Inclusive outdoor fun
Embark on an outdoor adventure in Victoria’s regions, with a plethora of inclusive and accessible tourism experiences available to people of all needs.
Explore rugged trails in an all-terrain wheelchair
Set out on a nature walk or hike with a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair. These chairs allow people with mobility issues to access areas a conventional wheelchair can’t navigate. The chairs have adjustable seating and supports, so they’re suitable for adults and children with varying abilities and make navigating steeper and longer trails possible.
TrailRiders are available for hire from the following locations:
Grampians National Park, Brambuk National Park & Cultural Centre
Dandenong Ranges National Park, Grants on Sherbrooke Restaurant at Grants Picnic Area
Wilsons Promontory National Park Information Centre
Kinglake National Park, Parks Victoria office
Warburton visitor Information Centre
Manual TrailRiders can also be hired from a number of regional hubs near national parks. You can see a full list of hire points and more information on which trails you can explore on the Parks Victoria website.
Bask in exceptional views
You don’t need to be an Olympian to witness breathtaking views and showstopping sunrises and sunsets. You can view some of the best in the state from easily accessible viewpoints in spots across Victoria.
Some of our favourites include the sparkly blue coastal views from the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula at Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve and the highest viewpoint on the Mornington Peninsula with views of ornamental gardens and golden beaches from Arthurs Seat.
For alpine scenery, head up Mount Buffalo in Victoria’s High Country to the Gorge Day Visitor Area. There are accessible ramps and railed viewing areas right next to the car park where you can gaze out at endless mountain ranges and the valley below.
Stop at a lookout for a spot of serenity
Lookouts with short accessible walks or viewing platforms and picnic areas right by the car park are the perfect way to while the day away outdoors if you have limited mobility.
Nestled in the Christmas Hills, enjoy the tranquil surrounds at Sugarloaf Reservoir Park. Visitors with mobility concerns can travel the gravel road leading to the launching ramp and a paved surface to the viewing area to enjoy the park’s native views.
Travel west of Melbourne to the Organ Pipes National Park and follow the signs for the short Lookout Walk to see impressive rock formations, which formed from the cooling and cracking of lava to create an organ-pipe appearance.
Visit a sensory trail
Sensory trails are designed to aid people with dementia or autism and are an engaging way to connect with nature. Trails and gardens designed in this way awaken the senses of sight, smell, sound and touch, as well as taste.
A sensory trail is available on the Margaret Lester Sensory Forest Walk in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. A dementia-friendly trail can also be found in Ballarat in Woowookarung Regional Park.
Otway Fly Treetop Walk
Experience a birds-eye-view of the lush rainforest canopy in the Otway Ranges on the 25-metre high elevated walkway, which is accessible to people of all needs. While there, visit the enchanted forest to spot fairies and dragons in the whimsical neighbourhood along the venue’s main trail.
Furry friends both big and small
Churchill Island on Phillip Island offers a range of services to visitors with extra needs, including disabled parking and toilet facilities, sealed rest areas and pram and wheelchair parking at farming activity stations. The park is also a sensory-inclusive site and has sensory bags available, which are equipped with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards, while weighted lap pads are available to borrow, and designated headphone zones and quiet areas are scattered throughout the park. This makes it easier than ever for everyone to enjoy the historical grounds, watch the farming activities and traverse scenic bay trails.
Healesville Sanctuary is another inclusive park, with a range of accessible features, including wheelchair hire, discounts for carers and companion card holders, guided tours from electric buggies, sensory maps to guide you through high and low sensory areas in the zoo and social scripts for neurodivergent visitors.
Along the Great Ocean Road, stop in at Wildlife Wonders and visit the 1.4 kilometre all abilities path, which has no steps and is suitable for wheelchairs and prams, making native wildlife spotting available to all.
Autism-friendly exploration
Parks Victoria has worked in colloboration with AMAZE to develop social scripts that make Victorian parks more accessible to people on the autism spectrum. The scripts are made up of simple text and imagery designed to prepare children for what they will encounter in the park. Versions of the scripts are also available in Key Word Sign Australia format to facilitate the needs of children using this form of communication.
Parks with available scripts include Buchan Caves Reserve, Jells Park, Point Nepean National Park and Serendip Sanctuary, as well as Wilsons Promontory and Weribee Park. You can download the available scripts via the Parks Victoria website.
Be sure to keep up-to-date with any changes in access to Victorian parks via Parks Victoria.
