Get back to nature

By Tania Martin
VISITORS are being urged to return to parkland affected by the Black Saturday fires to boost local economies that are reliant on tourism.
Gembrook’s Bunyip State Forest is now open for tourists and locals to enjoy, featuring 166,000 hectares of bush and parkland.
It’s the perfect place to get back to nature with a wide range of flora and fauna on display.
There are also plenty of bike, walking and horse riding paths to explore and the forest also offers a picturesque spot for a relaxing picnic. Parks Victoria chief executive Mark Stone said the parks were able to reopen this summer because of the dedicated staff and volunteer teams.
“Victorians now have a great opportunity to see first-hand the recovery of the parks from the fires,” he said.
Almost 100,000 hectares of bushland, parks and reserves including the Yarra Ranges National Park and Bunyip State Forest were severely affected by the February fires.
Mr Stone said it was encouraging to see visitors getting back to these parks, providing additional support to local economies often reliant on tourism.
“In the Yarra Ranges visitors are returning to 70 per cent of visitors sites that have re-opened since the fires,” he said.
“At Bunyip State Park we have lifted season track closures which provide access to the park’s 35 kilometre network of four wheel drive tracks.”
For more information on places to visit this summer call Parks Victoria on 13 19 63 or visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au