- Distance
- 1.3 km return
- Duration
- 30 mins
- Suitable for
- Hiking
- Grade 4, Hard Hike
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Park
- Mount Schank State Heritage Area
- Region
- Limestone Coast
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- Photos
- 9 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
About the Walking Trail
Hike up to the rim of Mt Schank to experience 360 views into the crater and of the surrounding countryside. The trail comprises mostly of a limestone planks, 1,038 of them, to climb up to the crater rim. The hike begins from the carpark and picnic area beside the waterhole.
Mount Schank was named in December 1800 during an exploratory voyage along Australia’s south-east coast by the ship HMS Lady Nelson. Mount Gambier was also spotted and named on the same voyage.
Mount Schank is a dormant volcano, originally errupting 4,500 years ago.
Access the Mount from the Port MacDonnell Road. There is a picnic area with a shelter and toilets. The Mount and surrounding area was declared a State Heritage Area in 1992.
Extend the hike by continuing from the Crater Rim turn around point on the Crater Rim Walk around the rim. There is also another side-track down into the bowl of the crater.
Photos
Admirning the view into Mt Schank
The view into Mt Schank
The walking trail, looking back towards the carpark
Most of the trail up Mt Schank is a series of limestone steps
View down the limestone steps across farmland
Sign on the rim of Mt Schank where the Crater Rim Walk departs from the Car Park to Crater Rim turnaround point
Picnic area and toilets at the base of Mt Schank
Trailhead and plaque. The plaque commemorates the bicentenary of the sighting and naming of Mt Gambier and Mt Schank.
Interpretive signage about how Mt Schank and Mt Gambier were formed