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Croajingolong National Park

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Overview

Croajingolong National Park is a coastal national park in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The name Croajingolong derives from the Aboriginal Krauatungalung words galung, meaning "belonging to" and kraua, meaning "e

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia473 words

WBP editorial3

Walking the wet‑tropics on foot

Beyond the well‑trodden coastal tracks, Croajingolong offers an inland network of fire‑maintained gravel walks that thread through pockets of subtropical rainforest. These routes, such as the Goolengook Plateau loop, reveal a mosaic of flora that shifts from towering coachwood to low‑lying ferns within a kilometre. Hikers who time their days for the early morning light can watch dew‑laden leaves glisten, while night walkers might hear the plaintive call of the Albert's lyrebird echoing through the understorey. Carry a sturdy walking stick and a waterproof daypack; the weather can swing from sun to mist in minutes, and the tracks, though unpaved, are well‑marked by coloured cairns maintained by local volunteer bush‑care groups.

Maritime heritage on the park’s fringe

The park’s coastal fringe is peppered with remnants of 19th‑century shipwrecks and early settler wharves, silently narrating a story of maritime trade and tragedy. Small coves like Mallacoota Inlet host occasional tours that combine tide‑timed rock‑pooling with visits to salvaged artefacts displayed in modest interpretive shelters. For the curious traveller, a short drive to the historic lighthouse at Point Hicks—just beyond the park’s formal boundary—offers a panoramic perspective of the same rugged shoreline that inspired early explorers. Bring a compact binocular set; spotting a lone albatross soaring above the surf often feels like a nod from the seafarers who once navigated these waters.

Local food in the bush

While the park itself prohibits commercial catering, the surrounding East Gippsland towns embrace a foraging ethos that extends into the wilderness. Seasonal gatherings, often advertised on community noticeboards, feature bush tucker demonstrations where locals show how to prepare native pepperberries, riberries and even the occasional freshwater mussel harvested from secluded streams. Pair a tasting session with a glass of cool-climate Pinot Noir from nearby vineyards for a regional flavour that urban guides rarely capture. Remember to respect harvesting limits and to obtain permission where required; the park’s stewardship relies on visitors treating its edible resources as a shared, temporary bounty.

Introduction

National park in Australia Croajingolong National ParkIUCN category II (national park)A beach in the Croajingolong National Park; looking north towards Rame Head.Croajingolong National ParkLocationVictoriaNearest cityMallacootaCoordinates37°42′43″S 149°30′30″E / 37.71194°S 149.50833°E / -37.71194; 149.50833Area883.55 km2 (341.14 sq mi)Established26 April 1979 (1979-04-26)Governing bodyParks VictoriaWebsitehttps://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/croajingolong-national-park The Croajingolong National Park is a coastal national park located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The 88,355-hectare (218,330-acre) national park is situated approximately 450 kilometres (280 mi) east of Melbourne and 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of Sydney. The name Croajingolong derives from the Australian Aboriginal Krauatungalung words galung, meaning "belonging to" and kraua, meaning "east".

Location and features

[edit] The park is linear in shape and bordered on the southern side by the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean, the western side by Bemm River and the eastern side by the township of Mallacoota. Its northern boundary consists of dense bushland and low hills. The dimensions of the park are approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) by 20 kilometres (12 mi), with an area of 875 square kilometres (338 sq mi). The 100 kilometres (62 mi) Wilderness Coast Walk stretches the entire length of the park along beaches, through heathland and round rocky headlands. Croajingolong National Park, with the adjoining Nadgee Nature Reserve in New South Wales, forms one of only twelve World Biosphere areas in Australia. It contains ecosystems, habitats and gene pools that are managed sustainably. The park encloses the Sandpatch Wilderness Area and is contiguous with the Cape Howe Wilderness Area, the Nadgee Nature Reserve and the Cape Howe Marine National Park. Important Bird Area[edit] The eastern section of the park lies within the Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it supports populations of eastern bristlebirds and pilotbirds as well as other significant fauna.

Visitor attractions

[edit] Croajingolong's landscapes are so spectacular and environmentally significant that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) nominated it a World Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The park houses impressive biodiversity, including almost 1,000 native plant species and 315 animal species. The diverse coastal landscapes feature rocky outcrops, large stretches of sandy beaches, coastal dunes and freshwater rivers, making the park a popular destination for hiking and walking, swimming, diving, snorkelling and sea kayaking. A popular way to explore the remote wilderness and diverse flora and fauna of the national park is on the Wilderness Coast Walk, which extends 45 kilometres from Thurra River camping area to Shipwreck Creek. Popular destinations within the park include: Point Hicks and its lighthouse Tamboon Inlet resort town Spectacular sand dunes at Thurra River Lake Elusive near Wingan Inlet Mount Everard Rame Head Camping spots exist at Wingan Inlet, Shipwreck Creek and Peachtree Creek and are all accessible by car. The camp sites at Mueller Inlet and Thurra River are privately managed. Most campgrounds are equipped with picnic facilities and fireplaces. Nearby towns are Mallacoota, Genoa, Cann River, Bemm River and Orbost.