Mount Buninyong: the Crater Walk (1.2km)

The Mount Buninyong - The Crater hike is an easy walk commencing at the Blackberry Lane Picnic Area. The trail follows Blackberry Lane to the foot of Mount Buninyong before skirting the rim of an ancient volcanic crater.

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