Buchan Caves Reserve Flood and Fire Recovery

Updated June 2026

The Buchan Caves Reserve is one of 14 joint-managed parks across Gippsland. Parks Victoria recognise the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners holds Native Title and an intrinsic connection to Country.

We are working in partnership to deliver memorable visitor experiences at the reserve.

Parks Victoria has a Joint Management Agreement with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC). The agreement recognises Parks Victoria and GLaWAC are:

  • managing country together
  • protecting cultural values
  • promoting environmental conservation.

There is an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the reserve.

Recovery projects

Black Summer bushfires 2019–2020 and December 2023 flood

The Black Summer bushfires and 2023 flood damaged and destroyed a range of visitor facilities at the Buchan Caves Reserve.

Planning and construction works have delivered new and restored facilities for visitors to enjoy, and work continues on key recovery projects.

During the works, the reserve is open daily for bush walks, camping, picnicking and relaxing in nature.  

You can find out more and subscribe to Buchan Caves Reserve recovery projects updates below.

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Temporary Visitor Centre open during works

Visitor Centre works are repairing damage from the 2023 Boxing Day flood.

Visitors can buy tickets and retail goods at the temporary office for reserve activities including Royal and Fairy Caves tours.

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Buchan Caves Reserve flood Dec 2023

New asphalt and linemarking outside the visitor centre at Buchan Caves Reserve.
New bollards and rocks are installed along the boundary of an asphalt road.
New asphalt and linemarking at the carparking in Buchan Caves Reserve.
Caves Road into Buchan Caves Reserve with asphalt lifted and moved by flood water
250 tonnes of vegetation debris from the December 2023 flood burned at Buchan Caves Reserve
Buchan Caves Reserve power and water services damaged in December 2023 flood

Ongoing and upcoming works

  • Roofed accommodation upgrades and construction
  • Depot relocation
  • Royal Caves entrance
  • Guide Hut rebuild
  • Visitor Centre and toilet block remediation
  • Heritage listed rotunda near the Fairy Caves entrance
  • Entry gate sculpture design and approvals
  • Rock wall near wastewater plant
  • Heritage tree replanting

We apologise for any inconvenience during construction and recovery works.

Project timelines

The following timelines are subject to assessments, permits, procurement, and on-ground and construction industry conditions. Timelines will be updated here as each project progresses.

Roofed accommodation: Caves House and Ranger House

Works are gaining momentum for roofed accommodation options, with groundworks well advanced, cladding repair begun and preparations progressing for upcoming bathroom renovations.

Upgrades will enable more visitors to enjoy year-round stays with heating and cooling, hot showers, drinking water and kitchen facilities.

Heritage listed rotunda

Design for the repair of the rotunda and construction contract are complete. Pending building permit, work is expected to begin in June 2026.

Visitor centre

Partial demolition works are complete and administration building has been restored and returned to staff use. Reinstatement designs are complete with reinstatement works to follow in 2026.

Royal Cave entrance tunnel

Remediation and design recommendations are complete for the rebuild of the cave entrance.

Guide Hut tunnel

The contractor for the upgrade and rebuild of the Guide Hut has been appointed. Works have started with expected completion in mid-2026.

Rock wall near wastewater plant

Works start to be confirmed.

Completed works

New Yarning Circle now open

Traditionally a place for First Nations collaborative decision making, the Yarning Circle is now open, offering a place to learn about the local Gunaikurnai culture and connect with each other.

The entry sculpture is now in place to welcome visitors to the Buchan Caves Reserves.

These projects were led by GLaWAC who developed the designs and completed the Yarning Circle installation.

Works were completed in late October 2025 — some areas are currently fenced off to visitors to help the new plantings to establish.

Workers stand behind blue and sand colour pavers which have just been laid in the Yarning Circle. There are Aboriginal symbols etched on three metal panels one in the middle and two behind. There is a green grass hill and trees in the background

Pictured above: Final works on the new Yarning Circle were completed in November 2025. 

North Arm flood mitigation

Works were completed on the eastern side of the North Arm in October 2025. A swale drain was built to divert surface water in to the Spring Creek. The upgrade reduces the potential of flooding during rain events.

Spring Creek Track

GLaWAC work crews replaced fire-damaged structures along the walking track. Recovery works were completed two months ahead of schedule.

