AusEmade: Werribee Gorge State Park Information and Attractions, Victoria (VIC), Australia

Werribee Gorge State Park

Information Destination Guide

Victoria, Australia

Werribee Gorge State Park
• Flora and Fauna
• Walking Trails

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• Macedon Ranges

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Werribee Gorge State Park - Cities, Towns and Localities

Locate about 8 km west of Bacchus Marsh, Werribee Gorge is a 575 hectare state park with 500 million years of geological history, spectacular views and offering some great bushwalking and rock climbing opportunities.

The name itself (originally spelt ‘Wearibi’) is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word meaning either ‘swimming place’ or ‘backbone’, the latter, may be referring to the river’s snake-like bends.

By the 1880s, several geological surveys had been carried out in the region, and its geological importance was appreciated. It was first reserved in 1907.

During the 1930s depression, prospecting and timber cutting occurred on a small scale and in 1928 a water race was built to carry water to Bacchus Marsh.

In 1975, the Gorge became a state park, ensuring it future protection, with a number of adjoining freehold land also been purchased later, enlarging the park to its current size.

Access to the park is via the Western Freeway and Pentland Hills Road to Myers Road (steep in places), or via Ironbark Road (the Ballan-Ingliston Road) reached from the Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Road.

Visit the local visitor information centre or the local Parks Office in Bacchus Marsh.

Parks Victoria Office
219a Main Street
BACCHUS MARSH VIC 3340
Ph: 03 5367 2922

For the Parks Victoria main contact details, click here...

MSN Map of Werribee Gorge State Park, Victoria, Australia

Werribee Gorge State Park Flora and Fauna

As a result of its ruggedness and steep slopes, the Werribee Gorge area has remained in a relatively natural state, making it important for the preservation of native flora and fauna, especially as most of the surrounding land has been cleared and farmed for many years.

Trees in the park include Red Ironbark, Grey Box, Manna Gum, Varnish and Golden Wattle, and the White Cypress-pine, which is usually found north of the Great Dividing Range. Other flora to be found include Wedge-leaf Hopbush, Snowy Mint-bush, bush peas, groundsels and ferns.

The fauna found in the region include Echidnas, Koalas, Platypuses, Swamp Wallabies and Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Among the prolific bird life, two notable species include the mighty Wedge-tailed Eagle and the splendid Peregrine Falcon.

Werribee Gorge State Park Walking Trails

There are a number of walks that can be enjoyed in the region:

Circuit Walk • 10 km - 5 hours
Going anti-clockwise, start from the Quarry or Meikles Point Picnic Area and return downstream through the Gorge. Rock hopping and rock scrambling is involved along the river. The track is impassable after heavy rain.
River Walk • 4 km - 4 hours
Walk upstream from Meikles Point along the old aqueduct through the Gorge and return the same way. The track leads to popular swimming spots. Rock hopping and rock scrambling involved.
Falcons Lookout • 5 km - 1.5 hours
Panoramic views of the Gorge and beyond. Walk in from the Ballan-Ingliston Road along a fairly level track and return the same way.
Ingliston Gorge Walk • 7 km - 3.5 hours
Spectacular views and Box-Ironbark forest. Walk in a clockwise direction from the Ballan-Ingliston Road via Sloss’s Gully or the wide firebreak, then down to and along Whitehorse Creek. The track is rough, steep and hard to follow in places.

Contact the local visitor information centre or the Parks Victoria for current information and map of the park.

Source: Werribee Gorge State Park - Parks Victoria