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Gunlom has been OPENED with 4wd access for day visits only. The campground remains CLOSED. Should any rain occur, visitors will need to leave.

Cahill's Crossing is running at 0.3 metres and remains OPEN TO HIGH CLEARANCE 4WD ONLY.

Magela Creek has dropped to 0.1 metres, and is passable with CAUTION.

South Alligator River Crossing on the Old Jim Jim Road is currently IMPASSABLE.

Jim Jim Falls is again CLOSED due to heavy unseasonal rainfall. Bilkbilkmi (Graveside Gorge) has also been CLOSED. Maguk and Gunlom have now also been CLOSED.

Jim Jim creek is still too deep to cross to access Twin Falls.

Merl, Muriella, Sandy Billabong, Garnamarr (Jim Jim Falls) and Gunlom Campgrounds are CLOSED.

Merl, Muriella, and Mardugal are now OPEN.

Other areas CLOSED due to high water levels includeAnbangbang Billabong walk, Yellow Water boat ramp, Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge), Guratba/Gimbat Day Use Area.

4 Mile Billabong is closed for Salvinia contol.

Updated 21st October 2016

UPDATE: The The Great Ocean Road is OPEN but restricted to one lane between Separation Creek and Wye Creek. This will be closed again should any sign of instability be detected. Roadworks in other sections of the The Great Ocean Road also have lane closures.

SUPERCEDED - see updates above

UPDATE - TEMPORARY CLOSURE THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD: From 17th October 2016 The The Great Ocean Road has been closed again between Wye River and Separation Creek due to today's high rainfall and the increased threat of landslide.

UPDATE: 8th October 2016 Road now OPEN between Separation Creek and Wye River after earlier landslides from heavy rain. Speed and traffic management restrictions remain in place. Delays may be epected if travelling through the area. Drive carefully.

Flooding has been widespread though Victoria and a number of roads in affected areas are CLOSED.

Residents evacuated from Wangaratta yesterday 7th October 2016 over concerns about the security of a levee bank have now been given the all clear to return home. Myrtleford residents evacuated the previous day were able to return to their homes yesterday.

UPDATE 22nd September 2016. The Great Ocean Road remains CLOSED between Cumberland River and Wye River until further notice due to severe structural damage to the roadway, which may fall away under vehicle load. Landslides continue to be a risk along The Great Ocean Road at this time. The Great Ocean Road is open from Lorne to the Cumberland River Holiday Park with restrictions.

The section of The Great Ocean Road between Wye River and Skenes Creek is open to traffic with vehicle restrictions.

The road remains closed between Wye River and Separation Creek, due to major landslide issues at Paddy's Path.

17th September: The section of The Great Ocean Road between Eastern View and Lorne has been RE-OPENED by VicRoads after extensive clearing and repair of damage caused by landslides during the past week.
Take care when approaching work crews who are continuing to make repairs to damage roadways. Speed restrictions of 40 km/hr are in enforce, roads are slippery and motorists are asked to take care and drive to conditions making travel hazardous such as mud, debris, injured animals.

PLEASE NOTE: the section between Lorne and Skenes Creek REMAINS CLOSED due to road structural damage, making driving conditions very hazardous. 17th September 2016. Further damage to roads and bridges by landslides is still likely with further rain expected over the next few days.

The Great Ocean Road has been CLOSED between Lorne and Skenes Creek and between Eastern View and Lorne due to land slips and flooding, and potential for more land slips. There are at least thirty major land slips between Lorne and Skenes Creek. 15th September 2016 currently no-one is able to gain access into or out of Wye River and Separation Creek.

Updated 4th November 2016

The Great Ocean Road, Victoria - OPEN WITH CAUTION

News from National Parks South Australia

Parts of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park will be CLOSED from 6pm on Wednesday 30 November 2016 until 6am on Wednesday 1 March 2017.

Partial closures apply to: Cooinda Campground.

The following walking/hiking trails from where they diverge from the Heysen Trail:

St Marys Peak (Ngarri Munlanha) Hike – loop route (inside trail)

Malloga Falls Hike

Cooinda Camp Trail

St Marys Peak (Ngarri Munlanha) Hike – direct route (outside trail).

The following walking/hiking trail from where it diverges from the Boom and Bust Trail (formerly known as the Drought Buster Hike):

Mount Ohlssen-Bagge Hike.

This closure is in the interest of public safety due to high daytime temperatures likely to be experienced.

Cape Borda Lightstation is CLOSED until further notice for public safety

Chowilla Game Reserve isCLOSED until further notice for public safety.

Seasonal closure: The whole of the Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve will be CLOSED from 6pm on Wednesday 30^th November 2016 until 6pm on Wednesday 15^th March 2017.

National Parks South Australia have discontinued park passes that include camping fees. See more on Passes and Permits for visiting National Parks. On line booking has been expanded to cover more parks, not only for camping, but vehicle entry fees can also be paid on line.

