Mount Eccles National Park, 6120 ha in size, stands at the western edge of the volcanic plains that stretch from Melbourne to Port Fairy, extending northwards to Hamilton and Ararat. Beginning about 20,000 years ago, volcanic eruptions opened the earth's crust and poured out thousands of tonnes of molten lava, forming Mount Eccles and the surrounding landscape.

Today, the three main craters hold a 700 metre long lake known as Lake Surprise, which is fed by underground springs. The once red-hot lava has been covered with the lush green of heathland and Manna Gum forest. Geological features to be seen are extensive lava flows, lava caves, scoria cones and crater lakes.

Things to do


* Walk around the rim then descend into the crater and follow the shoreline of the lake. Take the rough track along the lava canal and see the broken basalt of the old lava flows.

* Explore the inside of a lava cave.

* Swim in the crater of a volcano.

* Visit the Byaduk Caves, one of the most extensive and accessible sets of lava caves in Australia. Only one cave is open to the public - contact the ranger to arrange access.

* Climb Mount Napier (a true volcanic cone) in nearby Mount Napier State Park. Here you can stand on the edge of the most recently active volcano in Victoria and enjoy magnificent views.


For the latest information on track closures and park access, please see the Parks Victoria website. Be bushfire smart. Follow the Parks Victoria checklist before travelling.

Local directions

Mount Eccles National Park is 300 km south-west of Melbourne, 45 km south of Hamilton (Melway ref: 507 C10). At Hamilton, take the Hamilton-Port Fairy Road and turn off at Macarthur. It can also be reached via the Princes Highway, turning off at Port Fairy and Macarthur.

Facilities

Additional business information

Fauna
Koalas, Sugar and Yellow-bellied Gliders, Possums, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Quolls, Brush-tailed Phascogales, Dusky and Swamp Antechinus can be seen in the park. The 68 species of birds recorded include Grey Thrush, Peregrine Falcon, parrots, wrens, ducks, and coots.

Heritage
Volcanic eruptions in the area began about 20,000 years ago and continued for the next 12,000 years, the last eruption occurring 8,000 years ago. Aboriginal tribes resided in two areas around Mount Eccles - one area south of the park at Lake Gorrie, the second at Lake Condah, west of the Park. They constructed stone huts in both areas and stone fish traps at Lake Condah, and lived on fish, native plants and animals. They were permanent residents in these areas until European settlement slowly pushed them out. Mount Eccles was declared a public purposes (picnic) reserve in 1926. The 35 ha were managed by a committee of local people who built the existing picnic shelter and the track down to and around the edge of Lake Surprise. After World War 2, management was taken over by the Shire of Minhamite until 1960 when the park was declared a National Park. In 1968, 400 ha were added by incorporating part of the Stones Flora and Faunal Reserve west of the mount. When the remainder of the Reserve was added in 1985, Mount Eccles National Park increased to 6120 ha, its present size, which covers the majority of the lava flow from Mount Eccles.

Vegetation
Manna Gum, Blackwood and Austral Bracken are the most predominant species. There are also Cherry Balart Trees, Everlasting Poa Grass, Native Elderberry, Kangaroo Apple and Correas.