The area around Buchan in Victoria contains abundant small caves, some of which are very well decorated. Others are less well decorated, but contain copious amounts of mud in compensation. Permits must be obtained for some caves, but most have either free access or must be organised through the landholder. Some commonly visited caves are:
- Trogdip Cave
- Honeycomb Cave
- Baby Berger Cave
- Elk River Cave
- Slocombes Cave
- Wilsons Cave
Getting there:
It’s a fiveish hour drive down through either Cooma-Jindabyne, or Cooma-Cann River to get to Buchan. The latter is a good quality sealed road, while the former is a dirt track through the very scenic Snowy River area following the Barry Way from just after Jindabyne. Both options usually result in a rather late (read: too late to go to the pub) arrival in Buchan after a 5pm departure from Canberra. Watch out for deer on the roads after dark, and the nasty drops from the side of the road in the Buchan area!
Facilities:
Both camping and a hut are available at Buchan, although camping is the more usual choice. The camping is excellent, with fireplaces, grassed campsites and hot showers. The hut, Homeleigh, is organised through the Rimstone Collective, and is very well set up to cater for all the needs of cavers. Importantly, and unusually for caving areas in Australia, Buchan also boasts a fine pub, which does an excellent chicken parmi.
