Mount Buninyong - Zigzag Summit is a 2.1km, grade 3 hike located in the Mount Buninyong Scenic Reserve, Victoria. The hike should take around 2 hrs to complete.
Hike summary
The trail follows Blackberry Lane to the foot of Mount Buninyong before continuing around the southern side of the crater before ascending Mount Buninyong via the Zigzag Track. Return via the same route, turning north on reaching the crater and return to the Blackberry Lane Picnic Area.
Mount Buninyong is an extinct scoria cone volcano located 15km south east of Ballarat near the township of Buninyong. Unlike most other elevated points of eruption in Western Victoria, it supports some native vegetation.
The summit of the mountain is 745 metres and can be reached by either road or walking track. Superb views of the surrounding landscape can be seen from here.
Mount Buninyong is surrounded by a scenic reserve with an overstorey of eucalypts, a tussock ground cover and a very limited understorey. The remnant understorey has been interpreted in the light of both Mount Buninyong's European history and remnants from associated sites. Timber harvesting and an extended practice of grass fires with follow up grazing greatly reduced the shrub layer.
There are three walks on Mount Buninyong, the Crater Walk with a viewing platform (accessible to people with a disability), the Summit walk (a zigzag track) and the Southern Walk. The Summit and Southern Walks are graded as category three walks.
- The Crater Walk - an easy walk, approx 1 km, 20 minutes
- The Zigzag Summit Walk - steep slope requiring good footwear and reasonable fitness, approx 3 kms, 1 hour
- The South Walk to the summit via Crater Walk - steep slope requiring good footwear and reasonable fitness, approx 3.5 kms, 1 hour
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 752 m
Min elevation: 654 m
Total climbing: 107 m
Total descent: -107 m
Tips
If you feel you have a bit more energy to expend on reaching the summit try to climb the fire tower as many times as you legs will allow you.
Gear you might need
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Location
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Getting there
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.
About the region
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 Mount 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.
Gallery
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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.