Page 452 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

450  VIC T ORIA

6Licola their awe-inspiring
stalactites and stalagmites
* 20. @ Heyfield. n Licola
Wilderness Village, Jamieson Rd (03) were made by ancient
5148 8791. ∑ licola.org.au rivers coursing and
seeping through the
Licola is a tiny village perched on limestone rock. Royal
the edge of Victoria’s mountain Cave also has colourful
wilderness. North of Heyfield calcite-rimmed pools.
and Glenmaggie, follow the Entry to the reserve,
Macalister River Valley north to where there are picnic
Licola. The 147-km (90-mile) facilities and a spring-
journey from Licola to Jamieson, fed pool suitable for
along unsealed roads, takes in swimming, is free. There
the magnificent scenery of are also camp sites and
Victoria’s highest peaks. Only walking trails, while the
20 km (12 miles) from Licola is nearby township of
Mount Tamboritha and the start Buchan offers other
of the popular Lake Tarli Karng accommodation. The
bushwalk in the Alpine National reserve is a wildlife refuge
Park, also a good base for those to native animals such as
keen to explore the surroun- kangaroos, possums, Limestone formations at Buchan Caves
ding country. The village store bellbirds and lyrebirds.
has information. A variety of accommodation
Licola is entirely owned by is available, from rustic cabins
the Lions Club of Victoria (the 8Lake Eildon and camp sites in Fraser
only privately owned town in @ Eildon. n Eildon Visitors’ National Park to luxurious five-
the state). The club has devel- Information Centre, Main St, Eildon. star lodges and guesthouses.
oped the Lions Wilderness ∑ lakeeildon.com
Village, which provides camp
sites and a range of activities Lake Eildon, the catchment 9Mansfield
for young people. for five major rivers, including * 2,500. @ n Visitors’ Information
the Goulburn River, is a vast Centre, 175 High St, Mansfield 1800
irrigation reserve that turns 039 049. ∑ mansfieldmtbuller.
into a recreational haven in com.au
summer. Surrounded by the
Great Dividing Range and Mansfield, a country town
Fraser and Eildon national surrounded by mountains, is
parks, the lake is a good loca- the southwest entry point to
tion for water-skiing, houseboat Victoria’s alpine country. A
holidays, horse-riding, fishing memorial in the main street
and hiking. Kangaroos, koalas of Mansfield, just near to the
and rosellas abound around 1920s cinema, commemorates
the lake, and trout and Murray the death of three troopers
Farmland near the tiny mountain village cod are common in the Upper shot by the infamous Ned Kelly
of Licola Goulburn River and in the lake. and his gang at nearby
Canoeing on the Goulburn Stringybark Creek in 1878 –
7Buchan Caves River is also a popular activity. the crime for which he was
Buchan Caves Reserve, Buchan.
Tel 13 19 63. Open daily except
25 Dec. 8 daily ∑ parkweb.vic.
gov.au
Some of the most spectacular
limestone formations in
Australia can be found at
Buchan Caves. Two of the finest
are Fairy Cave and Royal Cave,
within Buchan Caves Reserve.
Both caves are lit and have
walkways; guided tours are
conducted throughout the day,
alternating between the two
caves. Dating back 300–400
million years, the caves and Blue waters of Lake Eildon, backed by the Howqua Mountain Ranges
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp495–6 and pp531–3