Buckertillible Cave Circuit (7km)

The Buckertillible Cave Circuit walk may be started from at either Middle Creek campground in the south or from Bailes campground towards the northern end of Ferntree Waterfalls Rd. Although this small track is shown on most maps of the Mount Buangor State Park, the name Buckertillible Cave Trackk does not appear on the maps. On maps the route is shown as Cave Hill Track, which can be confusing because it doesnt actually summit Cave Hill.

Buckertillible is the Aborigine name for a large rock overhang in Buangor State Park. It is not a sleeping cave, but a spectacular granite formation about 250m above Middle Ck campground. The track was closed after major fires and floods in the park in 2010-2011 and re-opened following work completed by the Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club (BBOC) between 2011 and 2014 in collaboration with Parks Victoria.

The route goes northeast and climbs steeply for 1km up to Buckertillible Cave. From there the track goes north (left), under the large rock overhang and then, after 100m, drops steeply into a rocky gully. A large fallen log currently marks the exit north from the gully, and the trail takes a rocky but gentler descent through bush to a rock slab about 400m from the cave. Cross the rock slab using the hand chain support and wooden foot rail.

Raptors are often seen from here. There are spectacular views south and west towards the Western Hwy and west towards Mount Langi Ghiran and the slopes of Mount Buangor. From the rock chain crossing the trail descends in a northerly direction through rocks and then bracken and dense blue gum regrowth. After crossing two bracken-filled streamlines, the track meets a wider track going up and right (east) towards Mount Sugarloaf. Keep left and follow the wider trail down to Ferntree Waterfalls Rd and across the road to Bailes campground. The level track from here back to Middle Creek Campground (2km) is well marked and follows the line of the creek.