Mt Bunninyong Crater Buninyong, Victoria, Australia
By McAdies - Platinum EarthCache Masters on 16-Jun-08. Waypoint GC1D9HE

***COs- Apologies for the late log, I'm seriously behind and trying to catch up and get the Geotour logged before it closes!???Haphazardly catching up on my massive logging backlog stretching back a few years.I'm logging on the day I visited your cache.*******************************************This is my 3rd attempt to get down here for one of the Ballarat Geotour events. Getting down to lockdown land is easy enough, it's the getting back home to Queensland that is the tricky part- NOBODY SNEEZE!!?????????Absolutely ecstatic to be on another geo road trip after a covid induced drought on travel! YAY!????Being from Queensland, I know I'm taking a chance on getting back in again, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!??(did get back home before a retro fitted quarrantine order and was out of Victoria the day before it took effect!)??My aim this time was to get to Ballarat for the Geotour, events and catch up with friends. (Deferred twice already!)*Looks like I might be the first Queenslander to complete this Geotour! ???????????Returned home via the Paddle Steamer? series near Mildura to do what I could of them before returning home. ????I'm also trying to cache in as many LGAs as possible en route and avoid major centres further east being a new game plan atm. ??Also have to keep up to date with changing border restrictions in case of having to abandon all plans and make a desperate dash home,????? so that adds an unusual layer of challenge to this trip.????This cache...?which challenge/ why?...?just getting down here was a challenge!???near two others on the Geotour??Teamed up with locus cache and wonder dog Rex to take the Grand Tour doing as many of these caches as we could before the next event in town. Was an absolute hoot, we saw a little of the area as we whizzed by, found some caches and sometimes we found other cachers too. We made it up the hill, answered the questions for both earthcaches, waded into the middle and took some happy snaps. We met some other cachers there for the same reason so had a quick chat before tootling off to the next cache.TFTC??21/02/24Logging now but will see if I can add the photos later. I only located where they were the day I left for this current trip. Yesterday I discovered my waterproof pouch for the phone is no longer waterproof so it's ?????? that the SD card survived.

Thank you to everyone who has found this EarthCache over the last 13 years.

Found on a walk up to the crater with the COs!
This spot is really cool and we found scoria in the crater.
Thanks for the hide.

Found with the COs on a walk around the summit tonight.
A great spot and we went in the crater as well.
Thanks for the cache.

Lots of fun information to be found. Interesting to know that there was volcanic activity occurring here only a few thousand years ago.

TFTC

I had a few days off so plans were made to catch up with omegaman1971 and do some caching around the Ballarat and Creswick areas, We had a great time finding caches in the area and learning about the history of the region. The weather was a little cold but bearable. Answers sent.

Thanks McAdies for the cache.

Omegaman1971

It was great to be back in the area caching and catching up my buddy Rebel Acts.
So many new caches online around Ballarat and Creswick since the last time I was up this way, and awesome to see some lab caches here as well.

Logs signed as RA/OM71

Cheers for the caches and the fun weekend

Answer sent with gemmasistema

This foggy morning I headed for the slopes of Bunninyong
I didn't expect to see much,
and was not disappointed [^]

With 100% humidity,
and mid twenties temps
It was delightful strolling weather
A constant stream of droplets from the trees,
was very refreshing too

And after me stroll from the carpark,
the crater sort of came into view
In the fog I could just make out that it was a crater shape.

Interesting that there was such a long interval between eruptions !!
Its got me thinking that the weakness in the Earth's crust beneath this spot may still persist.
And one day in another 50 odd thousand years,
this hill will come back to life,
and destroy all the homes that by then should be worth a trillion dollars each

Do the locals have volcano insurance included in their policies ?? [:o)]

Photo snapped,
answer found,
I continued me wander around

TFTEC !!

Good one for the dog

It was decided that I would met met up with chof_hoe and Morty to do some Yaking on Lake Wendouree this morning.
So we loaded our cars with the yaks and met each other up there.
Got to the lake and it was closed for a rowing event so that was out, went to the swamp and that was full of birdwatchers so that was out as well so what will we do now.
Well I decided to head to Geelong and there were going back home.
Came past here not long ago but this time I had time to park the Geowagon and head out on a walk around the area.
An old volcano around here and just recently I was reading up on cones due to another earth cache I was doing.
There were quiet a few people out enjoying the trails around Mt Buninyong today and it is great to see them out and about enjoying nature’s finest.

