Healthy Parks – Wealthy People

  For many years the various organisations that have run Victorian Parks have had an objective of increasing visitor numbers. The most recent incarnation, Parks Victoria, has gained a new objective – a greater proportion of Parks expenditure is to be raised from users and less is to be provided through government budgets. Are the… Continue reading Healthy Parks – Wealthy People

Healthy Parks, Wealthy People

Victorian National Parks Camping and Accommodation Fees – Regulatory Impact Statement The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) has released a proposal for a user-pays approach to charges for camping and roofed accommodation in parks and reserves managed by Parks Victoria. Victorians are invited to provide comment on the regulatory impact statement by 22… Continue reading Healthy Parks, Wealthy People

The Tipperary Track: Trail Update

Wombat Creek Foot-bridge still waiting to be built.

It was a miserable wet and cold mid-winter’s morning when Karen and I dragged ourselves out of the warmth of a Daylesford Cafe and started out along the Tipperary Track. For the first kilometre or so we debated as to whether this was such a good idea. Maybe we are getting soft but the thought… Continue reading The Tipperary Track: Trail Update

Silver Mine Walking Track

Cypress pine log cabin. Old silver mine relics.

The Silver Mine Walking Track is located in the Snowy River National Park, one of Victoria’s most remote and least visited semi-alpine regions. By the time Karen and I parked our vehicle at the start of the walk at McKillops Bridge I had a fairly good idea as why so few people visit this place.… Continue reading Silver Mine Walking Track

Parks Victoria: Death By a Thousand Cuts.

This Easter weekend some state and national parks are facing industrial action by Parks Victoria rangers belonging to the Community and Public Sector Union. Most likely this will involve the locking of gates to parks which have single points of entry. The union has been in ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations with the Victorian Government, having… Continue reading Parks Victoria: Death By a Thousand Cuts.

Mt Arapiles – Taking care of the magic

As many of our readers will have noted, the staff at Open Spaces are involved in various aspects of the outdoor industry.  Whilst OSP is a big part of our lives, the reason why we are here in the first place is because of our  interest and experiences in that area.  Besides climbing, one of… Continue reading Mt Arapiles – Taking care of the magic

Marysville Trails 2011

Steavenson Falls from the new lookout bridge.

  Following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 pretty much all of the walking trail infrastructure in and around Marysville had been wiped out. I was in no doubt that repairs, rebuilding and realignments of this trail network would be at least a few years away. These fires meant that users of our Daywalks Around… Continue reading Marysville Trails 2011

Cathedral Range Visitor Updates

Step construction at the Sugarloaf area

With plenty of work going on at the Cathedral Ranges, thought it would be good idea to get the information around. Not only are there major works going on with tracks, the new shelter and toilet facility is being built in the Sugarloaf area along with an Information Board to give visitors a little background… Continue reading Cathedral Range Visitor Updates

Walk 4 (Painkalac Dam)

According to Parks Victoria: Closures due to upgrade of Painkalac Reservoir Spillway No access to Painkalac Reservoir until late 2010. Walking track from Distillery Creek Picnic Ground to Painkalac Reservoir closed until late 2010. Walking track leading from Moggs Creek Picnic Ground to Gentle Annie Track remains open. Walking track through reservoir from Distillery Creek… Continue reading Walk 4 (Painkalac Dam)

Walks 56, 57 (Masons Falls and Andrew Hill)

Masons Falls Walk. Mt Sugarloaf is now open to the public. This includes Mt Sugarloaf, Mt Sugarloaf Road, Mt Sugarloaf Ridge Track and the park entrance area. These areas open everyday from 9:00am until 4:00pm. The walking trail (Mason Falls Circuit) and the rest of the Sugarloaf Block are still closed. Masons Falls Picnic Area… Continue reading Walks 56, 57 (Masons Falls and Andrew Hill)

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