After it was forced to close due to severe flooding last year, the campground at the spectacular Buchan Caves Reserve in Victoria has re-opened … and it’s proving more popular than ever.
More than 3,000 people visited the ancient cave system located 60 kilometres north east of Lakes Entrance over the Easter holidays, with around 400 people enjoying the re-opened campground.
Parks Victoria says the return of tourists has provided a huge boost to nearby businesses and surrounding communities.
The reserve had been closed since Boxing Day, when more than 60 millimetres of rain fell in 30 minutes, causing major damage.
Buildings and bridges had been inundated, with large volumes of debris and silt spread throughout the reserve.
Tours at the re-opened Buchan Caves Reserve have proved more popular than ever. PIC: Parks Victoria
During the initial clean-up phase more than 250 tonnes of debris was cleared.
In addition to cave tours and the campground, the flood recovery works have seen walking tracks, picnic areas, the Buchan Pool and the Caves House accommodation re-open.
Although the reserve has reopened, flood impacts remain visible, most prominently at sections of the road network, beside all the bridges, and in creek beds.
Parks Victoria says further recovery works will start after the school holidays to repair and resurface hundreds-of-metres of road. This will be followed by more repairs to bridges, fences, tables, signs and paths, and further works to creeks and the cave system.
For these works to safely happen, sections of the park will again need to be temporarily closed during the year.
Lisa Patroni, Parks Victoria Executive Director, Visitor Experience, said great care had been taken to ensure the recovery works had been delivered in the right way.
“As joint managers of the reserve, Parks Victoria and Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation have worked together on huge recovery effort,” she said. “We’re proud to re-open the reserve so that tourists from both near and far can enjoy the spectacular underground wonderland of the caves and the gorgeous surrounds of this special corner of Victoria.”
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We’ve stayed at buchan Caves a few times.
It’s a lovely area.
The first time was in a tent.
My wife was in our tent talking to me outside, I went to the amenities.
She had her back turned to the tent door when a large male kangaroo poked his head in the door.
She turned around to find that she was talking to him, not me. LOL.