Thanks McAdies TFTC.

Tftc earth cache McAdies, I went grabbing some smilies before work. What a beautiful area. Nice day for a stroll. Managed to get some other smilies around the area today. A fav from me for the location. I will certainly be back to walk the trails around here.

Recently we die another earth cache close by and at that one we learnt about double cones , we had not seen this before. Now not far away there is another one. Maybe they are common to the area. TFTEC

Wow what a spot! Ancient times in full view!

Where’s the lava?

Logged with permission.

*3 Aug 2019, Discovered @ 4:51 pm, Find # 9594.*

A lot of targets had been achieved by now so the rest of the day was a bonus.
After finding the old one in the area we now had a look at a few others while we were here, even though the weather wasn’t great we were still able to get out to them.
We made our way down to the crater and had a look around and learnt a bit about what went on here 100000 years ago.
It’s interesting how there is a new cone on top of the first cone.

**Thanks to McAdies - Platinum EarthCache Masters for creating this Earthcache.**

*3 Aug 2019, Found @4:53 pm, Find # 3189.*

Logging pending answer which has been sent to the CO

This was an interesting area to explore. I found it fascinating to read that Mt Buninyong is a dormant volcano. The crater provided some interest as well.

**Thanks to McAdies - Platinum EarthCache Masters for placing this cache.**

Thanks for the cache! What an interesting one. Have been up here many times to have a wander up the tower but never walked the tracks. I didn't realise that it had two cones!

Today, muggle friend Howard and I were out west, picking up a few caches and looking for photo ops. The volcanoes all around here are a fascinating story. Homewards past the Mt. Egerton wind farm. They are really big compared to Waubra, for example. Very impressive.

We are a bit late woth logging this cache. We spent the morning out with JIWILLY grabbing some caches on a nice cold foggy day, this was our first earth cache and whilst it wasn't the hardest to solve it was definitely an eye opener and a very educational experience. It was a lovely walk to the GZ which all the junior members enjoyed, although we had to point out the answer. Thanks for bringing us here.

Spent the morning with wildfam braving the cold and attempting to add a few smilies to our list! This was our first Earth-Cache and what a gorgeous one to start with! We never even realised that this was here in our own (not so little) town of Ballarat! Nice little walk on a very foggy morning - there was even some people down the in the crater throwing a ball for their dog! Thanks for bringing us here McAdies, as always we love your caches and interesting backgrounds. TFTC

While I have been on Mt Bunninyong a number of time caching I have never been here during daylight hour so I have never really seen the crater properly until today. Today I was nearby after dropping a daughter off at a friends house and was looking for a cache to find for the daily streak I have (Stupidly) begun. This one I thought would do nicely. I parked at the top car park and headed down to GZ. I nice easy walk (Going down that is) and before long I was at GZ and quickly gathered the relevant info while admiring the view.
I had no idea that Mt Bunninyong is one of the highest scoria cones in Victoria so you really do learn thing while caching
Thank you McAsies for the lesson

Good spot

I learnt that the volcano last erupted 4000 years ago!

Thanks, beautiful place

Thanks for this cache. Enjoying learning new things with each earth cache I do. All the times we visit these places and yet have no idea of how they came to be. Thank you for the lesson. I didn't realise that there were any volcanoes in this area although I had wondered. Thanks for this great cache.

I was never keen on earth caches but since travelling more, they have become a favourite cache type. I had no idea there were volcanoes in the Ballarat area and for it to be so young is quite incredible. Thanks for bringing us here and the lesson. A favourite from me.

3:03 pm #6874
Answer submitted.
Great spot! Now we know that this and Warrenheip are the only two forested volcanic cones in Victoria. Learn something new every day!
Cheers McAdies

This log is to tidy up a mess I made with GSAK . I forgot to apply the template so my finds were published with a nonsensical log.

Rather than try and edit all the logs I post this not with what the log should have been.

My apologies for the confusion caused.




A few days away with Freddo, e.gregory1 and The White Dog Gang.

Fun was had by all. Not too many dnfs

Most logs signed as FETT.

Thanks for all the caches.

Claiming a find as a beta tester.

