Mount Buninyong Zigzag Summit is a 2.5 kilometre, grade 3 walk within Mount Buninyong Scenic Reserve, just south east of Ballarat. While relatively short, this is a steady and rewarding hike that typically takes around two hours return, allowing plenty of time to explore the summit area and take in the changing landscape along the way.
The walk begins from the Blackberry Lane Picnic Area, following Blackberry Lane to the base of the mountain. From here, the track wraps around the southern side of the volcanic crater before climbing steadily via the Zigzag Track. The zigzagging path softens the ascent and makes the climb feel approachable, even as the track gains height. After reaching the summit, you return the same way, looping north around the crater before retracing your steps back to the picnic area.
Mount Buninyong is an extinct scoria cone volcano rising prominently from the surrounding plains. At 745 metres above sea level, it is one of the higher points in this part of western Victoria. Unlike many nearby volcanic features, the mountain still supports areas of native vegetation, giving the walk a distinctly different feel to the open farmland that surrounds it.
The scenic reserve is characterised by an open eucalypt canopy with tussock grasses underfoot and only a sparse shrub layer. Much of the original understorey was lost through timber harvesting, repeated burning and grazing during the area’s European history. What remains today offers a glimpse into how land use has shaped the mountain over time, adding an extra layer of interest as you move through the forest.
At the summit, the sense of elevation becomes clear, with broad views stretching across Ballarat and the surrounding countryside on a clear day. If you still have energy to spare, the fire tower provides an extra challenge. Climbing its stairs adds a surprising leg workout, but the elevated outlook is well worth the effort if conditions are calm and visibility is good.
Mount Buninyong has three established walking tracks, offering options that range from an easy, accessible stroll to more challenging summit routes.
- Crater Walk: An easy walk of about one kilometre, taking around 45 minutes, with a viewing platform and accessible for people with a disability.
- Zigzag Summit Walk: A steeper track to the summit requiring good footwear and reasonable fitness, approximately two kilometres and about two hours return.
- Southern Walk to the summit via the Crater Walk: A grade 3 circuit that loops around the southern side of the mountain before climbing to the summit, around 3.5 kilometres and about one hour to complete.
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.
Total distance: 2477 m
Max elevation: 754 m
Min elevation: 653 m
Total climbing: 115 m
Total descent: -115 m
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Getting to the trailhead: Mount Buninyong Scenic Reserve.
From Buninyong town centre head east along the Midland Highway turning left onto Mount Buninyong Road. Continue along Mount Buninyong Road turning right into Blackberry Lane, just after the juntion of Hogarths Road. Park in the Blackberry Lane Picnic Area.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Ballarat, Ballarat East, Buninyong, Delacombe, Invermay, Invermay Park, Mount Helen, Redan, Sebastopol
Mount Buninyong is an extinct volcanic mountain 745 metres above sea level. A great landmark of the district, it stands out from the vast Western Plains next to its northern sister Mt Warrenheip and is visible from the high-rise towers of Melbourne in the west and the Grampians in the east, providing a welcome sign of home to countless generations of local people.
Mount Buninyong was long the spiritual home of the Keyeet Balug clan of the Wathaurang (or Wada Warrung) people who occupied this area for thousands of years before new waves of settlers arrived in the early nineteenth century. An aboriginal burial site was located in the 1860's and stone tools have been found there but no archaeological survey has yet been carried out.
Walks through the crater and up to the lookout tower are a popular recreation and if snow falls in the district it will always be best on the Mount.
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