The 23,210-hectare (57,400-acre) national park is situated 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Melbourne and includes tracks (some with wheelchair access), and camping facilities.

Prior to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the park was renowned for being home to the tallest tree in Victoria.

The specimen of Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash) stood 91.6 metres (301 ft) tall in 2002 and was suspected to have originated after the 1851 Black Thursday bushfires.

It was located in the Wallaby Creek closed catchment area in the north-west regions of the park.

[5] In January 2006, parts of the park to the north of the Kinglake township were devastated by a bushfire started by lightning during a severe thunderstorm.