Organ Pipes

Named for its likeness to the pipe organ found in grand churches and concert halls, this geological feature is thought to be between 2.5 to 2.8 million years old. Its geometric pattern likely formed when lava cooled and fractured into hexagonal columns. Each column is about a meter (3 feet) wide.

The Organ Pipes are in the 300-acre Organ Pipes National Park, an area of the Maribyrnong Valley northwest of Melbourne. The park was established in 1972 to provide special protections to the land and allow the natural restoration of plants and indigenous animal species.

There are some other unusual natural features within the Organ Pipes National Park, including the tessellated pavement and Rosette Rock, both interesting features that formed from basalt columns. The area is part of the Keilor Plains, which is part of the third-largest lava plain in the world.

In addition to seeing the fascinating rock formations, visitors to the park may be lucky enough to spot animals such as echidnas, platypuses, and sugar gliders.