Tower Hill

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve is a dormant volcanic maar and wildlife reserve in Moyne Shire, Victoria, between Warrnambool and Port Fairy. Formed by a volcanic eruption about 30,000 years ago, it encloses a large crater with lakes, islands, wetlands and lava formations. Declared Victoria's first national park in 1892, it is now managed by Parks Victoria with the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative and is notable for abundant native wildlife, Aboriginal heritage and scenic crater walks.

Visitors can expect a large volcanic crater accessed via a causeway, with crater rim lookouts, lakes and islands inside. The reserve contains walking tracks of varying length through revegetated bushland and wetlands where koalas, emus, kangaroos, wallabies and waterbirds are commonly seen. The Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre inside the crater provides Aboriginal cultural interpretation, guided tours, displays and souvenirs. Picnic areas, lookouts and nature walks are available throughout the reserve.

Tower Hill is a geologically significant maar volcano formed by a violent eruption about 30,000 years ago, creating a nested crater and lake system. It was declared Victoria's first National Park in 1892. After extensive clearing for farming, a major revegetation program from the 1960s restored native vegetation based on an 1855 painting by Eugene von Guerard. The reserve is now a State Game Reserve managed for conservation.

Tower Hill is of cultural significance to the Eastern Maar peoples including the Koroitgundidj and Gunditjmara, with a long Aboriginal association, archaeological sites and creation stories linked to the volcano. The Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative manages the visitor centre and shares cultural knowledge through guided tours, art and interpretation.