| Just
over 50km north of Port Fairy is Mount Eccles National Park. Mount
Eccles (though it hardly deserves to be called a mountain) is an extinct volcano
with lava caves, channels and a crater lake set in rugged, stony country;
there used to be a quarry here and you can see the various layers of
different lava flows where the mountain has been cut. Lake Surprise
is the delightful crater lake, shimmering blue in summer. Walks – all of
which begin from the picnic ground at the end of the entrance road –
include a two-kilometre (1hr) walk around the rim of the crater, or you
can descend and walk around the shoreline (with a chance to swim in the
lake, which is 21°C in summer); there’s also a two-hour walk along a
lava canal leading to a lava cave. |
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| Birdlife
around the lake includes wedge-tail eagles, kookaburras, tawny frogmouths,
dog birds, barn owls and boobooks. The trees are loaded with koalas, seen
at any time of the day. There are also eastern grey kangaroos, echidnas,
bats, tiger snakes, copperhead snakes and blue-tongued lizards. Mid- to
late spring is a good time for wild flowers – from orchids to native
geraniums – and wattle. Look out for a tree in the southwest corner of
the park that has had an Aboriginal shield cut out of it with a sharpened
stone tool. The visitors centre (tel 03/5576 1014) has an
informative display to help you explore the park and learn about the
history of the volcano and the area’s Aborigines. You can also camp
here: wood is supplied, and there are toilets and water. |