Grampians National Park and Arapiles-Tooan State Park are closed to visitors until further notice as part of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park is partially open to district communities, but only for exercise purposes.

The popular tourist destinations are among statewide parks and reserves that Parks Victoria has closed ahead of the Easter long weekend.

Parks Victoria made the call under the direction of the state’s Chief Health Officer.

To stop groups of people gathering at park facilities it has closed playgrounds and all Parks Victoria-managed barbecue facilities, water-drinking fountains, picnic shelters and tables, rotundas, toilets and viewing platforms.

All Parks Victoria Visitor Information Service Desks and Centres are also closed to the public.

Parks to close from midnight, April 8 until further notice are –

Western Victoria: Bay of Islands, Discovery Bay, Grampians, Great Otway, Lower Glenelg, Mt Arapiles-Tooan; Port Campbell; Tower Hill.

Northern Victoria: Barma; Cathedral Range; Gunbower; Hattah-Kulkyne: Murray-Sunset; Lake Eildon; Tourourrong Reservoir.

Eastern Victoria: Alpine; Baw Baw; Gippsland Lakes; Howqua Hills; Mount Buffalo; Walhalla; Wilson Promontory.

Great Otway and Gippsland Lakes parks are also partially open, only for community exercise.

The move is an extension of previous Parks Victoria closures.