The Mount Schank Crater Rim Walk is a 3.3km, grade 3 hike located in the Mount Schank State Heritage Area, South Australia. The hike should take around 1.5 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
There are not a lot of hiking opportunities around Mount Gambier in South Australia but one short walk, worth a look is the Mount Schank Crater Rim Walk. It’s around 3.3km in length including a side trail that takes you to the lowest point of the crater.
Mount Schank is a dormant volcano, originally errupting 4,500 years ago. A set of interpretive panels at the carpark provides information about the geology and history of this impressive landform. A toilet block and barbeque are adjacent to the carpark, but no other tourist facilities are provided in this area. While some visitors prefer to remain at the volcano's base, the walking track up its western side offers spectacular scenery of the surrounding district, with frequent rest stops along the way. This moderately challenging climb is rewarded at the top with a breathtaking 360 degree views into Mount Schank's crater. For the more adventurous there is a further track down into the bowl of the crater, and another track that follows its rim. A few hours should be set aside to complete all walk options, and hikers should ensure that they have suitable shoes and supplies.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 107 m
Min elevation: 24 m
Total climbing: 197 m
Total descent: -197 m
Trail features
- Gravel Path
- Rough Trail
- Well Marked Trail
- Exposed Ledges
- Rock Scrambling
- Steep Terrain
- Scenic Viewpoints
Trail location
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Getting there
Mount Schank is a prominent volcanic cone 10 minutes drive south of Mount Gambier, off the road to Port MacDonnell.
About the region
Mount Schank was named in December 1800 during an exploratory voyage along Australia’s south-east coast by the ship HMS Lady Nelson. Mount Gambier was also spotted and named on the same voyage. It was declared a State Heritage Area on 11 June 1992. The features seen at Mount Schank today are the result of two phases of volcanic activity. The first stage developed a significant scoria cone with an ash ring (maar) to the south and a basaltic lava flow to the west. The later phase created the main cone, which buried the original scoria cone and overlapped the maar. Work by the University of Adelaide Physics Department has dated the original Mount Schank eruption to 4,500 years ago.
The Gambier limestone that forms the base layer for both Mount Schank and Mount Gambier contains abundant groundwater, which has played a role in determining the type of volcanic eruptions produced in each area. The craters at Mount Schank are at, or above, the level of the surrounding plain, and thus well above the groundwater table. This means that they have remained dry, unlike the Mount Gambier craters, which filled to become spectacular lakes
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Gear to consider

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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.