly recommen

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Badger Weir BBQ's Closed

All of the BBQ hotplates at Badger Weir Picnic Area are currently closed due to repeated thefts of the BBQ Batteries, Hotplates and Gas Bottles. Due to this, and an associated arson attack on one of the picnic area's shelters, we are currently investigating increasing security to the park. These BBQ hotplates will remain closed until a solution can be found. If you have any information on these repeated thefts and arson events in Badger Weir Picnic Area, please contact Parks Victoria (13 1963) or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000).

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Big Peninsula Stepping Stones permanently closed due to erosion

Due to instability caused by erosion, the Big Peninsula Stepping Stones are permanently closed for visitor safety.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Cambarville toilet block closed until further notice

Cambarville toilet block is closed until further notice due to water supply issues and structural problems

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area - Toilet Closure

Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area toilets are permanently closed and will be removed in their entirety at a later date. The nearest toilets are at Fernshaw Picnic ground.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Donnellys Weir Picnic Area and Car Park temporary closure - from 17th August 2026

Donnellys Weir Picnic Area and Car Park will be closed from 17th August 2026 to allow for critical Culvert Replacements works across Donnellys Creek near the Picnic Area.The closure may last through to the end of October.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Fire or planned burnAffecting access or use

Mount Donna Buang BBQ's closed

The Mount Donna Buang BBQ's will be closed for the foreseeable future. We apologise for any inconvenience. Portable BBQ's and Heat Bead BBQ's are allowed to be used on site, so please bring your own. We ask that you take home any resulting waste items, including used heat beads.No campfires are allowed however, due to the resulting ground fire scar.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Official informationInformation

Park Open Hours – Badger Weir and Donnellys Weir

Park Open Hours Maroondah Reservoir Park Badger Weir Donnellys Weir 8am to 8pm – Early October to Early April (Start of Daylight Savings Time to End of Daylight Savings Time) 8am to 6pm – Early April (End of Daylight Savings Time) to end of April 8am to 5pm – May to August 8am to 6pm – September to Early October (Start of Daylight Savings Time) These parks and visitor sites are protected for water security purposes by automatic gates. The gates close at the above posted times, but they do allow for visitors to leave the park for 30 minutes after these times. From 30 minutes after the posted closing time however the after hours exit turns off and exit from the park is no longer possible. We are obliged to do this to help strengthen water resource security. If a visitor mistakenly gets caught behind the automatic gates after the park closing time, upon exit please drive to within two metres of the gate to activate the late exit trigger. If the gate does not open as the vehicle is leaving too late, please call Parks Victoria on 13 19 63 to ask them to assist. A late exit fee may apply.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Partial walking track closure on Cumberland Circuit walk (South of Woods Point Road)

There is a partial closure in place on the Cumberland Circuit walk due to hazardous tree fall risk south of Woods Point Rd (see map attached) Attachments: Cambarville_A4_0412 (1,190KB)

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Rainforest Gallery Closed for Repairs

The Rainforest Gallery boardwalk is closed until further notice. Urgent repairs are required for visitor safety.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Closure or no accessAffecting access or use

Summit Loop Trail - Partial Closure - Lake Mountain Summit

The Summit Loop walking trail is partially closed at Lake Mountain until further notice. Attachments: Lake Mountain Summit Loop Partial Track Closure (562KB)

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗
Weather impactAffecting access or use

Winter Access to Mt Donna Buang Summit

During winter, when snow is forecast or has recently fallen, the Mt Donna Buang Summit Car Park may be closed to public vehicle access for visitor safety. The summit gate on Donna Buang Road will be closed, and visitors must park in the designated snow car parks nearby. From there, access to the summit is via a 300-metre walk.

Read the official record Parks Victoria ↗

Stable planning context

How to check this park

Yarra Ranges National Park is split across two precincts: Warburton, Mount Donna Buang and the Upper Yarra to the south, and Marysville, Lake Mountain and Cambarville to the north. Each has its own picnic areas, toilets and lookouts, and a facility notice at one — a toilet near Donnellys Weir, a shelter at Badger Weir, a BBQ at Dom Dom Saddle — describes only that location. ParkReady does not infer that an unaffected site in one precinct says anything about the other, and does not read a single outage as a statement about the whole park.

Some notices apply to a shorter section of a longer route: a loop such as the Cumberland Circuit or the Summit Loop at Lake Mountain can be partially affected while the rest stays open, and the Rainforest Gallery boardwalk has separately had repair-related notices. A crossing damaged by erosion can also be closed for a long period, distinct from shorter-lived outages elsewhere. Several gated sites publish their own opening hours, and some areas close overnight for deer control; neither answers whether a picnic area is open.

Conditions are recorded at the level of a named precinct, road, track section or facility, so check against that exact place name rather than “Yarra Ranges” as a whole. Before leaving, open the official Parks Victoria page for the intended precinct; in cooler months, also check snow-play advice for Mount Donna Buang. Review VicEmergency and current weather, since forest cover and elevation can change conditions quickly. This site’s last-check time reflects automated retrieval, not inspection, and no matching condition here does not mean every toilet, track or gate across both precincts is open.

This park

Recent recorded changes

All changes →
  1. removed from source

    Night closures for deer control in areas of Yarra Ranges National Park

  2. removed from source

    Mount Buffalo Snow Report 12.08.25

  3. added

    Mount Buffalo Snow Report 12.08.25

  4. added

    Badger Weir BBQ's Closed

  5. added

    Big Peninsula Stepping Stones permanently closed due to erosion

  6. added

    Cambarville toilet block closed until further notice

  7. added

    Dom Dom Saddle Picnic Area - Toilet Closure

  8. added

    Donnellys Weir Picnic Area and Car Park temporary closure - from 17th August 2026