Victorian Government spotlights its investment in outdoor recreation

The Victorian Government’s $106.6 million investment in its ‘Great Outdoors’ package aims to help more Victorians access some form of outdoor recreation to feel the health benefits of spending time in nature.

The 2023/24 Victorian Budget also invested $10 million towards the Green Links fund, protecting Melbourne’s urban waterways and helping communities revegetate them for wildlife to thrive and so Melbournians can better enjoy their local creek or river.

Victoria’s Great Outdoors package is delivered in partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Parks Victoria, and working closely with Traditional Owners, local communities and stakeholders from planning through to delivery.

Since 2018, the State Government has halved the price of Parks Victoria’s 143 bookable campsites across the state. The slashed camping prices has seen interest in exploring Victoria surge, with more than 50,000 camping bookings made last summer - a 20% increase compared to the summer before the program began.

Over the past four years, Victoria’s Great Outdoors has delivered 62 new and upgraded campgrounds for people to explore - with even more to be delivered in 2023. This includes a range of new free camp grounds in state forests.

Recent free camping upgrades have been completed at Jack Swasbrick campground near the Mitta Mitta River, Thomson River Campground in Gippsland, and Berrock Campground near the South Australian border.

The Poplars Campground in Loch Valley – just over an hour from Melbourne – has also recently reopened to visitors this autumn, with upgraded facilities and amenities.

Camping and recreation in Victoria’s national parks contribute $2.1 billion towards the state’s tourism industry each year and supports more than 20,000 jobs.

In addition to continuing half-price camping fees, the 2023/24 Victorian Budget invests $10.2 million to keep it free for kids under 16 years of age to visit Victoria’s world-class zoos on weekends, public holidays and school holidays.

This includes entry to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and the newest addition to Zoos Victoria’s offerings Kyabram Fauna Park in the state’s northeast.

To book camping adventures visit parks.vic.gov.au/where-to-stay/camping.

Image top: Camping Lower Glenelg National Park; image above Camping Alpine National Park; Credit: Parks Victoria