Too much glitter for my liking.

Found whilst touring Geelong & Ballarat areas between Xmas & New Year with Freddo, Team Waldron and e.gregory1 - we've signed as F.E.T.T.
Some pretty hot days but great scenery and good co-ords & caches hides made for an enjoyable trip
TFTC McAdies

Cache was found in the last place we looked, which as usual was not the first place we looked. Thanks for a fun cache guys. Love your work. We signed the logbook. Warning this hobby can be addictive. It can lead to exercise, meeting new people and finding interesting places you might not have known existed otherwise.

Visited this earthcache with Freddo, Team Waldron and thewhitedoggang on a short, post-Christmas sojourn to Victoria that involved plenty of driving, cycling, walking and even some boating and wading.

The weather was on our side (albeit a little warm at times), which made for some great caching. There were plenty of varied finds, with some excellent and often tricky hides and and just a few DNFs. We signed most logbooks ‘F.E.T.T.’

A few degrees cooler here than down on the plain this afternoon.

Thanks McAdies for the earthcache.

Lovely spot!
Thanks for taking us here.
Didn’t know this part of the track exsisted!
Inboxed CO answers

Found it never knew this existed. Never two their was 2 existing cones here.

Stopped off here with n0w0rries for a look around after the "Tree Planting CITO - Scotsburn Bushfire Recovery" event.
A very interesting area.
*Logged with permission.*
Thank you for bringing us here McAdies.

Wandered over here for a look around with +Wife after the nearby CITO.
Quite an interesting area. Explored a bit.
Gathered the required info and took a few pics.
Thanks for the Earthcache McAdies.
Nice to catch up with you today.
*Logging with permission.*

After attending a nearby CITO I headed here with a few other Geocacher’s to have a look at the crater. It’s a great spot, thank you for bringing me here McAdies. I have sent my answer in, I hope it’s okay.

After attending the nearby CITO it was time to go and do this Earthcache that I had my eyes on. Being rather familiar with the NVP (Newer Volcanic Province) of Victoria it was about time that I actually do another earthcache related to it. After a quick walk around we soon had the information we needed and notes were taken. Now it was time to take a photo or too to show my lecturers. Anyways thanks for the cache and the walk.

Email sent and approved. Thanks McAdies for showing us this spot, enjoyed the hike. TFTC

Email sent - another amazing earthcache .... you really do know how to pick them. Thanks and a fav from me

Visited Mt Bunniyong today with Bianca and friends and made the effort to walk up to the crater after logging a trad cache up at the lookout. I have find it interesting that less than 10,000 years ago volcanoes were still active in Victoria yet the aboriginal people have been here for 60,000. They must have seen active volcanoes in Australia!

Beautiful spot. Always good for a walk or cycle. TFTC.

A great place to visit. Fantastic views, big trees, facinating geology, volcanoes, explosions (as only missing dinosaurs and spacemen). A very cold day with wind chill today up top.

Claimed after messaging McAdies.

Nice walk!

We were staying in Bunningyong for White Night, and couldn't avoid grabbing a cache or 2 (or maybe 10). Went out this morning while the kids were still snoozing, this was the last for the morning as the rain hit not long after. The answer was found after a very short walk and sent to the CO. Another one of those places you would just not go to if it wasn't for Geocaching. TFTC

We were relocating an electric car for a relative today and had 4 1/2 hours to fill in while the car recharged at Sovereign Hill for the next leg of our journey. We jumped in our support car and went on a tour of the caches to the south of Ballarat including this earth cache. I didn't know there was such a distinctive crater in this area. I can't say what else we learned from our visit here since nearly everything we read was new to us
Thanks for leading us to this impressive sight.

Logged with permission, thanks.

Up to Ballarat area today from Melbourne for some caching on this lovely New Years Day Holiday 2018.

Recently I was playing around with Project-GC challenge map and realized we qualified for a few challenges up in Ballarat.

With a souvenir on offer today we decided we would head out and pick up a few challenge caches, a few trads, an earthcache and some letterbox caches.

This was our tenth and final cache for the day.

I don't recall ever being here before and if I was I did't know about the crater. This is why we love geocaching - finding these places that are so easy to miss when you are in an area - you can be so close but oblivious to what is just around the corner or down the street.

