Melville Caves, named after robber and rogue “Captain Melville”, has a rich history and offers fine views from giant rocky outcrops. There are two hikes that allow you to explore the Melville Caves. One is a loop, the other a return hike.
Melville Caves Loop - 1km
Start on the opposite side of the Melville Caves Picnic Area and climb between boulders, passing Seal Rock. The track continues to the summit (steep grades in places) and Melville Caves Lookout. Return to the picnic area via the steep walking track that leads off from the summit or via the road past the Melville Caves car park.
Total distance: 973 m
Max elevation: 406 m
Min elevation: 337 m
Total climbing: 81 m
Total descent: -82 m
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Melville Caves - 500m
This is a short return walk commencing from the Melville Caves carpark so you can explore the many boulders of Melville Caves.
Total distance: 482 m
Max elevation: 401 m
Min elevation: 349 m
Total climbing: 53 m
Total descent: -53 m
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Camping
For short stays, camp at Melville Caves Camping Area, one kilometre past the main Melville Caves picnic area. Facilities include toilets and wood barbecues. Collect only dead wood from the ground, or better still use a gas stove or barbecue.
Remnants of history
The Jaara Jaara Aboriginal people of the Kooyoora area depended on natural springs and wells for their water as the area lacks permanent streams. Many large, yet shallow rock wells in the upper surfaces of the granite outcrops supplemented the water supply by storing rainwater. Rock shelters and caves were used for shelter from the weather and their sandy floors have preserved many stone artefacts. Other remnants of Aboriginal occupation are scars in the bark of trees. Bark was used to make bark dishes and shields.
The golden days
European settlement of the area began in the 1840s and mining for alluvial gold had begun by the late 1850s. Substantial finds in the late 1860s began a gold rush that lasted for several years. The gold rush in the Kooyoora area followed soon after the discovery of gold in the Wedderburn district. One of the most famous finds of the Kingower goldfields was the 1857 discovery of the “Blanche Barkley” weighing some 49.5kg. Mining excavations are scattered throughout the park, left behind by the retreating miners who moved on to other fields. Kooyoora State Park was extended to 11,646ha in October 2002 to enhance what remains of Victoria’s Box‐Ironbark forests and woodlands.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Melville Caves picnic ground has shelter, toilets and water.
Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Kooyoora State Park.
Kooyoora State Park is a state park in Victoria, located 220 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, and 12 km west of Inglewood.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
- Small Car Park
- Public Toilets
- Untreated Water
- Picnic Shelter
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Bealiba, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Dunolly, Inglewood, Marong, Maryborough, St Arnaud, Wedderburn
Kooyoora State Park, with magnificent views and a rich variety of plants and wildlife, protects some of north-central Victoria's outstanding natural features. The park is ideal for many outdoor recreation activities from picnics to sightseeing, rock climbing, orienteering and nature study.
This stunning pocket of the Loddon Valley is becoming one of the region’s worst-kept secrets, although it’s still a place of peace and quiet compared to similar sites of granite outcrops. Climb, camp and explore at Mount Kooyoora. Legend has it the bushranger Captain Melville took refuge here. As did the Indigenous people – find evidence of Aboriginal culture in the rock wells and scar trees. Kooyoora State Park offers a rich variety of plants and wildlife, and is home to some of north-central Victoria's outstanding natural features. The park is ideal for many outdoor recreation activities from picnics to sightseeing, rock climbing, orienteering and bird watching.
Looking for more walks in or near Kooyoora State Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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5 Reviews on “Melville Caves Walk (1km)”
I don’t think it would take an hour to do a 1km walk at Melville Caves.
Anne Griffin depends on how mush you stop to explore. I think I spent a few hours there with my boys, checkout all the rocky outcrops.
I’ve done the walk & find it exciting, but I don’t stop enough I guess.
This is a great place to explore with kids. My boys loved it.
Hi, is there a gpx file for this hike?