You Yangs Regional Park

You Yangs Regional Park is a granite range and protected reserve between Melbourne and Geelong near Lara in Victoria. Managed by Parks Victoria, it covers about 2,000 hectares of woodland and rocky peaks including Flinders Peak at 340 metres. Notable for its distinctive granite outcrops, extensive walking and mountain biking trails, panoramic views across the Werribee Plain, and significance to the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, it is a popular day-use destination for nature and outdoor recreation.

Visitors can expect a rugged granite range rising from flat plains with open eucalypt woodland, rocky outcrops and panoramic viewpoints. The park offers marked walking tracks to Flinders Peak and Big Rock, a dedicated mountain bike trail network with two areas for different skill levels, picnic and barbecue areas at Turntable and Big Rock, and opportunities for birdwatching, rock climbing and bouldering in designated areas. Facilities are day-use only with natural bushland surroundings and views toward Geelong, Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.

The You Yangs are granite inselbergs formed about 365 million years ago during the Devonian period. The area lies on Wadawurrung Country and has long been used by Traditional Owners. After European settlement in the 19th century the ranges were used for timber, grazing and granite quarrying. Reserved as a regional park and managed by Parks Victoria, it has been developed for conservation and recreation while protecting natural and cultural values.

The park is on the Country of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and holds cultural significance with connections to creation stories and traditional use of the landscape. The name You Yangs is derived from the Aboriginal words Wurdi Youang. The park is valued today for community recreation, education and appreciation of natural heritage.