Thanks for this Earth Cache it's a great spot with some interesting history. The boys loved being on/in an old volcano!

Walking along the rim of the volcano we were surrounded by Butterflies.. I don't think I have ever seen so many at one time.

This gets a favourite from us. But as usual we are in deficit and it may take a while before we pay up! We will add it to our growing favourites owed list so we don't forget. We already have another one of your caches in that list today!

PS. fave has now been allocated.

Filling in the day we decided to head to Buninyong to grab some smileys. Even though we had lived in this area for 23 years neither D or S had been to the crater before. Thank you for bringing us here. 7th find for the day. TFTC

A beautiful spot I've never visited.

I find it intriguing the different types of growth in the crater.
Found w Tazz&Co. TFTC.

1st flow Clarendon Flow.
I find it intriguing the different types of growth in the crater.
Found w Almacs TFTC.

Tftf. Love this place. Lucky my in laws live close

Incredible the things you can discover geocaching! A volcano of all things
And one that could have been active as recently as 4000 years ago! Nice to see the forest on it now

Found while staying at Ballarat with Cows with Guns and co.
Very interesting place to come to.
Thanks to McAdies.

Staying at near by Ballarat with Debandy and Co, the chance to do a cache in a actual Volcano was one we couldn't turn up.
Thanks McAdies bringing us to this wonderfull place.

No lava today much to the disappointment of the juniors.

The GeoFamily headed off to Ballarat for a mini-holiday over the Easter weekend, and to explore more of the area than what we normally see when we're up this way (usually to go to Sovereign Hill).

Our last day! End of school holidays - back to work and school tomorrow! We liked this EarthCache. We have driven past Mt Buninyong many times but we didn't know that it was actually a volcano! And a moderately recent one at that.

EarthCache answer sent to CO.

TFTC!

Found with ShortStop00 and EmmaSunshine96. I was very interested in the variety of wildlife and bird life that called the crater home. Thanks for bringing us to this area.

Found with MazzyMay and ShortStop00. This was an amazing area!!! Really pretty, with lots to learn. TFTC!!!

did this cache while doing another. I must say it had a great view. thanks for an amazing cache. Found with emma_sunshine96 and mazzymay

Thanks came up after the storms yesterday road blocked due to fallen tree to to p. Love the aboriginal stories linked to the area, Mt Buninyong and Mt Elephant didn't disappoint

Perfect day for a walk. Found the required information needed, answers emailed as per McLookers also photo taken . Thanks McAdies for bringing me to this great spot.

What a lovely walk with Motndarg on a lovely Ballarat afternoon. Thanks for giving us the reason to explore our local environment McAdies. Answers e-mailed.

Thanks McAdies for another Earth cache.

We used to walk our dog around here many times and so have read the signs over the years. So it is hard to find a new fact, but the route I took to GZ highlighted tome how I had forgotten just how steep this mountain can be!

Having qualified for and finding a number of the COs challenge caches I thought I'd find the three caches on offer in this part of Bunninyong. As it happened the required information and location dovetailed nicely with the nearby multi. I'll upload a photo or two once I get a chance. The fact I learnt (and seem to remember) is that there was not just one eruption but two in the same area.
A fantastic cache to pick up a placed month slot as well as contribute towards McLookers daunting 100 EC challenge. Cheers, Ben.

Found on a two week walk on the Goldfields Track from Mt Bunninyong to Bendigo. Me and two muggles took a taxi out to the summit and commenced walking to Bendigo where we arrived about two weeks later. I was able to collect a number of caches along the way. TFTC and a great spot.

**27 Jan 2015**: Family comes to Mt Buninyong and helps SueHut complete "A Scoria Cone"
**26 Sep 2016**: Family returns to Mt Buninyong so WesPro can complete "A Scoria Cone", and both WesPro and SueHut find "Bunnies & Beyond".
**7 Oct 2016**: WesPro returns to find the critical piece of information for "Mt Bunninyong Crater" (because he's clearly disorganised, and hasn't written it down from the previous two visits).
**13 Oct 2016**: WesPro finally writes log for "Mt Bunninyong Crater"

Things I've learnt:
* Victorian volcanoes are cool;
* It takes me 619 days to complete (and another 6 days to log) a relatively simple Earthcache (God help me for a complicated one!);
* The Ballarat region had a lot more ponds, lakes and creeks this week than I remember;
* Jogging the zig-zag track is hazardous to your health!

