see also:

• camp grounds in Victoria
• non-commercial camp grounds for tents within 2 hours of Melbourne
• https://www.greatforestnationalpark.com.au/murrindindi-scenic-reserve.html
• Yea region camp grounds
• walks near Kinglake
• Toolangi region

• Murrindindi Scenic Reserve is a very popular camp ground for long weekends, public holidays and school holidays - although many of the camp grounds are not great for kids as there is little for them to do
• 260-340m elevation, and being inland, the nights are generally quite cold even in early Autumn or Spring
• firearms and pets are not permitted

• the fast flowing stream flows from the south northwards along this north-south oriented valley
• generally accessed from the north end as that gives the least amount of gravel roads to drive
• 1hr 40mins from NW subs via Yarra Glen and Glenburn;
• 1hr 50min from NW subs via Hume fwy, Broadford, Flowerdale;
• 28km 25min Sth of Yea

• have a walk or dip in the fast flowing river at its wider and shallower spots (some wider areas are only about 1 foot deep max which makes walking around possible on the generally rounded but slippery rocks - bring neoprene boots to make it more pleasant)
• fishing
• bird watching - lots of birds in the forests near the camp sites including kookaburras, bower birds, fairy wrens, azure kingfisher (spotted at Ferns) and many others
• other nature activities - interesting insects such as stick insects can be found (easier when they land on your tent - bit hard to see them otherwise)
• walk to the cascading Wilhelmina water falls
  • 2-2.5hr return rather strenuous walk up to Lower and Upper Wilhelmina Falls with lots of steps and rocks with ~250m elevation (or you can drive to Jackson's carpark at the top)
  • 3hr 12km one way Murrundindi River walk - connects the various campgrounds
• camp fires
  • it seems generally you can collect firewood from fallen trees in the forest and you can use chainsaws
• drive further south on the gravel road to Murrindindi Cascades
  • 500m walk down steps - quite impressive cascades when there is good water flow especially after rain but check for leaches when finished walk
  • can do a long 4-5hr one way walk to these cascades “along the river” from Suspension Bridge

• 100 camp sites in 6 areas;
  • flushing toilets are located at Suspension Bridge, Ferns and ? Bull Creek campsites (which are the best sites for children as more open spaces for playing), the others have drop toilets but these do seem to be fairly well maintained
  • most of the sites have their own fireplace - hence the valley tends to be filled with smoke and dust from the gravel road traffic during peak periods
  • campgrounds have some picnic tables
  • adjacent to a stream but water needs to be boiled for drinking;
  • no dogs allowed - as with most streamside campgrounds, snakes are common (usually black snakes)
  • Testra 4G is only available at the Suspension Bridge area (Blackwood 1bar 4H=G if cloudy else 3G)
  • Optus is generally not available
  • sites have wire fences on 3 sides which helps to prevent over-crowding on a site by strangers and keeps each site more private by reducing foot traffic through the site by strangers
  • ranger drives through in peak periods

• the first camp ground and the most spacious one with large open areas for kids to play (especially if you get site 1) and great views of the night skies
• some minimal Telstra 4G reception (2023)
• flush toilets ONLY at the Day use entrance - remainder are drop toilets

• drop toilets
• good amount of shade from tall eucalypts
• ~6 bollarded off relatively large sites so only for tents or campervans - often used for school or scout groups
• no mobile phone access
• can walk to Blackwood or SEC camp

• SEC camp is ~100m from car park - need to walk in but otherwise it is a nice camp ground
• drop toilets
• open spaces for kids to play
• no mobile phone access

• 30min drive south of Yea
• ~18 sites, many could fit two caravans or tents and this will probably be needed to accommodate groups in peak periods
• picnic area, drop toilets day car park, suspension bridge to access the walks
• mainly for adult groups as very little for children to do there - no areas for ball games, no internet, no mobile phone reception, and very dusty.
• sites are set amongst tall gums so very limited view of the night skies
• no mobile phone access
• the tall trees block much of the sun so your solar panels will struggle and your tents / awnings will take some time to dry out in the morning when packing up
• very dusty as every site is adjacent a relatively busy gravel road and many are sandwiched between both the gravel roads (the main road and the camp ground access road)

• ?flush toilets
• no mobile phone access
• nice large camp ground wit varied sites away from road dust
• ~50m walk to river

• 23 sites
• drop toilets
• no mobile phone access

• small very remote camp amongst tall eucalypt forest recovering from fire, not part of the reserve but is further down south near Toolangi
• drop toilets
• no mobile phone access
• only for 1 small tent or a campervan