Time : 2 hours

Mt Eccles National Park is situated just across the border in Victoria, south of Hamilton. 
The access road goes in from the little township of Macarthur.

This is a volcanic park.  Mount Eccles was very active some 7000 years ago.  
After many years, I am delighted to have walked the main tracks!

1. We park at the bottom car park.  A short set of steps in front leads to the lakeside walk,
     but we follow the road to the left marked Lake Surprise.  

2. This leads to an observation deck with views out over the crater lake, Lake Surprise. 

3. The Rim Crater Walk leads off near here.

4. Fairly gentle grades lead to well formed steps taking us to the Mt Eccles summit. 
    But there is an early obstacle!

5. On the way to the summit (not vey high) there is another view of the lake – one of many.

6. There's not much to see at the actual summit, but there is a seat and a trig.

7. The track leads down the other side, and we come to the Lava Canal track leading down steps to the left.  
    We take this branch path.

8. Reaching the bottom, the track to the Lava Canal leads off into the bush ... 

9. ... and winds around the small Dry Crater.  Everything is very weathered and overgrown.

10. The path crosses the road, and descends to the old lava canal.  

11. There are many of these old lava canals around here.
      We can see the form where the lave once flowed, but little detail.  

12.  After some time, the track leads to the Natural Bridge turn-off.  

13.  I notice scoria on the track around here – obviously volcanic.

14.  Ah, this looks more interesting!

15.  And here we are ...  steps down to a large, light cave, which one could climb right through with difficulty.  

16.  There are well-made steps down to the floor of the cave.

17.  We return by the road, then around the Dry Crater, and back up the steps to the Crater Rim walk.  
       This continues around the crater with various views over the lake. 

18.  At the south end of the lake the going gets a bit rough and steep, but it is a short stretch.  
       Mostly the track is well formed and easy.

19.  At one spot there is a view to Mt Eccles showing some of the lava formation on its slopes.

20.  Looking down on the lake we see the Lakeside Track which follows right around.  
       I thought this looked less interesting ...

21.  The track continues around the crater rim, with the lake on the right, and open fields on the left.

22. Now we can see how Mount Eccles sits alongside the lake.

23.  Around here there is some nice cliff formation.

24.  Descending down from the rim, we pass a turn off on the left to yet another lava canal, before coming to this        
       deep lava cave.
       I have my torch, but the cave must be pretty vast, as I can make out little detail inside.  
       I cannot tell whether there is another exit.

25.  A final observation point and view of Lake Surprise.