Gorgeous, picturesque and unique Buchan Caves is located 360 km from Melbourne, just north of Lakes entrance,and can be reached from Bairnsdale, driving towards Bruthen along the Buchan Road.

Buchan caves: Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
This underground wonderland has been formed from limestone moulded by underground river with unique underground pools and sparkly limestone stalactites and stalagmites.

Buchan caves: Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
Tickets to tour the Buchan caves can be pre-purchased on-line or they can easily be purchased the same day of your visit. My guest and I booked our ticket to Fairy Cave from the office of the parks camp site. Tours are run each day for both Royal Cave and Fairy Cave and as stated by
Parks Victoria - Royal Cave hosts gorgeous calcite-rimmed pools and Fairy Cave contains wonderful and intricate stalactites and stalagmites that sparkle like fairy dust. So if you simply cant choose which cave to see, simply see both!

An underground pool in Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
Tours for Royal and Fairy Caves run in September school holidays to Easter as follows : Royal Cave 10.00am, 1.00pm, 3.30pm. September school holidays to Easter - Fairy Cave 11.15am, 2.15pm and post Easter school holidays to September 11.00am (Royal Cave), 1.00pm (Fairy Cave), 3.00pm (Royal Cave) with tours occurring around every half hour.
Tours are limited for the comfort of guests, so its best to arrive at least 30 minutes before the time you wish to enter the caves to avoid disappointment.
A single tour to either Royal or Fairy caves would cost $18.00 for an adult, $10.50 for a child, $15.00 for a senior and $49.80 for Families of 2 adults, 2 children 5 - 16 years.
A tour that includes both Royal and Fairy caves would cost:
27.00 for an adult, $15.60 for a child and $22.20 for a senior and families costing $74.40 for 2 adults, 2 children 5 - 16 years.

Buchan caves: Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
Once your ticket is purchased for your preferred time, you drive to the parking lot of the cave (a few minutes from the camp site) where you wait for your guide.
Our cave of choice was Fairy Cave, simply as the tour was starting at the best time for us (and with each location appearing as pretty as the other, it's a win-win situation). However If we didn't have time constraints, we would certainly have chosen to view both caves.

Buchan caves: Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
After the safety talk, explanation and ticket collection we emerged down a long stone stair case with the air cooling gently the further you went down. The first sight of the cave is awe inspiring with the rust and copper colours mixing gently with the white sparkle of the limestone.
As you walk through the caves, the guide gives you numerous insights into the first discovery of the caves, an introduction into the creation of the man-made stone structures, stalactites and stalagmites and the intrigue of possible fairies for the children on the tour, which was really sweet.

Buchan caves: Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
Fairy Caves are absolutely stunning and I'm sure I spent many a moment with my mouth open just staring at the inspiring and cavernous rooms which are formed so slowly with underground streams. The colours are stunning and when you enter a darkened area before the guide turns on the environmentally-friendly lights its so very, very quiet. You can just imagine wondering through the silence with a candle as your only source of light and a string to lead you to the exit as they must of done on the caves discovery.

Buchan caves: Inside Fairy cave (Writers own photo)
Buchan caves is a natural wonder that can be enjoyed by the whole family, with your loved ones and friends. Make sure you wear suitable foot wear but I was very comfortable in a shorts and singlet top with regards to the temperature underground.