Buchan Caves Reserves Cave Tours

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    Buchan Caves Guided Tours

    Experience the extraordinary underworld of Buchan Caves on a guided tour of Fairy Cave and Royal Cave. It's amazing to think that the elaborate limestone sculptures, calcite-rimmed pools and baroque stalactites and stalagmites have all formed through natural processes over thousands of years.
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    Step inside Fairy Cave or Royal Cave and discover exquisite limestone decorations that come straight out of a fantasy film set. 

    A guided tour is the only way to see the awesome caverns of Buchan Caves. Tours are available everyday, except Christmas Day. Tickets can be purchased online 24 hours in advance or in person on the day at the Visitor Centre within the reserve.   

    Which cave should you choose? One cave is not better than the other; they are just different. It's like asking what is the best food on a menu. 

    If you have two hours, you should visit both caves, but if you must choose one, the main difference between the two is in the ease of access. Fairy Cave requires a lot more bending down and has approximately 100 more stairs than the Royal Cave.

    Things to do in the area

     
    Family kicking a football outside their tent

    Buchan Caves Reserve Campground

    There are a range of powered campsites that are located on flat ground and generally close to the public amenities block. The sites allow vehicles to be parked within a few metres of each site. Campsites generally have a lawn surface and most sides have shade from trees.
    A mother sits at a table with her younger daughter and watches her older daughter doing a cartwheel on the lawn of the residence at Buchan Caves Park.

    Buchan Caves Reserve Accommodation

    There are cabins in the reserve which are fully self-contained and sleep up to five people. The cabins are not accessible for wheelchairs but may be suitable for visitors who have some limited mobility. Access to the cabins is via a ramp and each cabin has an outside deck that is easy to get to.
    A three year old boy leads his mum and younger brother through the forest near Grants Picnic Ground.

    Family activities

    Stash some supplies into a back pack and take the family out for a day trip and in only a short drive from Melbourne you can be surrounded by nature.

    How to get there

    Buchan Caves Guided Tours

    Buchan Caves Guided Tours

    When you're there

    Cave tour times:

    • Royal Cave: start of September school holidays until 30 April - 10.00am, 1.00pm and 3.30pm
    • Fairy Cave: start of September school hoildays until 30 April - 11.00am and 3.00pm
    • Royal Cave: 1 May until the start of September school holidays - 11.00am and 3.00pm
    • Fairy Cave: 1 May until the start of September school holidays - 1.00pm

     

    During peak periods tours will run approximately every half hour. 

    Limited numbers taken per tour. It is recommended that visitors arrive 30-45 minutes prior to a tour commencing to secure a place.

    Buchan Caves Reserve is a great place to linger after seeing the caverns. A number of walking trails criss-cross the park, which is also home to a campground, cabins and other accommodation options. Make a weekend of it and stay over. 

    Download the Buchan Caves visitor guide before you come. 

    When to go

    The caves are an excellent place to come in the heat of summer. Escape for a couple of hours into gorgeous, refreshing 17C temperatures.

    Guided Cave Tours

    Guided tours are conducted daily in Royal Cave and Fairy Cave. Both caves are lit and have concrete pathways.
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    Need to know

    Buchan Caves Guided Tours

    Accessibility

    Both Fairy Cave and Royal Cave have many steps, narrow passageways and uneven ground making general cave access for visitors with significant mobility limitations not possible. However, the end section of Fairy Cave can be accessed by children and adults weighing less than 60kg with mobility limitations using an electric Stairclimber. This equipment enables visitors to experience one of the most spectacular viewing areas of Fairy Cave.

     

    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

      Buchan Caves Reserve closed

      Buchan Caves Reserve is closed due to fires. Access to the surrounding area may be restricted due to fire-fighting activity. For the latest information on fires, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

      Park closures from Monday 30 December

      This park is closed due to extreme weather conditions and local fire activity. For the latest information on fires, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

    • Buchan Caves Swimming Pool (Buchan (AT) Cave Reserve)

      Closure of Buchan Caves Swimming Pool

      Parks Victoria wishes to advise visitors and campers the Buchan Caves Reserve* stream fed swimming pool will be closed as of 15 December 2019 as it does not meet the mandatory standards of the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009.  

    Two hikers reach the summit of Mount Nelse at Bogong High Plains
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