National Parks and forests
Experience the natural environments of Wombat-Lerderderg National Park, Cobaw State Forest and Black Forest Woodend, used for picnics, bushwalking, cycling and more.
In September 2025, the Victorian Government introduced legislation to create over 65,000 hectares of new national parks in Central West Victoria, including Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor, and Pyrenees. These changes follow the 2021 Victorian Environmental Assessment Council recommendations, protecting habitat for threatened species.
Cobaw Conservation Park is a newly legislated protected area in Victoria, between Kyneton and Lancefield. It was established in late 2025 as part of a major land protection bill that also created Hepburn and Mirboo North Conservation Parks.
Wombat-Lerderderg National Park
The Wombat-Lerderderg National Park (approximately 45,000 hectares), stretches between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh, along the western boundary of Macedon Ranges Shire.
The park will protect significant natural and cultural values while providing a range of opportunities for nature-based outdoor recreation. It will protect the headwaters of several major rivers and high value habitat for many threatened plant and animal species including the greater glider, brushtailed phascogale and powerful owl.
The park is situated within the Countries of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples.
For more information on changes to recreational use and a map of the area, visit Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.
Cobaw Conservation Park
The Cobaw Conservation Park comprises the 2532-hectare Cobaw State Forest north-west of Lancefield.
The park will protect the habitat of many woodland birds and threatened species within a largely cleared landscape, and is an important ecological link between central west Victoria and the eastern highlands.
For information on recreational uses and a map of the park, visit Cobaw Conservation Park.
Black Forest, Woodend
A dense and expansive stand of trees on the slopes of Mount Macedon, Black Forest can be found along the first road into Woodend (Black Forest Drive), just off the Calder Freeway.