Thanks heaps for an inadvertently epic journey, McAdies!

I was attending a meeting at the nearby Federation University but arrived a bit early, entirely planned of course. So what better way to spend it than searching for a few nearby caches in an area I'm not normally around. Despite there being drizzling rain this was a beautiful area at GZ and very interesting to see the formation of the crater and learn a little more about it. I'll have to return in better weather to do some of the walking trails around here. Thanks for the cache McAdies.

Angel boys went for an adventure into a volcanoe. Lots of of great hike from the top to the bottom.

Been wanting to do this Cache for a while but i think i picked the right day today. ..let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Tftc

Out for a day with the geokids. TFTC

Mt Buninyong had been recommended as a good tourist destination to us whilst visiting Ballarat. I drove my parents and my sons up to the top and we climbed the tower. We then drove down again and did the nice walk in to the crater and found the required info to log the cache.

The interesting thing I found whilst visiting the area is that the crater isn't at the top, it is actually closer to the lower middle area. Kinda cool too to feel the lightness of the scoria too.

Young Houndpup was with me too whilst getting the info for the cache, although I doubt he will ever log it.

Thanks McAdies for setting up the cache.

**8/04/2016, 08:44**
**Find #2450**

****Logged with Permission****

I headed to Ballarat today for a two day competition and wanted to grab a few caches whilst I was in the area. Earth caches are few and far between around my area and those that exist I've already found. This was particularly interesting because I wasn't aware that trees didn't normally grow in craters and also because this crater was quite distinct.

Thank-you to McAdies for placing this geocache

A great start to the day by checking out Mt Bunninyong.

A bit cloudy but the view was still in view. What made it a great start to the day, was for the rest of it, whilst out with Ausfox! and Bentley, I'd go hey - theres Mt Bunninyong!

A few people out for early morning walks up here.

A nice reminder of our geological past. Thanks for the earthcache today!

Would hate to have been around here during the volcano's active period! We learned that the South walk is the fun (and overgrown) way to get to the summit! Answer has been submitted. TFTC

Having gleaned a little of the volcanic history of the Western Plains over a number of years, it was fascinating to learn more of the activity from Mt Buninyong This earth cache was the first time I had actually visited here rather than just drive past on the highway. Thanks for the informative walk Logged with permission Thanks McAdies

I think I chose the right day to visit Mt Bunninyong - a pleasant temperature meant a good walk to the crater and once there I walked down into the middle of the crater to take in the view. It's tranquil now which belies it's violent history.

There was a gentle breeze blowing through ancient looking trees and I was surrounded with the sound of birds, sometimes interrupted with the bright flash of a couple of passing Rosella's.

Earlier today I'd twisted my ankle which hadn't bothered me until I ascended out of the crater when I felt an incredible pain in my left archilles tendon....I guess it could have happened in a worst location. Giving myself a few minutes I eventually hopped up to the track and made a slow return to the carpark.

Logged with permission. Thanks McAdies for the geology lesson and for bringing me here today.

What a great walk and some education along the way. TFTC

Visited this earthcache this evening and enjoyed the walk around this area immensely! I learnt that there is heaps of wildlife out here. In fact when I first arrived there was a black wallaby happily eating right in the middle of the crater. The birds were in full voice and with no one else visible I felt like I was I my own little secret hiding place. Thanks McAdies.

Came out early in the morning to research this earthcache. Lovely walk to GZ. TFTC.

This was a great adventure for the family, I've ridden thought the area a few times but it was nice to share it with my kids. They ran ahead and explored there creator, and said it would be a great spot for a picnic. ...yes we need to come back! Geohubby said to the kids "if you jump up and down in the hole, then you will fall straight into the middle of a volcano! "
Yep. .... you know what they did!

out and about on this beautiful day. Flying solo so I thought I would do some old haunts that I use to frequent when I was younger...never realised back then how amazing this place is thanks for giving me a long awaited lesson

What a great walk! The sun was shining and the scent of fresh air is amazing. Wasn't sure if earth cache means the crater as a whole or an actual little box. In the end when guessed it was the actual crater.

