Mount Arapiles is a spectacular feature, rising sharply from the Wimmera plains to form part of the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park.

Mount Arapiles, widely regarded as the top rock climbing area in Australia, is of world renown. More than 2000 routes have been developed on the many cliffs, crags and pinnacles, presenting variety and challenge to climbers of all levels of experience.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners
Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.

Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

Local directions

The park is 320 km north-west of Melbourne and 440 km from Adelaide (Melway 520 A9). It is directly accessible from the Wimmera Highway, 30 km west of Horsham. Mount Arapiles and Mitre Rock are 8 km west of the small town of Natimuk and Tooan another 12 km to the south-west. Access into the Tooan block is via minor roads.

Facilities

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Fauna
Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park is a habitat for a variety of mammals and invertebrates. A total of 109 bird species has been recorded. Notable species include the Peregrine Falcon, Rainbow Bee Eater, Gilbert Whistler and Southern Scrub Robin. Kangaroos may be seen grazing the lower slopes and possums observed at night foraging in the tree canopies. During the summer, Shingle Back Lizards and Eastern Brown Snakes soak up the warm sun.

Heritage
For thousands of years, an Aboriginal clan inhabited the area around what is currently known as Mount Arapiles but they were displaced by European settlement. Some of their descendents still live in the area, and there are a number of archaeological sites. Explorer Major Sir Thomas Mitchell was the first European to see Mount Arapiles. On 23 July 1836, he climbed to the summit and named it after a hill of the same name in Spain.

Vegetation
Mount Arapiles shares the climatic features of the northern part of the State and geological characteristics more common to the south. Most of the Arapiles plateau is covered by low, open forest of Long-leaved Box in association with some Buloke and White Cypress Pine. Below the plateau, Yellow Gum woodland is found. Throughout the park, wildflowers present a colourful display during spring. About 500 species of native plants occur in the park, including several such as Rock Wattle and Skeleton Fork-fern which are rare or endangered.