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 "east".
Understand
History
Landscape
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.
Flora and fauna
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.
Croajingolong's landscapes are so spectacular and environmentally significant that 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.
Climate
Get in
Access to Croajingolong National Park is very hard, and can only be accessed by a good 4WD, meaning, there's no other ways to get to Croajingolong National Park apart from a car. From Cann River, head east onto A1 Princes Highway, and then turn onto West Wingan Road and keep heading south onto a series of unpaved roads, until you'll eventually hit the park. The unpaved road however, can be rough, and rain can make it worse.
Fees and permits
Just turn up to the park. No fees required.
Get around
Some of the smaller places can only be reached by trekking but your car should take you to the more important places.
See
- Point Hicks and Tamboon. This controversial spot is believed where Captain Cook made his first landing spot. But more than that, the awesome view of the Southern Ocean isn't to be missed.
- Tamboon Inlet resort town
- Sand dunes at Thurra River
- Lake Elusive
- Mount Everard
- Rame Head
Do
- Fishing - a Recreational Fishing Licence is required
- Flat water canoeing
- Bushwalking - if attempting Wilderness Coast Walk, first obtain a permit from Parks Victoria
- Old Coast Walk. 6.5-km coastal walk starting at Old Coast Road car park - 2 hours one way.
Buy
Eat
No places to eat. Bring your own food
Drink
Sleep
- Point Hicks Lighthouse (Located in the heart of the Croajingolong National Park about 50 minutes off the Princes Highway from Cann River in far East Gippsland, midway between Melbourne & Sydney), ☏ +61 3 51584268. Accommodation available in historic Keeper's cottages and bungalow. From $120 per night (bungalow, standard rate).
Lodging
Camping
- Mueller Inlet Campground. Camp under starry skies at night and lose yourself in birdsong and wilderness by day. It is also not too far from the Thurra river, meaning you can never stop kayaking.