Driving towards bunningyong I saw this Hill I knew I had to go up it you must be a cache here drove up the loop track and look down at the crater what a great walk was fascinated that there was grass and once trees growing in the mid dle thanks for bringing me here the kid

Logging with approval from CO
After a day of Events & caching Darth Briji and I decided to grab just a few more before leaving Ballarat.
I'd seen Mt Bunninyoug from a distance many times but didn't realise it was an extinct volcano, and more surprised to see the crater as we drove up to the summit.
Thanks for the Earth Cache McAdies

Answers Sent pending CO's response
Up from Geelong with some of the Geelong Crew to convert a few caches to smileys between the CITO and next event.
What an amazing place. Never been here before and never thought it was visitable. Will defiantly be coming back here a drag the reluctant family along.
Thanks McAdiesfor the Earthcache.
Answers sent to CO. TFTC & Smiley face
#1792

What a great walk to go into the crater of the local volcano. Something that I lived about 5km away for most of my childhood. I have gone up here to play in the snow many times. I have ridden up the mountain to get a great workout on my bike. But, you know what I had never taken the walk and gone through the crater itself and I have really missed this experience. With the weather cloudy and drizzle about it was perfect to add an eerier element too. Amazing cache with some history. I'll come back here with the family when the weather is better for sure. Thanks for a great cache McAdies!!!

Out and about today with master 4 attempting to get some caches on the other side of town from us. What a fab little earthcache. A fav from us. Have never really walked around here so it was lovely to wander between rain showers and grab caches. What a beautiful spot. Must come back and explore more. I liked the drive to the top though as the walk may be too much - even without kids! Lol. Adding a pic of master 4 looking at the crater

I was here on Anzac weekend but at that time I was unable to start my log. I have never seen a crater up so close before so this was pretty amazing. I am so grateful that the entire area is cared for and is being preserved intact for future generations. Thanks for your permission to log this McAdies.

What an amazing place!! I never knew there was a crater here! Geokids had a ball!

I learned that Mt Buninyong is composed of two scoria cones not one.

First Earth cache.
We pulled up and Geokids say we have been here before with School.
They loved the creator.
Thanks Mcadies for bring us here.

Had a fun day hiking the mount! Tftc

It was interesting reading about the new cone and the old cone. TFTC

We visited Mt Bunninyong specifically for this earthcache as we find they bring us to special spots that we would often otherwise not bother with. It was getting fairly late on a dampish day when we arrived with fog on the top of the mountain but clear down where we needed to be. This place reminded us of our visit to Wolfe Creek meteorite crateer in the Kimberley a few years ago. Despite being caused by totally different means the craters did resemble each other in more ways than being just, well, craters.

As for "something interesting you have learned at the crater", one fact we learnt was that volcanic activity here occurred a mere 4000 years ago - a drop in the geological time ocean. We also discovered that the crater rim to the east was far higher than to the west.

TFTEC McAdies & the quick response, though our logs are a little behind times whilst on the road.

Thanks for bringing us to this area we have past many times but never stopped to admire, Found in the rain and low cloud cover as we dodged the many muggled runners as they ran from the base up to the top of the mount, while we enjoyed our walk. We love the flora growth and after some research learnt it is visible from the Grampians, and has never been quarried also is one of only a few Scoria eruptions to retain natural woodland cover. TFTC

This entry was edited by Cherad on Sunday, 26 April 2015 at 10:50:09 UTC.

A nice easy cache not far from the carpark. Tftc!

After a delightful Pi Day event and solving a mystery for the two special souvenirs today it was then up to the top of Mt Buninyong (and what a view from up here) to acquire an earth cache for my Spell March in March challenge. Although a walking wounded today I was still able to acquire the necessary information and it was okay to submit my answers. Thanks McAdies for providing the caches and the permission to log my 1600th cache, in appreciation I am allocating this a favourite point

Earthcache zombified.
Enjoyed exploring the area for the first time. Grabbed this while passing doing the multi. KiddyCat is fascinated with rocks and gems at the moment so loved seeing a real volcano!
Thanks from ZombieCats.

After an event, five caches (of three different types) and a refreshing coffee I decided to try for some more cache types and headed for this earth cache. A pleasant walk with BJ to the crater and the required info recorded we then moved on to Geelong for BJs class. TFTC McAdies