Organ Pipes National Park is a protected area located in Victoria, Australia, about 20 km northwest of Melbourne's central business district. The park is known for its unique geological formations known as the Organ Pipes, a series of basalt columns formed over a million years ago by volcanic activity. The columns are named after their resemblance to a church organ, with regular vertical ridges and grooves.
The Organ Pipes are believed to have been formed during the Pleistocene period when a lava flow from nearby Mount Dandenong cooled and solidified into the columnar basalt formations. The basalt columns at the Organ Pipes National Park are some of the best examples of such formations in Australia and are considered to be of international significance.
In addition to the Organ Pipes, the park is also home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and a variety of birdlife. Visitors can explore the park through a network of walking tracks that take them through the basalt formations and provide panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Organ Pipes National Park is a popular destination for picnics, bushwalking, and bird watching. The park is open year-round, and there is no entry fee. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy footwear, carry drinking water, and pack sunscreen and insect repellent.