Grampians (Gariwerd)

Sandstone ranges in western Victoria with MacKenzie Falls, the Pinnacle lookout and Aboriginal rock art, and kangaroos roaming the town of Halls Gap.

Grampians National Park (Aboriginal name Gariwerd) is in western Victoria, about 260 km from Melbourne (around 3 hours' drive). It is a sandstone range stretching some 90 km north to south, famous for sheer cliffs, waterfalls, wildflowers and Aboriginal rock art – about 90% of Victoria's known rock art sites are found here. Most visitors base themselves in Halls Gap, a town in the valley with most of the accommodation and dining, where mobs of kangaroos often graze on the grass in the evening. The park has three main areas: around Halls Gap, the Pinnacle, Venus Baths, Chatauqua Peak and Boroka Lookout; to the west in the Wartook Valley, MacKenzie Falls, the Balconies and Reed Lookout; and in the north, Hollow Mountain and ancient rock art sites. At the southern end near Dunkeld are Mount Abrupt and Mount Sturgeon. Seasons: spring (Sep–Nov) is the best time, with wildflowers everywhere and waterfalls in full flow; autumn (Mar–May) is cool and good for hiking; summer is hot with high bushfire risk, and parts of the park may close at short notice; winter is cold and grey but quiet. Getting there: public transport is limited – you can take the train to Ararat or Stawell and change to a bus, but driving is strongly recommended. Plan on 2–3 days. Note: entry to the national park is free; check the Parks Victoria website for track closures before you set out. Mobile reception is weak in the mountains, and watch for kangaroos crossing the road when driving at dusk and at night.

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Itineraries