On this page you will find links to our bush orienteering maps (currently 40). All but a couple of the maps on this page have been mapped at 1:15,000 scale, though they are generally printed at 1:10,000.
Once upon a time maps were laid out for print by the map maker. Today the ubiquity of on-demand digital printing on A4 means that a universal map layout will not work. Most maps are larger than A4 ensuring that course setters must choose to use only part of a map and this may miss any universal layout. The maps you will download from this site will often be sparsely laid out. Map layout is now undertaken in Condes. A layout template and a guide are available elsewhere on the web site.
Map name: The current name used for the area. This may have changed recently in an attempt to be consistent with Parks Victoria nomenclature. Click on the map name to be taken to the page for that map.
Manager: In most cases DEECA or Parks Victoria. Most events will have a permit before the start of the season. Permit lead times are lengthening so there is little scope for change in the fixture mid year. Some maps have other managers and these require their own access arrangements.
Access issues: Known access issues are summarised for each map. General access issues that apply across many maps are as follows-
No parking on vegetation. This severely limits the available assembly areas. Our continued access relies on us following this rule.
Some maps are DOG FREE by regulation. Some require dogs to be on a leash, sometimes kept to tracks as well. To keep event management simple we have a universal no-dag rule.
Some maps have indigenous sensitivities. These require keeping controls clear of sensitive sites. Each of these maps has areas of cultural heritage interest that must be respected. These events also require an acknowledgement of Dja Dja Wurrung on the map. Standard wording exists.
Map Year: Year the map was most recently mapped, remapped or fully updated.
Basemap: The basemap the current map was built upon. Lidar basemaps will create a highly geographically accurate map that is georeferenced. Photogrammetry maps will be relatively accurate but may have distortions in axis scales or around hills. Some of these maps may have been approximately georeferenced. Government basemaps provide the mapper with very little, so applaud and don't be too harsh if you find distortions.
Mapper: Who made the most recent map or remap. Each mapper has his or her style.
Accuracy issues: Know issues with the map, mainly relating to vegetation or track changes.
Copyright: This site indicates club ownership where the club has purchased the map or commissioned and paid for the mapping. Sometimes this copyright is jointly held between two clubs. Where the map has not been commissioned or purchased the copyright is allocated to the mapper and the map file will only be on this site with the approval of the mapper.
Major event: The most significant event held on the map.
Area: The mapped area (with overlap removed).
On the map page you will find further explanation of the above points, as well as some further important pieces of information.
Location map: How to find the area.
Map suitability: Describes the form of course setting and event standard for which the map is suitable.
Safety Issues: safety issues the organiser/setter needs to plan for.
Map status: How useable is the map? Is it still accurate enough?
Assembly areas: Permit requirements have become more demanding with time. In 2025 we are required to have basic traffic management and parking plans, and directions about nearest toilets. Parks Victoria requires notification of the assembly area of each event for specific approval. To ease the process each map page on this site now has links to descriptions of assembly areas. These include route descriptions taking account of traffic safety issues where required, parking maps, images of the parking areas and toilet information. These pages will form part of the permit application detail. Assembly areas have been chosen on the basis of having sufficient area for parking without vehicles parking on vegetation.
OCAD file: All but one of our maps is in digital form. The maps will generally be in OCAD18 format. This can be used by the most recent version of Condes.
You may also view the OCAD files in the free OCAD viewer, but this does not allow you to set courses or edit the files. You can use this to hide symbols (eg tracks) and save the file. https://www.ocad.com/en/downloads/ocad-viewer
Page updated 24 March 2025