Lerderderg State Park

Lerderderg State Park comprises 14,250 hectares and stretches some 20 km between Bacchus Marsh and Blackwood. Rising in the Great Dividing Range, the Lerderderg River has cut a 300 metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. The park has a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife and some interesting relics of goldmining.

Flora & FaunaThis park is important for wildlife. Koalas live in the manna gums. Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies and Spiny Ant-eaters are also about during the day. Nocturnal animals include the Greater Glider, Bobuck (or Mountain Brushtail Possum), Bent wing Bat and Powerful Owl.

There is a striking transition of vegetation following a rainfall gradient from south to north. Dry stringybark-Box forests near the gorge mouth and Box-Ironbark woodlands along the high ridges of the south, grade into taller, damper Messmate-Peppermint- Gum forests along the northern boundary along the northern boundary of the park.