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Length: 9.4km
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Duration: 3hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Union Jack reserve
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End: Union Jack reserve
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Location: Mount Buninyong Scenic Reserve
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Closest Town: Buninyong
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Distance from CBD: 120km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.645107
Longitude: 143.895480
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2WD Access
4WD Access
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Bitumen Road
Gravel Road
Steep Road
Winding Road
Speed Bumps
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Entry Fee
Large Car Park
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Public Toilets
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
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Concrete Path
Timber Boardwalk
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Undefined Trail
Prams & Strollers
Manual Wheelchair
Motorised Wheelchair
Bicycle Trail
Mountain Bike Trail
Historic Rail Trail
Dog Friendly
Urban Walk
Coast & Beach
Historic Lighthouse
Waterfalls & Lakes
Rainforest Walk
Goldfields & Mining
Heritage Walk
Aboriginal Art
Alpine Region
Alpine Huts
Exposed Ledges
Rock Scrambling
Steep Terrain
Bush Bashing
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Well Marked
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Fishing Spots
Swimming Spots
Overnight Campsites
Mount Buninyong – Union Jack Reserve is a 9.4km, grade 3 Circuit hike located in Mount Buninyong Scenic Reserve Victoria. The hike should take approximately 3hrs to complete.
Summary
This Mount Buninyong – Union Jack Reserve circuit commences at Union Jack Reserve where a maze of bush tracks wander through the old gold mining area on the north-east corner of Buninyong. The trail follows a series of gravel lanes to the foot of Mt Buninyong before ascending the Wallaby and Zig Zag Tracks to the 745m summit of Mt Buninyong. From the summit this hike then follows Mt Buninyong Road before descending the Wallaby Track back to the foot of the mountain. Following a series on track and lanes you will then return to the trail head via the Buninyong Community Reserve.
Mt 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.
Mt 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 Mt 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 Mt 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
Getting there
From the Old Library, walk (or drive) north along Warrenheip St. After five blocks, turn right into Elizabeth Street and proceed 750m to the Union Jack Reserve entrance.
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.
Max elevation: 753 m
Min elevation: 459 m
Total climbing: 355 m
Total descent: -355 m
One thought on “Mount Buninyong – Union Jack Reserve (9.4km)”
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Did this hike on the weekend. It isn’t a strenuous circuit but you can make it as physical as you like by doing multiple circuits of the zig-zag track and fire tower.