Explore
Buchan Caves Reserve
Buchan Caves Reserve is one of the jointly managed parks within Gippsland. The Joint Management agreement recognises the fact that the Gunaikurnai people hold Aboriginal Title and maintain a strong connection to Country. As custodians of the land, they are the rightful people who speak for their Country. These parks and reserves are cultural landscapes that continue to be part of Gunaikurnai living culture. For more information on Joint Management, please visit the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation.
Buchan Caves Reserve on Krauatungalung Country, is highly significant to Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners due to its remarkable Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Discover a honeycomb of spectacular limestone formations carved by an underground river almost 400 million years ago at Buchan Caves. Tour the largest cave system in Victoria, enjoy a picnic in the scenic heritage-listed landscape or camp a night under the stars.
Join a tour of Fairy Cave or Royal Cave, or both and marvel at the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite forms, pillars, shawls and rim pools, as well as cave sediment and a flowing stream.
Come with a picnic basket in tow and enjoy a picnic among friends and family in the scenic Buchan Caves Reserve.
Keep an eye out for native wildlife who frequent the reserve. Kangaroos lay about the campground and visitor centre while native birds such as the Bell Miner, Powerful Owl, Superb Lyrebird and Pied Currawong can be seen perched among the trees.
Stay a night at Buchan Caves and choose from powered/unpowered campsites or Caves House.
Things to do in the area
Buchan Caves Guided Tours
Buchan Caves Reserve Campground
Buchan Caves Reserve Accommodation
Wildlife
This area is well known for its wildlife. Keep an eye out for:
Tours and adventure experiences in parks
One of the best ways you can get into nature is with a Licensed Tour Operator.
There are more than 400 Licensed Tour Operators across Victoria who are ready and waiting to help you experience and connect with Victoria’s spectacular parks and waterways.
Discover more than 60 different types of nature-based experiences including hiking, mountain biking, boating, four-wheel driving, indigenous culture tours, birdwatching, surfing, diving and so much more.
Licensed Tour Operators know the all best places to go and will plan and prepare your visit to ensure you are safe and can enjoy your nature-based adventure to the fullest.
How to get there
Buchan Caves Reserve
When you're there
Camping and Accommodation
Book your campsite or roofed accommodation prior to your visit.
Need to know
Buchan Caves Reserve
Accessibility
Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.
Parks Victoria's social script resources for children on the autism spectrum, have been developed with the professional assistance of AMAZE to increase the accessibility of its parks for people on the autism spectrum.
Assistance dogs are welcome in Parks Victoria parks and reserves. Entry requirements apply for parks and reserves that are usually dog prohibited, such as national parks.
Safety in nature
You can benefit both mind and body when you get outdoors to explore and experience Victoria's natural places. Before you go, take a look at our safety tips and check our changed conditions and closures information for a great visit.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
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Buchan Caves Reserve
Partial Closure of Spring Creek Walking Track
Kanooka Track is open but Tea Tree Track remains closed due to being fire and flood effected until further notice.
Deer Control Project
Parks Victoria will be conducting a deer control project in the Buchan Caves Reserve as part of bush fire recovery. This will help ensure important vegetation communities, such as Littoral Rainforest, and significant flora species, such as the Leafy Greenhood and Buchan Blue Wattle, in areas burnt in the 2020 fires, as well as adjacent unburnt areas, are protected while at their most vulnerable. -
Notices Affecting Multiple Parks
Deer Control (ground shooting) operation underway
Deer control is being undertaken in this park from October 2021 to June 2022. Some localised access restrictions may apply. Find out more about this program at https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/deer-and-feral-animal-control-in-response-to-bushfire
How we keep it special
Buchan Caves Reserve is on the Country of the Krauatungalung clan. Buchan Caves were traditionally an important meeting place for Gunaikurnai people and there is evidence going back more than 18 000 years of the important role they played. The Gunaikurnai and Victorian Government Joint Management Plan provides a description of joint management strategies and actions that are specific to Buchan Caves Reserve.
Bushfire recovery
Buchan Caves Reserve was affected by last summer’s bushfires. Go behind the scenes with our rangers to find out more about the recovery process.
