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Budj Bim National Park

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Overview

The Budj Bim National Park, formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park, is a national park located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The 5,470-hectare (13,500-acre) national park is situated approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) west of Melbourne and approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwest of Macarthur. It derives its name from the Budj Bim volcano, formerly Mount Eccles, which is situated in the north-east of the park. The park now forms part of the larger Budj Bim heritage areas of both national and world significance, due to the extensive systems of aquaculture created by Aboriginal Australians thousands of years ago and the significance of the area to the Gunditjmara people.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia656 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the lava: a living cultural landscape

Budj Bim's volcanic terrain is only the backdrop for one of Australia’s most sophisticated pre‑colonial engineering feats. The Gunditjmara people sculpted an intricate network of stone channels, weirs and barriers that still direct water into thousands of eel traps. For visitors willing to walk the less‑trodden tracks, the experience is less about scenery and more about sensing continuity: the same stones that guided eel migrations for millennia still function today. Engaging with a Gunditjmara guide offers insight into how the landscape is read as a calendar, a food system and a spiritual map, turning a simple hike into a lesson in sustainable land stewardship that is rarely highlighted in mainstream guidebooks.

Seasonal rhythms and the best time to explore

While the park’s summer heat can make the crater lake comfortable for a dip, the most rewarding period for field observation is late autumn. As temperatures fall, the eel populations move upstream, and the stone aquaculture works become visibly active. This shift brings a subtle increase in wildlife—bush turkeys, swamp wallabies and a chorus of native frogs—that thrive in the cooler, wetter conditions. Photographers benefit from softer light and lower glare on the lake’s surface, while walkers enjoy milder trails that are less likely to be dust‑laden. Planning a visit during this window allows you to witness the ecosystem in a state of productive transition, rather than the static postcard view often captured in summer.

Practical travel craft: navigating the park responsibly

Budj Bim sits a considerable distance from major urban centres, so self‑reliance is essential. Fuel up in Macarthur and stock up on water before heading into the park, as services are limited to a small visitor kiosk. The park’s tracks are unsealed and can become treacherously slick after rain; sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support are advisable. Respect the cultural protocols by staying on marked paths, particularly around the aquaculture sites, which are still in use by the Gunditjmara community. A portable solar charger can keep your navigation devices alive, and a lightweight binocular set will enrich sightings of the elusive swamp eels and birdlife that linger near the crater’s rim.

Introduction

National park in Victoria, Australia This article is about the national park. For the mountain, see Budj Bim. For heritage areas, see Budj Bim heritage areas. Budj Bim National ParkIUCN category II (national park)Lake Surprise, a volcanic crater lake, within the national parkBudj Bim National ParkLocationVictoriaNearest cityMacarthurCoordinates38°05′S 141°53′E / 38.083°S 141.883°E / -38.083; 141.883Area54.70 km2 (21.12 sq mi)Established7 June 1960 (1960-06-07)Governing body Parks Victoria GMTOAC Websitehttps://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/budj-bim-national-park The Budj Bim National Park, formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park, is a national park located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The 5,470-hectare (13,500-acre) national park is situated approximately 270 kilometres (170 mi) west of Melbourne and approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwest of Macarthur. It derives its name from the Budj Bim volcano, formerly Mount Eccles, which is situated in the north-east of the park. The park now forms part of the larger Budj Bim heritage areas of both national and world significance, due to the extensive systems of aquaculture created by Aboriginal Australians thousands of years ago and the significance of the area to the Gunditjmara people.

Features

[edit] Lava tube entrance Inside lava tube Located within the national park is Budj Bim, formerly named Mount Eccles by the European people who settled in the area, is the site of one of the most recent active volcanos in Australia. The first activity was about 40,000 years ago when Budj Bim was formed by lava pouring out the Earth's crust. The most recent eruption was approximately 8,000 years ago. Budj Bim is a fairly small hill surrounded by lush vegetation with a small, hidden, deep volcanic crater lake named Lake Surprise. It is famous for an adjacent lava tube and there are numerous lava tubes in the surrounding farm land.[citation needed]

Management

[edit] As of 2020[update] Budj Bim National Park, as part of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape, is jointly managed by Parks Victoria, the (Gunditjmara) Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC) and Winda-Mara TOAC (a south-west Victorian organisation representing Indigenous Australians in the area). The Council forms part of the 2007 Native Title Settlement Agreement between the Gunditjmara and the Victoria State Government, under which both parties manage the park landscape.

2020 bushfires

[edit] During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, fires broke out within the Budj Bim Cultural Heritage Landscape. The stone fish traps and the stone house site were unaffected by fire, and fortunately the fires were quickly contained, partly due to mild weather conditions and partly by the efforts of firefighters. Lake Condah and Condah Mission were not directly affected by the fires. In the National Park, the campground and picnic area reopened from 29 February 2020, but the Lake Surprise walking track and access to Tunnel Cave were closed due to the impact of the fires. As of 19 March 2020[update], the Crater Rim Walk and Lava Canal Walk are open, but re-routed near Tunnel Cave.

2025 bushfires

[edit] On Sunday, March 9, 2025, a lightning strike ignited a bushfire in the park. As the fire spread, campers and other visitors were asked to leave. The fire was contained a week later. A few weeks after the fire damaged a significant portion of the park, state government officials decided to euthanise many koalas, believed to be suffering from poor health after the fires, and with a low chance of survival, given that their food source had been decimated. The state hired marksmen to shoot koalas from helicopters; some 700 koalas were eliminated. Once discovered, the aerial culling draw great criticism from wildlife advocates and media attention internationally. Opponents called for an end to the killing, access to the closed area, and an investigation into the government's opaque decision-making process.