Cave Hill Creek
About
Overview & Vibe
Cave Hill Creek is a lake in a forest, two hours from Melbourne, and the whole property becomes yours for the weekend. It sits in the Mount Cole State Forest near Beaufort, and the pitch is a destination wedding where every guest sleeps on site — ceremony by the water, reception under timber trusses, and a recovery brunch by the fire pit the next morning. The venue is candid that this is bush country: during a function “guests will likely meet numerous kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and a wide variety of Australian birdlife, and even spot a platypus in the lake.”
Setting & Style
The ceremony happens against reflections over water with mountain silhouettes behind — a jetty and lakeside decking do most of the work, with forest paths and gum-and-wildflower clearings for portraits. Receptions run in a function room and an open-air pavilion, both with large bluestone fireplaces and lake views, plus a dining room and long veranda. The estate is a Land for Wildlife Sanctuary under the mountains of Mount Buangor National Park, and exclusive use is part of every wedding package.
Ideal For
Couples who want a whole weekend rather than a day, and who like the idea of their guests canoeing and playing lawn games between events — archery, canoeing and lawn games are complimentary. Two- and three-night packages carry 10% and 15% discounts and bundle in an arrival-night dinner, wedding-day breakfast and lunch, and a post-wedding cooked brunch. Also a genuinely accessible choice: the venue publishes that it has accessible rooms and bathrooms.
The Need-to-Knows
Capacity is 140 seated or 250 cocktail-style, with on-site accommodation for about 130 — and it is worth knowing what that accommodation is. Rooms are bunk-style, sleeping five to eleven, some with ensuites and double beds, alongside deluxe eco tents; the couple's own glamping bridal suite (king bed, ensuite, mountain views) is complimentary. Room allocation is the couple's job, and the venue asks for one settled account rather than split bills. No pricing is published — the 2026–2027 wedding brochure is current but ends with “for further assistance or information on current pricing please contact”, and a minimum spend applies combining function and accommodation without a figure attached. A few firm rules: strictly no BYO, candles and confetti are prohibited, no pets (National Park rules apply), bar service and music end by 11pm with non-resident guests departing by 11.30pm, and any supplier you engage needs $10M public liability cover evidenced in advance.
Standout Feature
The lake. It is the ceremony backdrop, the view from both fireplaces, the reason the jetty photographs the way it does, and — if you are lucky — where the platypus lives. Very few Australian wedding venues can seat 140 people, sleep almost all of them, and still be quiet enough that birdsong is the decor.
Contact
Amenities
- On-site Accommodation
- Exclusive Use
- In-house Catering
- Licensed Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Bridal Suite
- Lawn Games
- Fireplace
- Dance Floor
Ceremony Setting
- outdoor
- garden
- waterfront
Dietary Options Supported
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Vegetarian
- Nut Free
Nearby Landmarks
- Mount Cole State Forest – The venue is "nestled in the heart of the Mount Cole Forest", surrounded by its mountains
- Mount Buangor National Park – The lake sits "beneath the majestic mountains" of the park, and National Park rules apply on the property
- Beaufort – The Victorian town the estate is addressed in, at 110 The Glut Road
- Melbourne – "only 2 hours from Melbourne's CBD", the distance the venue leads with
- Pyrenees Grampians wine region – The brochure sources its wine list locally: "The Pyrenees Grampians region is renowned for producing some of Australia's finest bold reds"
On Site Accommodation
- Comfortable on-site accommodation for up to 130 guests in bunk-style rooms and deluxe eco tents; rooms sleep 5-11 guests, some with ensuites and double beds
- A complimentary glamping-style bridal suite for the couple on the wedding night, with a king size bed, ensuite, lake outlook and mountain views
- Bed linen and towels supplied for every guest, with a full continental and cooked breakfast, seasonal fruit platter, juice, tea and coffee included
Price Notes
- No figures are published, but the structure is unusually well documented. THREE FUNCTION PACKAGES: The Lake View, a four-course sit-down meal including canapes; The Mount Cole, a three-course roast buffet including canapes; The Raglan Valley, a cocktail menu. TWO BEVERAGE MENUS: 'Local', built on Michael Unwin Wines of Ballarat with Carlton Draught and Great Northern; and 'Pavilion', the premium option, built on Blue Pyrenees Estate wines from Avoca with Red Duck Ballarat craft beer or Furphy's. Soft drink, juice, tea and coffee are included; spirits, cider and alcohol-free options are available. Beverages can alternatively be charged on consumption, in which case the couple selects four wines and three beers. EXTRAS: a champagne tower, a cocktail hour, a spirits upgrade, extended beverage service, and bridal party food and drink hampers for before the ceremony. INCLUDED IN EVERY WEDDING PACKAGE: exclusive access to the property; the function room and outdoor pavilion, both with bluestone fireplaces; extensive gardens and lakeside decking; several seating configurations; white linen tablecloths and napkins; classic white crockery, cutlery and glassware; full catering and bar service; complimentary accommodation for the couple on the wedding night; 11am checkout; and complimentary archery, canoeing and lawn games. ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES: a 2-night package (10% discount) with arrival-night dinner, Friday bar service, wedding-day continental breakfast and lunch and a post-wedding cooked brunch; a 3-night package (15% discount) adding post-wedding lunch and dinner and a departure breakfast; and single-night bed-and-breakfast stays. COMMERCIAL TERMS: a non-refundable deposit secures the date; full payment is due 7 days before the event, by cheque, cash or direct debit only; menus are confirmed 6 weeks out and final numbers 14 days out, after which the invoice does not change; a minimum spend applies, calculated as the combined value of function and accommodation; and accounts must be settled as one transaction with no split bills. RULES WORTH KNOWING BEFORE BOOKING: the venue is licensed and there is strictly no BYO; candles and confetti are prohibited; no pets or firearms, as the property is a Land for Wildlife Sanctuary under National Park rules; it is a non-smoking venue with a designated area away from the buildings; bar service and music end no later than 11pm and guests not staying on site must depart by 11.30pm; external service providers must hold $10M public liability insurance and supply a copy of each policy in advance, and those requiring meals are charged 50% of the package price per person; the venue is available for set-up, decoration and rehearsal from 4pm the day before; and with at least 6 months notice a date and deposit can be transferred. The venue holds $30 million public liability insurance and is accredited under the Quality Tourism Framework.
Price Per Head
Venue Capacity
- Up to 250
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