Buchan Caves Reserve Flood and Fire Recovery

Buchan Caves Reserve is one of 14 joint-managed parks within Gippsland. The Joint Management Agreement between Parks Victoria and Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) recognises that Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners hold Native Title and an intrinsic connection to Country. Parks Victoria and GLaWAC are working in partnership to protect the cultural and environmental values of the reserve and deliver memorable visitor experiences.  A Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the reserve has been approved. 

 

Recovery projects 

Black Summer bushfires 2019-2020

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 heavily impacted Buchan Caves Reserve and destroyed many facilities including the cabins and wilderness retreats, Guide Hut and walking track structures such as lookouts and bridges.

Planning and design are underway to replace fire affected assets as well as upgrade lost accommodation and visitor facilities.

 

December 2023 flood

Further to the Black Summer Bushfires, Buchan Caves Reserve experienced an extreme flooding event on Boxing Day 2023. 

More than 60 millimetres of rain fell in 30 minutes, causing major damage. Buildings and bridges were inundated, with large volumes of debris and silt spread throughout the reserve. The road network was severely damaged, with 700 metres of asphalt surface stripped away by floodwaters. During the initial clean-up phase more than 250 tonnes of debris was cleared. 

Following the works to prepare the reserve for the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends works are continuing to restore flood impacted facilities.  

Find out about recovery projects underway below.

 

Yarning Circle opening soon

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 tow behind. There is a green grass hill and trees in the background 

Pictured: The Yarning Centre under construction at Buchan Caves is expected to open in late-October 2025

Works on the Yarning Circle are being finalised with the site expected to open for visitors this month. The site will offer a place for visitors to learn about the Gunaikurnai culture and to sit and connect with each other in the peaceful bush surroundings of the Buchan Caves Reserve.

As we work on improving the park for visitors and future education and community activities, please follow all signs to stay safe when visiting the Buchan Caves Reserve.

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

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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

Last updated: October 2025

Ongoing works

Buchan Caves Reserve is open to visitors as work continues on key recovery projects and new facilities for visitors to enjoy. You can go online to book your next camping break and get your tickets for a guided tour of the Royal and Fairy Caves.

The reserve is open daily for bush walks, day picnic spots and relaxing in nature. 

Construction works underway or starting soon, include:

  • Visitor Centre has ongoing and further works to repair flood damage
  • Yarning Circle expected completion October 2025
  • Spring Creek Track expected completion December 2025
  • Entry gate sculpture designs and approvals are underway

 

We apologise for any inconvenience during the construction and recovery works.

 

Temporary Visitor Centre open during works

Visitors can buy tickets and retails goods at the temporary office for reserve activities including the Royal and Fairy Caves tours. Starting in July 2025, the Visitor Centre works are remediating impacts from the 2023 Boxing Day flood.

 

Roofed accommodation

Planning and design works continue for roofed accommodation options to enable visitors to enjoy year-round heating and cooling, hot showers, drinking water and kitchen facilities.

 

North Arm flood mitigation

Works to reduce flooding and deliver a safer visitor experience are in progress and expected to be completed by late-September 2025. During the works, a swale drain was built on the eastern side of the North Arm. The project will see surface water runoff diverted into Spring Creek during heavy rainfall, reducing the potential impacts of flooding in the North Arm.

 

Yarning Circle and entry gateway sculpture

Construction is almost complete on the Yarning Circle cultural and education space. The circle will open to visitors when the plantings are established. Designs and approvals are progressing on the entry sculpture which will welcome visitors to the Buchan Caves Reserves.

These projects are being led by GLaWAC who have developed the designs and are currently completing the Yarning Circle installation, The entry gateway sculpture is at the approvals stage and works will start when all permits are received. 

When completed, the Yarning Circle will offer visitors a place to learn about the local Gunaikurnai culture and connect with each other. 

 

Spring Creek Track works

Works are underway by GLaWAC to repair the fire-damaged structures along the walking track, The GLaWAC team have started on site construction to replace the pedestrian bridge, viewing platform, steps, edging, and handrails need to be replaced. 

Visitor access will be impacted as these works are in progress, with track closures in place for public safety. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2025.

 

Royal Cave entrance tunnel

The entrance tunnel to the Royal Cave was damaged in the Boxing Day 2023 flood. An engineer has 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. Permits have been received for the revised design, and procurement is underway.

 

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 have been submitted. Planning for the replanting program has started, tree planting will begin when all permits and approvals are received.

 

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).

Project timelines

The following timelines are subject to assessments, permits, procurement, and on-ground and construction industry conditions. Timelines are currently under review following flood impacts and will be updated here as projects progress.

Campground reopens: From Friday 19 September 2025 the Buchan Caves Reserve campground returned to normal service following temporary closures. Some campsites remain temporarily closed in the North Arm campground to keep visitors safe during recovery works.

Visitor Centre: Visitors can buy tickets for caves tours, and other retail items from our temporary visitor centre and office. Works to repair impacts of the 2022 Boxing Day flood are underway. We are working to have some parts of the buildings completed and ready for the peak summer season. Works are expected to continue into 2026. 

North Arm flood mitigation: Works are now complete.

Yarning Circle and entry gateway sculpture: Construction of the Yarning Circle started in August the works are expected to be completed this month. Construction of the entry sculpture will start when all permits and approvals are received.  

Spring Creek Track works: Works started in July and are expected to be completed by December 2025.

Royal Cave entrance tunnel: Remediation design for the rebuild of the cave entrance is expected to be completed in October 2025. Construction will start when all assessment, permits and approvals have been received.

Guide Hut upgrade: Work will start in late-2025, subject to a procurement process. All approvals have been received with expected completion in April 2026.

Roofed accommodation: Planning and design works are progressing for the roofed accommodation options to enable visitors enjoy year-round stays at the Buchan Caves Reserves.

 

Completed works

Caves Road bridge repairs: All bridge repairs are now complete on the Caves Road upgrading the road for safer visitor access. The bridges along Caves Road were damaged in the Boxing Day 2023 flood. These works are now complete, and the bridges are open for all visitors.

Campground and Moon Hill track works: The track works are now complete with the walking trails now open for visitors to enjoy. Remediation works on the walking tracks were completed in August 2025.

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

FJ Wilson Walking Track repairs: Works were completed November 2024 with the track re-opened to visitors in time for the 2024/25 summer peak period. The FJ Wilson Track was damaged in the Boxing Day 2022 flood.

 

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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