Club Terrace - Lind National Park - East Gippsland

Club Terrace - Lind National Park

Lind National Park is one of Victoria's oldest national parks. Covering an area of 1,370 hectares, the park is recognised for protecting a range of forest communities including significant areas of warm temperate rainforest. With limited recreational facilities within the park, the best way to experience Lind is by traversing the Euchre Valley Nature Drive.

Things to See and Do

Drives

The Euchre Valley Nature Drive takes visitors on a journey through the park along a scenic corridor of the old highway. The Drive enables visitors to experience the changing vegetation communities and natural processes that have shaped the park and to explore this protected area of old growth forest.

The Drive is suitable for all vehicles including caravans and trailers.

Camping

There are no camping facilities provided in the park, however formal campgrounds are available nearby at Cann River and Genoa.

Flora and Fauna

Lind National Park features a variety of forest types ranging from wet sclerophyll forest in the gullies to box ironbark forest on the drier slopes. These vegetation communities protect a number of significant species, many of which are at the limit of their distribution, including the Prickly Tree-fern which is found in the damp rainforest gullies.

Along the Euchre Valley Nature Drive visitors can experience the layers of warm temperate rainforest with the tall eucalypts forming the top layer and trees reaching almost 30 metres. The second story is made up of Bloodwoods, Lily Pilly and Kanookas, with vines of the Clematis draping to the ground. At ground level, the light has been greatly reduced, allowing ferns and other plants especially adapted to living in dark conditions to grow. During November and December you may see the bright red flowers of the East Gippsland Waratah in flower.

The entire park was burnt by wildfire in September 2003. The fire burnt fiercely in some areas, which are regrowing over time, while other wetter areas remained intact.

The ancient forests of Lind National Park provide habitat for many species of native fauna, some of which are significant. The beautiful Masked Owl inhabits heavily forested areas and feeds mainly on small to medium sized prey, including native mice, bush rats and birds.

Lind National Park also protects the elusive Long Footed Potoroo. This shy creature is found mainly in wet forests. They feed in the open, but quickly retreat to thick undergrowth for protection when disturbed.

History

This area of Far East Gippsland is thought to have once been inhabited by the Kauatungalung group of the Kurnai people. Cultural surveys have unearthed numerous artefacts on ridge tops within the park.

Lind National Park has a history of mining reflected in its location adjacent to Club Terrace Township which owes its establishment to gold mining in the 1890s.

Numerous mine shafts and relics can be found at Olive Branch Mine, near the Olive Branch Creek.

Exploring Far East Gippsland

Lind National Park forms part of a network of parks and reserves throughout Far East Gippsland, which protect significant environmental and cultural areas and provide for great visitor experiences.

Croajingolong National Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park both feature magnificent coastal environments with numerous recreational opportunities including walking, camping and 4WD trips.

Coopracambra National Park and Errinundra National Park encompass vast wilderness and mountain forests and provide experiences for those searching for more self-reliant recreational opportunities.

The walk through the Bemm River Scenic Reserve on the Princes Highway west of Lind National Park is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience and learn about rainforest communities.

Access for Dogs:

Pets are not permitted.

Location and Access

Lind National Park is located 419 km from Melbourne near the small township of Club Terrace.

Note: Photos from Parks Victoria