Nick R replied:

It pays to ask the relevant authorities before entering the park, in the high country the ranger was quite happy for us to have a fire in a fireplace at 8 mile on the Howqua river (in mid January), need to keep an ear out though for total fire bans.

NickR

richopesto replied:

Hi Liz,

Fire bans have been placed in NP for a number of reasons, history of inappropriate wood fuel collection methods, poor campground fire behaviour, protection of habitat for species as well as the normal fire risk reasons. I would err on the side of caution and expect fire bans to be the rule between about November and March for nearly any NP on the eastern seaboard. You will no doubt find exceptions up in the highlands, where its wetter and cooler.
I have found historically, most places you find which allows fires in summer probably wont be very nice to camp at - bogans and meatheads tend to gather anywhere a ridiculously large fire can be lit - especially in January - when its just so darn cold ! ;-)
So when you find those magical exceptions to my opinionated advice - enjoy them !

DB replied:

Hmm, bogans and meatnheads, just how I want to spend my evenings. Good point.

we will probably be in the high country at some point, so that sounds nice, I recall cooking possirdge one morning in January up near Khancoban one year.

I do understand the need for fire bans, just wondered how extensive they are out the major population areas.

OK, thanks folks for the feedback,

LIZ