The works restored the pedestrian bridge, upgraded steps and path edging, and installed new handrails and a viewing platform.

Campground and Moon Hill track works

Remediation works on the walking tracks were completed in August 2025. 

Caves Road bridge repairs

The bridges along Caves Road were damaged in the Boxing Day flood.

Repair works were completed in early 2025. The bridges had rock armour installed to improve visitor access and safety. 

Fairy Cave entrance

Visitors can now enjoy a covered waiting area and seating at the entrance to the reopened Fairy Cave tours. The log structure and roof of the Fairy Cave entrance were completed in March 2025. 

FJ Wilson Walking Track repairs

In November 2024, with the track re-opened to visitors in time for the 2024 to 2025 summer peak period. The FJ Wilson Track was damaged in the Boxing Day 2022 flood.

December 2023 flood impacts

On Boxing Day 2023, the Buchan Caves Reserve experienced an extreme flooding event.

More than 60 millimetres of rain fell in 30 minutes. The flood caused major damage to buildings and bridges. The road network was also severely damaged. During the initial clean-up phase more than 250 tonnes of debris was cleared away.

Royal Cave entrance tunnel

The entrance tunnel to the Royal Cave was damaged in the Boxing Day 2023 flood. An engineer assessed the damage and is providing recommendations on the remediation and design needed to safely re-open the entrance.

Guide hut rebuild

Following the Boxing Day 2023 flood, a flood modelling assessment was completed to inform future works. In response to this assessment, the existing designs for the Guide Hut have been amended to make the new building more resilient to flood.

Heritage and Linaker tree replanting

A significant collection of specimen trees, which were part of a planting scheme developed in the 1920s by landscape designer Hugh Linaker, were lost in the drought, bushfire, and floods. Heritage Act approvals were submitted and planning for the replanting program completed. 

Buchan Caves Reserve flood recovery update

Initial recovery and clean-up works are underway at Buchan Caves Reserve following an extreme flooding event on Boxing Day.

Buchan Caves Reserve flood recovery update

Following the 2019-20 bushfires, much of the vegetation at Buchan Caves Reserve was burnt. Here is a behind the scenes look at the recovery process with our Area Chief Ranger (September 2020).

Environmental management

Buchan Caves Reserve supports significant wildlife populations, with Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Brush-tailed Possums often seen throughout the reserve. Over 100 species of birds have been recorded, with King Parrots, White-winged Choughs, and Currawongs listed as common. Bats are known to use some caves for overwintering and roosting. Platypuses inhabit the reserve’s waterways, using Moon Cave as an important breeding location. The reserve has a variety of native and introduced vegetation, including several species listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, such as Limestone Blue Wattle and Leafy Greenhood Orchid. The Linakar Tree Landscape Plan supports the heritage values of the reserve’s introduced plantings.

An application for a Flora and Fauna Guarantee Permit has been received. The permit will safeguard the native plants, animals and biodiversity within the reserve during on-ground works.

 

Putting safety first

Visitor safety is our number one priority when considering risk in parks. While nature will always be unpredictable, our projects and maintenance works help minimise risks and help people explore the great outdoors safely. At Buchan Caves Reserve and other flood-affected parks across the state, we're completing important assessments like flood modelling to determine how we can make our facilities and infrastructure more climate resilient into the future.

Parks Victoria is responsible for continuously managing and maintaining over 50,000 pieces of infrastructure across the state annually. We're also delivering new projects to help visitors get into nature. These are thoroughly planned and prepared to keep people and projects separate and safe.

When visiting a park where projects are happening, especially during construction, it's important that people follow the direction of signs, stay out of fenced and restricted areas, and listen to Parks Victoria staff and work crews.

 

Who we're working with

Parks Victoria and GLaWAC are working with East Gippsland Shire Council, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Heritage Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

 

Access changes

Although the flood repairs are largely complete, there are still a number of works to finish across the reserve. These works may cause minor disruptions, with intermittent closures to some areas to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and contractors. 

For more information about access to areas within Buchan Caves Reserve please visit Buchan Caves Reserve and check the change of conditions.

 

Project funding

$2.8 million has been provided by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), as well as insurance funds. The total budget will be confirmed once insurable asset amounts have been agreed.

 

Other information

 

 

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