Victoria’s State forests offer some great camping spots, but some restrictions are in place to keep camping areas safe and accessible for everyone, and to reduce any impact on the environment. These rules are explained below.
What are the rules?
You can camp anywhere in a state forest if you set up at least 20 metres from waterways and stay no longer than 28 consecutive nights. Visit the More to Explore website or More to Explore app for sites near you.
* In forest reserves (general): You can camp in the official campgrounds provided by the land manager but not in informal locations where there are no facilities.
For detailed rules about heating and cooking, visit the ‘Campfires, stoves, and BBQs’ page.
* Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers regularly patrol state forests. Fire-related offences are taken very seriously in Victoria. We can issue on-the-spot fines and you could be charged.
For detailed rules about dogs, visit the ‘Dogs' section on the ‘Recreational activities’ page.
For rules about using vehicles, see the ‘Vehicle use’ page.
Use toilet facilities in the forest where they are provided. If there aren’t any nearby, you can dig a hole at least 30cm deep or use your own portable toilet. Make sure you’re at least 100 metres away from a waterway if you do this.
Please note you must not put rubbish into toilets as they become blocked. Bag up your rubbish and take it home with you.
Do not wash your dishes in waterways. Use a bucket and make sure you pour any wastewater at least 50 metres away from rivers, creeks, or other waterways. Please use environmentally friendly soaps and detergents free from perfumes, phosphates, and dioxanes where possible.
This keeps our forest waterways safe for wildlife and prevents algal blooms.
There are no rubbish bins or collection services in forests, and there are penalties for littering. You must take all your rubbish home with you.
Don’t bury or burn your rubbish, as this leaches harmful chemicals into the forest and harms wildlife.
Many people come to the bush for peace and quiet, so please be respectful of others and keep noise to an appropriate level for the surroundings. If you want to play music, keep the volume down or use headphones. If it’s too loud, it can disturb other people and harm sensitive wildlife, and you can be fined.
It’s natural to get excited when you see one of our amazing native animals, but remember to keep your distance and leave them alone.
Help keep wildlife wild by:
- treading carefully around their habitat, even if you’re curious to see what’s around. Our animals rely on forest vegetation and waterways. Some are nocturnal and sleep in tree hollows, logs, burrows, and dreys.
- Feeding wildlife might seem like a nice way to make friends but it can cause real harm. Feeding bread, mince, steak, and sausage to adult birds can affect the babies they’re raising in the nest. Feeding and disturbing wildlife can also make them act aggressively, putting you and others at risk.
You can use a generator if it’s safe to do so.
This means:
- The exhaust pipe is fitted with a spark arrestor.
- Keep 1.5 metres of cleared space around it and ensure it’s away from any flammable materials such as tents or overhanging branches.
- Make sure you can immediately put out a fire with water or a water (stored pressure) fire extinguisher.
(Read further information on fire restrictions and regulations here for more technical information)
Where possible, we encourage you to use solar or battery powered generators to reduce disturbance to wildlife and other visitors.
You can set up all normal camping structures, like tents, gazebos, and tables, but you can’t build or construct anything permanent or semi-permanent in the forest without a permit.
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