3^rd November 2016

Home > What's news on the travel scene in Australia > Archive 25

NOW OPEN Carnarvon Gorge National Park CLOSURES 24th November 2016 due to a Bushfire

These walks have been RE-OPENED in time for the Christmas holiday period.

Due to a bushfire 24th November 2016 in the Carnarvon Gorge National Park, the main walking track to Big Bend camping area and the Mount Moffatt section of the park wasCLOSED including walking tracks to:

• Boolimba Bluff
• Battleship Spur
• Cathedral Cave
• Art Gallery
• Wards Canyon

Updated 22nd December 2016

Latest from the Jatbula Trail and Leliyn (Edith Falls) in the Nitmiluk National Park

The Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park has been closed due to recent rainfall causing significant rises at creek crossings. Swimming at the Leliyn/Edith Falls plunge pool has also been closed for the wet season.

However, the upper pools at Leliyn/Edith Falls are open again after the Edith River levels dropped. The Leliyn Loop walk is now also open to visitors.

16th December 2016

Latest from The Savannah Way

Roper Highway - CLOSED Roper Bar crossing Ngukurr end of the Wilton River detour due to flooding with water levels rising.

Nathan River Road - The gates on the Northern end of the Nathan River Road have now been closed with the road CLOSED from Port Roper intersection to the Roper Hwy due to flooding at the Hodgson River Bridge.

19th December 2016

From Central Australia

UPDATE: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been RE-OPENED during this morning (27th) with caution due to water on roads and tracks. Walks are being RE-OPENED as they are cleared up.

The areas below remain CLOSED. Parts of Kintore (Walungurru) andKaltukatjara settlement at Docker River have been evacuated.

Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) - Access road is CLOSED until further notice due to flooding.

A number of roads in Central Australia are CLOSED, including roads to Chambers Pillar, the Ernest Giles Road, Kintore access road, Laparinta Drive, Luritja Road, and the Great Central Road betweenKata Tjuta and the Western Australian border. The access road to Ormiston Gorge is CLOSED. Redbank Gorge, Finke Gorge,Palm Valley, Boggy Hole and the Finke River route are CLOSED. Owen Springs Reserve is CLOSED. The Ross Highway to and through the East Macdonnells is CLOSED.

The Tanami Road is CLOSED.

Updated 28th December 2016

Fire and Floods

Following ex tropical cyclone Yvette crossing Australia, the rain bearing depression has brought heavy falls, particularly to Central Australia. Storms have continued to hit South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria with damage and flash flooding.

See updates in the items hereunder.

In central New South Wales, unsealed roads are CLOSED or have cautions, in particular in the Shires of Bogan, Cobar, Carrathool, Hay, Lachlan and Narromine.

North Eastern South Australia roads areCLOSED, including the Oodnadatta, Strzelecki, Birdsville (partial) Tracks.

In Victoria a number of roads across the state are CLOSED,but do not include any major highways.

28th December 2016

Latest from Kakadu

Update: Fuel Services at the Gagudju Lodge Cooinda are again available, after a short closure. Diesel and Premium unleaded petrol only.

Cahill's Crossing is CLOSED and running at 1.2 metres. Magela Creek is running at 0.6 metres, and S Bends at 0.3 metres. The road is IMPASSABLE 2nd January 2017.

Ubirr is now only open between 2 pm and sunset until 31st March 2017 (access road permitting). Magela Creek is running at 0.2 metres, and is OPEN WITH CAUTION for high clearance vehicles only.

Gunlom and Maguk now CLOSED due to seasonal flooding 27th November 2016. Mardugal campground (caravan section) is CLOSED. Merl campground is CLOSED. Jim Jim Billabong campground is also CLOSED.

Old Jim Jim Road has CLOSED due to flooding.

While some key features such as Jim Jim Falls, Twin Falls and Gunlom remain CLOSED, and with the wet season approaching, these will be unlikely to become accessible until the dry season next year. See closures on previous Updates from Kakadu.

Following storms, on 4th November 2016 Nourlangie access road and walking trails were closed due to fallen trees and branches. These were cleared and Nourlangie RE-OPENED later in the day.

Updated 2nd January 2017

The Hunter Expressway has RE-OPENED 19th January 2017 between John Renshaw Drive and Wine Country Drive due to a number of fires near Kurri Kurri and Heddon Greta. These fires are being brought under control, but with 27 fires started in eh ar Kurri Kurri arson is suspected.

Pacific Highway M1 has RE-OPENED 19th January 2017 between George Booth Drive and O'Donnelltown Road.

Roads around Bywong and Tarago have RE-OPENED 19th January 2017

There are a number of fires out of control in eastern New South Wales.

Updated 19th January 2017

Highway closures New South Wales due to fires 18th January 2017

UPDATE: The South Coast Highway west of Albany is now OPEN following closure late afternoon 18th January 2017 in the vicinity of Marbellupdue to a fire. An emergency warning an evacuation centre has been set up at the Albany Leisure Centre - centre now closed as it is safe to return home.

Updated 20th January 2017