Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park Victoria
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park Location in Victoria
Nearest town or city	Horsham, Victoria
Established	1987
Area	74.75 km2 (28.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Parks Victoria
Website	Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park
See also	Protected areas of Victoria

Mount Arapiles as seen from Mitre Rock.

The Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park is a special park in western Victoria, Australia. It's located on the Wimmera plains. This park includes Mount Arapiles, Mitre Rock, and an area called the Tooan block.

The park covers a large area of about 7,475 hectares. It's very important for protecting nature. About 14% of all the plant types found in Victoria grow in the Mount Arapiles area!

The main parts of the park are:

• Mount Arapiles: A tall rock formation famous for rock climbing.
• Mitre Rock: A smaller rock next to Lake Mitre, close to Mount Arapiles.
• Tooan block: An area with old woodlands. These woodlands are rare because many others have been cleared for farming.

Parks Victoria looks after this park.

Amazing Wildlife in the Park

Plants and Flowers

Mount Arapiles and the areas around it are home to many different kinds of plants. In fact, about 14 out of every 100 plant types in Victoria can be found here! If you visit in spring, you'll see lots of beautiful wildflowers.

Animals You Might See

Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park is home to many interesting animals.

Shingleback Lizards

The shingleback lizard is often seen in the park during spring, summer, and autumn. You might also hear it called a "stumpytail." These lizards move slowly and are quite sleepy. They eat insects, flowers, and fruit. Don't worry, they are completely harmless to people!

Kangaroos in the Bush

Many kangaroos live in the bush areas around Arapiles. To keep their homes safe, some smaller tracks in the park have been closed. This helps the plants grow back. Now, only the main tracks are used, especially near the camping areas.

Peregrine Falcons

The peregrine falcon is a fast bird of prey found all over the world. You can often spot them flying around Mount Arapiles. Sadly, the falcons here have been harmed by chemicals used in the past. Because of this, they are now considered a threatened species in Victoria. Like all other plants and animals in the park, they are fully protected. Sometimes, a pair of falcons will build a nest at Arapiles. When this happens, rock climbers usually tell the park rangers and other climbers to be careful around the nesting spots.

Fun Things to Do and Places to Stay

Camping in the Park

There are a few places where you can camp in the park:

• The Centenary Park Campground (known as "The Pines"): This is the most popular spot and is open all year. It has fireplaces you can use for free, but you need to bring your own firewood from outside the park.
• The Yellow Gums (known as "The Gums"): School groups often use this area. It's only open for camping during busy times.
• The North Campground: Many tourists like to camp here.

Facilities for Campers

The main camping area has toilets, a tank for rainwater, and places to wash dishes. There is also water from a bore (a deep well). However, Parks Victoria suggests bringing your own water. This is because water might not always be available, especially during the hot, dry summers.

Campers, especially climbers, often stay at the campsite. You pay a small fee per person each night to help maintain the park. This money helps keep the park clean and safe for everyone.

Getting Around the Mountain

There are several small car parks around the mountain. These make it easier to reach different areas that might be a long walk away. You can find car parks at places like Bushranger Bluff and Declaration Crag. There's also parking along the northern road near "The Pharos" and "Watchtower Faces" climbing areas.

Two car parks are located at the top of the mountain. These are used by both tourists and climbers. They are especially helpful for reaching the northern climbing areas safely from above.

Other Visitor Facilities

For day visitors, there's a picnic shelter where you can relax. You'll also find a public telephone and an information board. This board tells you about the park's history, what activities you can do, and information about the local plants and animals. A Telstra tower provides mobile phone service. Sometimes, you might need to walk a short distance from the campground towards the road to get a good signal.