Buchan: Caves, River and Local History

Buchan offers a range of experiences: guided cave tours, walking tracks in Buchan Caves Reserve, a historical tour of the township and activities on the Buchan River. Buchan Caves Reserve is on the Buchan River near the township of Buchan. This gives you different options to plan your trip around: the caves, the river and local history. You can consider whether you would rather spend time underground, on outdoor tracks, exploring the history of the township or by the river. These options can help you decide whether Buchan is a suitable place to stay based on your interests.

Guided cave visits

At Buchan Caves, guided tours are available through Fairy Cave, Royal Cave or both. The cave system can only be visited on a guided tour; tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance. You can decide whether one of the two caves or a combination of both suits your interests, and plan ahead to allow time to buy tickets. Options range from a tour of one cave to a visit to both named caves.

Walking in the reserve and Buchan

There are walking tracks in Buchan Caves Reserve. They complement a guided cave visit with an activity on foot in the reserve. In Buchan, you can walk along the Buchan River from the Swing Bridge to Bluff Reserve. The riverside walk connects named points in the township, while the walking tracks are within the reserve. This means you can choose between a riverside route defined by its start and end points and walking tracks in the reserve.

Local history and cultural significance

The Buchan Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour takes you through the township of Buchan and introduces the history of its buildings, the river and its people. The Buchan cave area also has cultural significance for the Gunaikurnai, who call it Buchan Munji; traditionally, it was an important meeting place. The walking tour focuses on the history of the township, while Buchan Munji reflects the traditional significance of the cave area.

The Buchan River: walking and fishing

You can fish for trout, blackfish and eels in the Buchan River; seasonal conditions may affect use of the river. This is a different way to experience the river than walking along its banks: walking focuses on the route, while fishing focuses on the fish species. If fishing is part of your travel plans, factor seasonal conditions into your planning.

Guided or self-guided experiences

The format may also play a part in your choice: a guided tour is required to visit the cave system, and tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance; the historical walking tour is self-guided. The experiences therefore differ not only in subject matter, but also in how you take part.

Discover more destinations: Glengarry West, Rosebud, Cape Schanck, Moolap, Lake Bolac, Big Hill, Tatura, Shepparton.

For the broader travel guide: Victoria.