Lake Catani Campground

A small wooden jetty extends from the lake shore, next to a canoe and in front of a hill below a blue sky filled fluffy white clouds.

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Lake Catani Campground

Discover magnificent waterfalls and remote alpine landscapes while camping within beautiful Snow Gum woodlands beside Lake Catani in Mount Buffalo National Park.

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Set amongst picturesque snow gums, this idyllic and family friendly camping area offers 47 campsites. Some sites are suitable for small caravans and campervans while others are suitable for car camping and tents only. Walk-in campsites provide campers with even quieter surroundings.

There is also a special area set aside for schools and social groups, and several campsites are available for visitors with limited mobility, along with a separate accessible toilet and hot shower.

Though campers are required to be self-sufficient with drinking water, the scenic campground contains everything else you need for a comfortable stay - from flush toilets and hot showers to dishwashing and laundry sinks. A historic stone hut features benches and tables and two fireplaces for shared use. Great for rainy days.

Nearby, a picnic shelter overlooks Lake Catani at the popular Lakeside Day Visitor Area. The shelter has  accessible toilets, free gas barbecues and tables. This area is the perfect setting for picnicking , enjoying a cool swim, fishing or paddling a canoe.

As rivers, lakes and reservoirs are natural environments, you may encounter hazards. Follow our water safety advice to make sure your day out at Lake Catani is a safe and enjoyable one.

Things to do

 
A couple in their thirties approach the summit lookout at the Horn of Mount Buffalo.

The Horn

Enjoy a picnic with a view at The Horn before climbing to the highest point in Mount Buffalo National Park and surveying the folded mountains of the Great Dividing Range stretching into the distance.
A group of abseilers descend into the Gorge at Mt Buffalo with views of the Bogong High Plains in the back ground.

The Gorge and Mount Buffalo Chalet

Home to historic Mount Buffalo Chalet, the Gorge is perched on 200m sheer cliffs and commands fantastic views over the Alps.
Water cascades down the granite rockface at Eurobin Falls.

Ladies Bath and Eurobin Falls

At Ladies Bath Falls, water cascades into a perfectly clear pool of water, while at Upper and Lower Eurobin Falls, Crystal Creek spills spectacularly over a formidable granite escarpment.
A picturesque photo of the stone hut near the Horn at Mt Buffalo.

Mount Buffalo National Park

Sheer cliffs, granite tors, waterfalls and big views make Mount Buffalo a must-see alpine retreat
The walking track that leads to remote hiking areas at Mount Buffalo.

Remote hike-in camping

Mount McLeod and Rocky Creek Camping Areas offer a great introduction to overnight camping in Mount Buffalo National Park.

How to get there

Lake Catani Campground

Located on the Mount Buffalo plateau 28km from Porepunkah. Follow the Mount Buffalo Road to the junction of the gravel track into Lake Catani Campground. This is a 2WD track.
Lake Catani Campground

When you're there

Lake Catani Campground and its adjoining day visitor area are in a central location on the Mt Buffalo plateau and within easy access to The Gorge and numerous walking tracks. Download the Mount Buffalo National Park Visitor Guide before you go, for information on walks and other activities.

 

Lake Catani Campground booking information

Camping at Lake Catani is seasonal. The campground is closed in the shoulder periods between the summer and winter seasons.

Summer and holiday periods 

Summer camping at Lake Catani is available from the beginning of November (Melbourne Cup weekend) until the end of April and campsites must be booked online in advance. Advance online bookings apply at Lake Catani Campground for selected holiday periods. Refer to the information on peak season bookings for release dates and minimum booking periods.

Winter

Available from the Friday before the King’s Birthday long weekend in June until the end of August, winter camping is available at Lake Catani for free. No booking is required. Lake Catani Campground is only accessible by skiing, snowshoeing or walking. The track into Lake Catani is a seasonal road and is closed from the Thursday after the King’s Birthday long weekend until mid-September. The road closure may remain in place longer if the track is impacted by snow. The campground amenities are closed during winter. However, a pit toilet located behind the Stone Hut is open for winter campers.

 

 

When to go

During summer, enjoy bushwalking, canoeing, swimming, picnicking, sightseeing and cycling. Rock climbing, abseiling and hang-gliding challenge the adventurous visitor.

Need to know

Lake Catani Campground

Accessibility

The Lake Catani camping area has several campsites that are well-suited for visitors in wheelchairs as they are located on reasonably level ground and are located within 50 metres of the visitor amenities building. The most accessible sites are sites 2, 3, 11 and 12.

Access to the toilets and showers from the campsites is from one of several compacted gravel paths that meander through the trees from the various campsites, with some paths wider than others.

There are no designated disabled parking bays in the camping area but campsites have sufficient space for vehicles to be parked close to the tents.

The unisex accessible toilet and shower has its own separate entrance in the visitor amenities building. 

Download the Lake Catani Campground Accessibility Guide for detailed information.

