Budj Bim National Park

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Budj Bim National Park

Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Gunditjmara Traditional Owners have to Budj Bim National Park, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.

We’re proud to work with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in the co-management of this Aboriginal cultural landscape.

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Budj Bim and the natural wonders of this ancient, volcanic landscape. Budj Bim National Park visitor area is home to a tranquil crater lake, lava canals and caves in a lush bushland setting. Enjoy a picnic, camp and walk among Manna Gums teeming with native wildlife.

A truly fascinating place, Budj Bim is one of several places in this area’s rich cultural landscape formed by powerful ancestral creation forces. Many visitors return to explore and relax in the tranquil surrounds. The wider Budj Bim Heritage Landscape dates back thousands of years and shows evidence of large, settled communities systematically farming and smoking eels for food and trade. The Heritage Landscape area is considered one of Victoria’s earliest and largest Indigenous aquaculture ventures, and has recently been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List recognised solely for its Aboriginal cultural values.

Budj Bim Campground is set among lava rock and tall, twisted Manna Gum trees. These are a favourite food source for koalas, so look up!

Explore the dramatic volcanic features of Budj Bim on foot. Walk through the lava flow canals, stroll around the crater's rim or follow the lake shoreline below. See the rocky walls, lava caves and canals on the four walking options and learn about the natural wonder of the creation forces.

Bring a mountain bike and cycle the Budj Bim Trail. Break up the journey and camp along the way at Allambie, Murphy’s Hut and Lake Gorrie.

Things to do in the area

A father kicks a football with his young son infront of a trailer camper.

Budj Bim Campground

Budj Bim Campground is nestled among forested rocky hollows and ridges formed by lava flows from an ancient volcanic eruption. Camp within walking distance of Lake Surprise, a crater lake with several short walks exploring the ancient and fascinating volcanic landscape of Budj Bim. Resident koalas and kangaroos are easily seen.

A four wheel drive crosses the Howqua River in the Alpine National Park.

Four wheel driving and trail bike riding

Explore a myriad of tracks available for vehicles and mountain bikes to share.

A young women leads a man on a walk along a river bank.

Lake Surprise

Follow the Lake Surprise Walk from the lookout and descend to walk around the crater-lake's edge. The longer Lava Canal circuit Walk reveals some amazing features including lava blisters, Tunnel Cave, Natural Bridge and a dry crater as it returns to the start offering views out into the park and down into the crater.

Wildlife and Nature

Koalas

Echidnas

Kangaroos

Tours in the area

Bushwalking, four-wheel driving, horse riding, kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking are just some of the many activities you can experience in Victoria's parks.

If you want to try something new or meet some like-minded people on your next visit to a park, contact a licensed tour operator.

Parks Victoria licenses tour operators who are experts in these activities and more. They will help you get the most out of your visit.

View all local tours

Nearby Events

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How to get there

Budj Bim National Park

Macarthur is the nearest town to the Visitor Area and Campground. Hamilton is the nearest city to this end of the park. Lake Surprise, the walking tracks and campground are a very short walk or drive from the picnic area.

Budj Bim National Park

When you're there

Download the Budj Bim National Park visitor guide for more information about the park and the plethora of experiences to be had within its borders.

Budj Bim National Park Visitor Guide

When to go

Summer brings lazy afternoons under Manna Gums, picnics on the grass and evenings in the campground. This is the season of eels (kooyang) and butterflies (ballambar). Spot butterflies such as the Australian Painted Lady and Yellow Admiral fluttering around Budj Bim.

Need to know

Budj Bim National Park

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.

All abilities access

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.

Lake Surprise Walk (Budj Bim National Park)

Lake Surprise walking track and access to Tunnel Cave closed

The Lake Surprise walking track and access to Tunnel Cave are closed due to the bushfire impact.

How we keep it special

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a unique place with universal heritage values that demonstrate how Gunditjmara people worked with the natural resources and environment of the Victorian south west region to establish a permanent place of human society over the past 30,000 years and beyond.

Management plan

The Ngootyoong Gunditj Ngootyoong Mara South West Management Plan is a strategic guide for managing and protecting over 130 parks, reserves and Indigenous Protected Areas in south-west Victoria, including Budj Bim National Park.

Koala population management

Protected within the Budj Bim World Heritage Listed area is Victoria's largest remaining Stony Rises Woodland community. This vegetation type is dominated by Manna Gum, the koala’s preferred food tree. To prevent over browsing and decline in the tree condition it is necessary to manage the koala population in and around the park. Many of the female koalas have been implanted with hormonal contraceptives and remain living in the park. Contraceptives act to slow koala reproduction and limit future browse pressure on the Manna Gums. The koala population and tree canopy condition are monitored to track progress toward Woodland recovery.