Enfield State Park
This park is an important haven for wildlife, but during the Gold Rushes the peaceful landscape was dominated by tents and diggers from around the world. The digger's lifestyles are often reflected in local place names like Misery Creek and Surface Point. Surface Point was a Chinese settlement in the 1860s, and there are still relics to be found there, including round mine shafts and a memorial.
Visit the park in spring and be rewarded by colourful and unusual wildflowers.
Things to Do:
Enfield State Park holds remnants of a rich goldmining history and offers a wide range of activities for visitors.
Picnics
Picnic and toilet facilities are available at Surface Point Picnic Area and at the Enfield Township. Bring your own firewood as it is not always available locally.
Fossicking
Nearly half of the park is available for fossicking or panning for gold along Misery Creek. Remember to fill any holes made and leave the area as you found it. Relics are protected by law and must not be disturbed or removed.
Mountain bike riding
Many bike tracks are available throughout the park for use.
Horse riding
Many tracks in Enfield State Park and the surrounding Enfield State Forest provide an attractive setting for horse riding. Horses may only be ridden on formed vehicle tracks open for public use except walking tracks where signs indicate no horses.
Scenic drives
Throughout the park a network of all weather unsealed access roads and four wheel drive tracks are available for visitors to explore the sights of the park.Exploring on foot
The park features a large circuit walking track with side tracks to Enfield and Bald Hills. Walkers with some navigational experience will enjoy tracks that go through a variety of bush types and terrain. The Searle's Loop Walk from the Enfield Township Picnic area passes through mining relics and different vegetation and will take around 40 minutes to complete at an easy pace. Warning: There are deep mine shafts in the area - avoid walking off track.
Camping
There are basic facilities at Surface Point. Bush camping is permitted in other areas. Remember that fires may only be lit in fireplaces provided.
Note: Picnic table and toilets are available at Enfield township.
Wildflowers and Wildlife:
Trees: The open forest of the park supports a number of different types of eucalyptus including Messmate, Broad-leaved Peppermint, Narrowleaved Peppermint, Swamp Gum, Manna Gum and the rare Yarra Gum.
Wildflowers: Spring is the best time to view the colourful and unusual ground flora, including 61 species of orchids, and the endemic Enfield Grevillea. The vegetation is recovering from a major wildfire in February 1995.
Birds: Around 100 bird species have been recorded in the park. Common birds include kookaburras, Grey Currawongs, Boobook Owls, Crimson Rosellas and the Superb Fairy-wrens.
Mammals: The Park has 22 native mammal species. These include the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby, echidnas and Koalas. Several species of possums, bats and antechinus also occur in the park but are generally only active at night.
Frogs: Frogs are common in the park and can be heard calling at night. Some that you may hear are the Common Froglet, Victorian Smooth Froglet and Southern Brown Tree Frog.
Note: Photos from Parks Victoria
Location
Colac-Ballarat Road, Enfield 3352 Map
Web Links
→ Enfield State Park (Parks Victoria)
→ Enfield State Park - Park note (PDF)
