Croajingolong National Park is a coastal national park in the East Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The park covers an area of 88,355 hectares (218,330 acres) and is located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Melbourne and 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Sydney.

The name "Croajingolong" comes from the Australian Aboriginal Krauatungalung language. It combines the words "galung," meaning "belonging to," and "kraua," meaning "east."

Location and features

The park is long and narrow in shape. The southern side is next to the Tasman Sea in the South Pacific Ocean, the western side is next to the Bemm River, and the eastern side is next to the town of Mallacoota. The northern side is covered with thick forest and low hills. The park is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) long and 20 kilometers (12 miles) wide, covering an area of 875 square kilometers (338 square miles). A 100-kilometer (62-mile) path called the Wilderness Coast Walk runs the entire length of the park, passing along beaches, through heathland, and around rocky headlands.

Croajingolong National Park, along with the nearby Nadgee Nature Reserve in New South Wales, is part of one of only twelve World Biosphere areas in Australia. The park includes ecosystems, habitats, and gene pools that are managed in a way that protects them. It includes the Sandpatch Wilderness Area and is connected to the Cape Howe Wilderness Area, the Nadgee Nature Reserve, and the Cape Howe Marine National Park.

The eastern part of the park is located within the Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area, a region recognized by BirdLife International because it supports populations of eastern bristlebirds, pilotbirds, and other important wildlife.

Visitor attractions

Croajingolong’s landscapes are so beautiful and important for the environment that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named it a World Biosphere Reserve in 1977. The park is home to many different plants and animals, including nearly 1,000 types of native plants and 315 types of animals.

The park has many different kinds of coastal areas, such as rocky hills, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, and freshwater rivers. These features make the park a popular place for activities like hiking, walking, swimming, diving, snorkeling, and sea kayaking.

A common way to explore the park’s remote areas and see its plants and animals is by walking the Wilderness Coast Walk. This trail is 45 kilometers long and runs from the Thurra River camping area to Shipwreck Creek.

Popular places to visit in the park include:

• Point Hicks and its lighthouse
• Tamboon Inlet resort town
• Beautiful sand dunes at Thurra River
• Lake Elusive near Wingan Inlet
• Mount Everard
• Rame Head

Camping is available at Wingan Inlet, Shipwreck Creek, and Peachtree Creek, and these areas can be reached by car. Camping spots at Mueller Inlet and Thurra River are managed by private companies. Most campgrounds have picnic areas and fireplaces.

Towns near the park include Mallacoota, Genoa, Cann River, Bemm River, and Orbost.