People with disabilities in regional Victoria now have more opportunities to explore the outdoors, thanks to a new initiative mapping 70 accessible walking trails across the state—including several co-audited by GippSport.
The Walking and Rolling Together in Regional Victoria project, led by Victoria Walks in partnership with Regional Sport Victoria and Disability Sport & Recreation, has developed an interactive walking map showcasing accessible trails. The initiative is part of the Together More Active program, supported by the Victorian Government.
As a Regional Sports Assembly, GippSport contributed by auditing several trails in Gippsland, ensuring that more people with disabilities have access to safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences. The Accessible Walks resource was made possible through a free, easy-to-use walk audit tool, co-designed with people with disabilities to assess accessibility, time, length, and difficulty level.
“It has been fantastic to work with Regional Sport Victoria to promote the accessible trails that exist across Victoria, from Sale in the east to Warrnambool and Halls Gap in the west,” said Victoria Walks’ Executive Officer Ben Rossiter. “People with disability now have the information they need to decide whether a particular walk is suitable for them, such as whether a nature trail is connected to car parking they can use.”
GippSport is proud to have played a role in making Gippsland’s natural spaces more accessible.
“We were thrilled to support Victoria Walks and Regional Sport Victoria by co-auditing accessible walks in the Gippsland region. We want to help more Victorians embrace the benefits of outdoor recreation, with accessible trails at Lake Guthridge, Lake Guyatt, Sale Botanic Gardens, and the Port of Sale,” said GippSport Acting Executive Officer, Karen Ferguson.
The following accessible walking trails were audited with support from GippSport:
To explore the full list of accessible walking trails and plan your next outdoor adventure, visit https://walkingmaps.com.au/accessible-walks