 

Restrictions 

  • No generators
  • No horses
  • No dogs, cats, or other pets allowed
  • No fires permitted outside of existing campfire structures
  • No firearms allowed
  • No drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft
  • Speed restrictions apply
  • Fees apply

 

Safety in nature

Mount Buffalo National Park is in the North East fire district. Bushfires can occur during the warmer months. It is your responsibility to check current and forecast weather conditions. Campfires cannot be lit on days of Total Fire Ban, however gas cookers can be used for preparing food.

Check the Fire Danger Rating and for days of Total Fire Ban at emergency.vic.gov.au, on the Vic Emergency App or call the Vic Emergency Hotline 1800 226 226.

To ensure that you and your companions stay safe, always remember that the natural environment can be unpredictable. At Lake Catani, be aware of difficult terrain, tree falls and both shallow and deep water. Keep to tracks and keep your eyes out for snakes and other wildlife which are more active in the warmer months. Before you go, look at our safety tips.

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.

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

    Ground shooting operations targeting deer

    Control operations (ground shooting) targeting deer are undertaken in this area.  The Park will remain open to visitors during operations.
     
    For more information about deer control to protect biodiversity, please visit this link.

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    Mount Buffalo Snow Report 15.07.25

    Mount Buffalo National Park Snow, Road, and Weather Daily Report
    Time:     09:00 hrs                     Date: Tuesday 15th July 2025
    Current conditions
    Fresh snow
    Snow cover
    Temperature  
    Dingo Dell Day Shelter
    Dusting
    Good
    -1° @ Mt Buffalo Park Office
     
     
    Tobogganing
    Status
    Condition
    Groomed date
    Dingo Dell – elevation 1420m
    Open
    Good
    9/7/25
    Cresta Valley - elevation 1480m
    Open
    Good
    9/7/25
     
    No toboggan rental available on Mt Buffalo this year. Rental available in Porepunkah, Bright, Myrtleford & Ovens
     
     
    Snowshoe Trails
    (Marked with snowshoe signs)
    Status
    Condition
     
    Open
    Good
     
    Sentinel – 1.5 km return
    Open
    Very Good
     
    Cresta Valley – 2kms return
    Open
    Very Good
     
     
     
    Cross Country Trails
    Status
    Condition
    Groomed date
    Beginners Loop
    Open
    Very Good
    9/7/25
    Bogong Plain
    Open
    Good
    9/7/25
    The Horn Road
    Open
                     Very Good
    9/7/25
     
     
    Vehicle chains
    Status
    To be carried
    Yes
    Currently being fitted
    Yes – Chains are being fitted at Dingo Dell
     
    Please adhere to the chain fitting signage on the mountain.
     
     
     
     
    Weather forecast for Falls Creek, Northeast (most like Mt Buffalo):
     
     
     
     
    Comments:  N/A

    Interpreting the Snow Conditions
    Toboggan Slopes
    Excellent – good deep cover with fresh surface
    Very Good – good deep cover
    Good – good cover, may have wet areas and or holes to soil
    Fair – mostly covered but could be wet, holes and other hazards
    Poor – patchy cover, wet, holes and other hazards
    Snow play – enough snow for scraping together a small snow creature and some snowballs
    Sightseeing – patches of snow to look at
    No snow – time to go hiking
    Interpreting the Snow Conditions
    Cross Country Ski Trails and Snowshoe Trails
    Excellent - good deep cover with fresh surface
    Very Good - good deep cover
    Good - complete cover with occasional obstacle
    Fair - mostly continuous snow cover with some obstacles
    Poor - mostly continuous snow cover with numerous obstacles
    Patchy - patchy cover, insufficient for skiing or snowshoeing
    Closed - time to go kayaking
     
     
    View the Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley Snowcams
    Mt Buffalo Weather Station
    The Mt Buffalo Parks Victoria office has a weather station on the roof (elevation 1320m). For current weather conditions and forecasting download the Davis WeatherLink app. Set Mt Buffalo Parks Office in your favourites. The Mt Porepunkah Fire Tower is the next closest Davis weather station to Mt Buffalo.
    General Information for Winter Visitors
    It remains a requirement to carry snow chains in all vehicles, for any vehicle passing through the Park entrance. This includes visitors who are wanting to visit Lady Bath, Eurobin or Rollason’s Falls.
    There is no entry fee to visit Mt Buffalo National Park.
    Mt Buffalo has three seasonal road closures. These are The Horn Road from Cresta Valley, Reservoir Road and the Lake Catani Road. These roads close on the Thursday after Kings Birthday in June and re-open on 15th September, if road conditions allow.
    The Lake Catani Campground is open for winter camping from the Friday before Kings Birthday long weekend until August 31. Limited facilities - drop toilet only. Walk in/ski in only. No booking required.
    Refer to the Parks Victoria Mt Buffalo National Park webpage for more information on winter activities.
    If you would like to receive the Mt Buffalo Snow Report email tomas.sanchez@parks.vic.gov.au
    Mt Buffalo Snow Reports are also posted on the Parks Victoria Mt Buffalo web page – click the tab ‘!This area has reported issues’. https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/mount-buffalo-national-park

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