Mount Eccles Volcano: A Geology-focused Tour of Budj Bim National Park

Explore the Mount Eccles Volcano in Budj Bim National Park on a geology-focused tour. Discover the well-preserved lava shield volcano and rare lava blisters with an authentic geologist guide.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Budj Bim National Park - “The Story of a Volcano and Its Ancient People”. Explore the volcano that erupted 38,000 years ago. Discover the crater lake, nearby lava channels, and remnants of a lava tunnel. Join Mike Raetz, a local geologist, who will interpret the volcanic landscape and explain its connection to Aboriginal occupation.
What's Included
  • Climate-controlled vehicle for your comfort
Additional Information

Join a Natural History Tour led by a geologist and an experienced local guide. This is a rare chance to explore the well-preserved Budj Bim (Mount Eccles) Volcano, a lava shield volcano, alongside a knowledgeable geologist. There is also an option to visit a local winery during the tour.
Please note, this tour does not include the Budj Bim Cultural…

Location
Port Fairy Visitor Centre / Bank Street
Meet out front or inside at 1pm. Call Mike on 0402 215 368
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(11 Ratings)
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Lingsar
Jan 6, 2025
Great tour! - Great tour! Very interesting insights into the landscape from the tour guide Mike. Easy to understand, and very in depth. Informal and easy tour. It was so good to learn about something you see everyday but take for granted.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J3236htdavids
Nov 29, 2024
Mount Eccles Volcano in Budj Bim National Park - A trip to Mount Eccles Volcano in Budj Bim National Park with Mike, a qualified geologist from Geotours based in Port Fairy, Victoria Australia, promises to be an unforgettable and enriching experience. Mike’s deep knowledge of the area, combined with his expertise in geology, will allow you to explore not only the volcanic landscape but also the profound cultural connections that have shaped the land over thousands of years. Mike will guide you through the fascinating geological features of Mount Eccles, a dormant volcano that is part of the larger Western District volcanic region. He’ll explain the volcanic processes that formed the landscape, from the eruption of lava flows to the creation of craters and the surrounding basalt plains. As you explore the park, Mike will share his insights into how volcanic activity shaped the local environment, creating the rich, fertile soils that sustain both the natural landscape and the region's human populations. Mike’s extensive knowledge of geological formations goes beyond just Mount Eccles. He’ll explain how this volcano fits into the broader volcanic history of Victoria, including its connections to other significant sites in the area, like the nearby Tower Hill crater, and the role of this volcanic landscape in shaping the climate, water systems, and biodiversity of the region. Whether you're a geology enthusiast, a cultural history lover, or simply someone who enjoys beautiful landscapes, this tour will leave you with lasting memories of the land's natural beauty and profound cultural significance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pranendra_s
Sep 30, 2024
Mike went above and beyond - Mike was really engaging and thoughtful and did such a great job of sparking curiosity in our 5 year old who had a blast. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew
Aug 9, 2024
Wonderful tour - Was a wonderful, insightful and interesting tour. We learnt a lot about the area and it’s history. Mike was a fantastic tour guide, he is a very knowledgeable geologist and a fantastic bloke! A must when visiting Port Fairy, easy to set up through the visitors centre.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cathydavis2016
May 19, 2024
A pleasant and informative excursion - We were fortunate to have the perfect guide. Mike was very knowledgeable and passionate about the area and its geological history. He even extended our trip…..we had a lovely afternoon and learnt much about the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
302vivianv
Apr 24, 2022
A memorable tour - Mike is a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable & friendly. We had a wonderful time learning so much about the history of the landscape. Thanks for a very informative day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
506wendyg
Mar 23, 2021
Budj Bim - fascinating - We toured Budj Bim with with Mike and he did an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story of the geology of the area alive for us, both as we drove out to the site and also when we were there. He managed to pitch his explanations phenomenally well with them being of interest to my husband (a metallurgist who knows a bit about “rocks”) and me (a medical receptionist who knows only a little about “rocks”). We both got to play “detective” with Mike, sorting out hypotheses for the geological events in the area and it was just FUN! Well worthwhile!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
426alisaf
Jan 10, 2021
Terrific tour - we learned so much! - Fascinating tour with the knowledgeable and wonderful Mike! We had such a great afternoon with Mike learning about the volcanic geology of the region and seeing more of this beautiful region. it was great to hear about some of the recent research that has been done and discover a new way of looking at the landscape. mike is a great listener, very patient with questions and clearly loves sharing his knowledge and discovering new things to share with his tours. This tour is great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julianne_f
Mar 20, 2022
Great Tour - My daughter loved doing the walks and having everything being explained rather than being shown photos. I really enjoyed seeing the lava stream caves and seeing how the lava did flow, very interesting tour. Lovely guide and he knew heaps of information to explain how volcanos work
Review provided by Viator
Oldjack
Nov 15, 2021
Interesting Volcanic Area - There was little advance information about Mount Eccles but it turned out to be an interesting and very different old volcanic area.There were good facilities and a walking track around the crater lake. Easy to find between Portland and Hamilton..
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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