Gaze across an ancient landscape from the summit lookout at Kooyoora state park. The outcrop offers a commanding view of Victoria’s Box Ironbark Forests. Majestic eagles often drift high above on the thermal currents that gust atop the lookout. The Melville Caves Lookout is fantastic for stargazing, birdwatching, bushwalking, and photography. The path to the site guides you through the granite boulders for which Kooyoora is renowned. The lookout is a short distance from the campground and can be enjoyed as part of a loop walk from the Picnic ground. A graded and formed walk takes hikers past the area’s unique geological formations, the walk suitable for families.
The surrounding area is alleged to be a hideout used by the bushranger Captain Melville during his infamous crime spree in the mid 1800’s. From this vantage point its purported that Melville would watch for mounted police.

The site still holds a powerful connection to the Dja Dja Wurrung people, with the area being a vital place of industry and culture; scar trees, rock wells and art objects were fashioned in the shadow of the Kooyoora for thousands of years. The Kooyoora area remains an important cultural landscape, as you look out at the stunning view take a minute to reflect on the cultural importance of the site and the ongoing cultural connections of the Kooyoora to the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

The site has basic amenities with a picnic table at the car park and a geo disc at the lookout pointing out major landmarks in the landscape. Toilets can be found at the nearby campground. Please take your rubbish away for recycling or disposal.
Watch out for snakes which are more active in spring, summer and autumn. If you see a snake, stand still and don’t panic. Snakes nearly always move away when they feel footstep vibrations.

The area is prone to Bushfires in warmer months.
Bushfire safety is a personal responsibility. For up to date information on bushfires in Victoria call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226, download the VicEmergency app, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au or tune into a local radio station. Check the forecast fire danger before leaving home. Consider not visiting forest or bushland on stormy days or days of high bushfire risk.