Mount Eccles Budj Bim National Park Circuit - 8.8 Kms
U3A Hike No. 218
Hike Report by Lyn
It was grey. It was mizzling. We could have been in Ballarat but no, we were gathered at Macarthur in preparation for our first walk on our Portland sojourn. Many had travelled from Ballarat that morning, others travelled far less, about 10 kilometres in our case, but we were all on time and ready to rock and roll. Heading out of Macarthur our first highlight was witnessing a koala scaling a power pole just round the corner off the highway. Arriving at the picnic ground, donning our wet weather gear we were off up the hill to our first look of Lake Surprise, passing some black wallabies en route. Next was the summit of Budj Bim at 178 m. So far easy peasy...track was well defined and not too strenuous.
The landscape within the National Park is the result of earlier volcanic activity, the most recent dating to 6500 years ago making it the youngest Australian volcanic site. The summit is a scoria hill in close proximity to three overlapping volcanic craters, one containing Lake Surprise.
We continued around the rim to a very impressive steel lookout which took in Budj Bim and its incredible "teeth" formation. Budj Bim means High Head in the local indigenous language. The local aboriginal clans have a very strong cultural connection to this land.
As well as craters and summits, resultant lava flows have created the lava caves, canals and blisters which were next on our itinerary.
On entering Tunnel Cave torches were soon in use as it is a large cave 250 metres in length. Adventurous members of the group delved deeper into the cave whilst others remained standing upright in the larger chamber. No bats, no snakes, only puddles and one dented head.
Onward for lunch but we soon became aware that sandwiches weren't the only thing on the menu. We were the "Special of the Day" according to the local inhabitants. This became our first encounter with the leech.
After a less than relaxing lunch break we headed for the lava canal. Walking was challenging as the floor of the canal is strewn with wet rocks and tree roots with some hidden by foliage. Here we were beseiged by a large army of leeches relentlessly attacking and attaching so we were also looking out for leeches on ourselves as well as others. Many times we stopped to de-leech only to repeat the process further along. The track was also not easily defined and once again we were amazed at Gordon's exceptional navigational skills. Eventually we emerged from the canal and were extremely relieved when we reached clear space. Some of us looked like the walking wounded and talk centred around how many hits we had taken.
We soon came to the Natural Bridge another geological highlight. Some made the effort to descend into the canal and cave whilst others were happy to stay on the surface. From here it was an easy walk back to the cars and hopefully de-leech for the final time. Most of us left our leeches at Budj Bim but Andrew insisted on taking his back to Macarthur.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Gordon and Andrew. I'm sure this is not a walk that will be easily forgotten for many reasons by those who were fortunate enough to participate.
P.S Mt Eccles was named Mt Eeles in 1836 by Major Thomas Mitchell but a draughtsman's error resulted in the name to Eccles in 1845. Now the official name is Budj Bim.
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