What are the Grampians?
Grampians National Park contains an incredible series of rugged sandstone mountain ranges, beautifully forested and packed with wildlife! Situated 260 km west of Melbourne and 470 km south-east of Adelaide, "The Grampians" is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Victoria.
Traditionally known as Gariwerd, the Grampians offers the largest concentration of Aboriginal rock art sites in Victoria. Significant discoveries of Aboriginal artefacts in the region, including stone scatterings left over from tool making and ancient oven mounds continue to be made as GAriwerd slowly relinquishes some secrets of its Aboriginal past.
The Grampians National Park contains a vast assortment of stunning natural attractions including waterfalls, rocky ridges, mountain peaks, caves, lakes, rock pools, rivers and more. Walking tracks and lookout platforms are located in abundance throughout the park, allowing visitors to explore and appreciate all aspects of this unique and beautiful place. The combination of easy to reach beauty in addition to harder more remote locations means the Grampians has something for everyone.
Popular recreational activities within the Grampians include walking, rock climbing, bike riding, photography, birdwatching, nature and history studies, fishing, boating or just relaxing.
Our Christmas backstory
For many years our little family have holidayed or enjoyed Christmas together, sometimes in the company of others, but almost always together and more often than not it is just the three of us. We visited the Grampians on Christmas Day and Boxing Day of 2021 for the first time. It is easy to see why people go back to the Grampians to holiday or visit. Why holiday in the Grampians?
- Close
- Beautiful
- Varied
- Affordable
"Pro Tips" - What worked for us. Go early - check where the sun will be for those reflective shots off the rocks or the sunset and sunrises. Also to miss the crowds. Watch out for animals at dawn and dusk. Christmas Day has fewer people than after boxing day, but the shops will be almost all be shut.
The Places
Click a link to jump to a section within this rather long photo-album webpage...
Boroka Lookout - MacKenzie Falls - The Balconies - The Pinnacle - Venus Baths - Botanical Gardens - Halls Gap - More Information Links
Boroka Lookout
This lookout was the first scenic location we visited when we arrived at the Grampians. Apart from the exhilarating drive up to the lookout we were surprised by 2 large emus bounding across the road reminding us to be extra cautious around wildlife.
In the background we can see Lake Bellfield which is a man-made water catchment lake.
MacKenzie Falls
We climbed the steep trail with many steps down to the base of MacKenzie Falls, one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria. Flowing year round, the falls sees water cascade over huge cliffs into a deep pool.
MacKenzie Falls car park is a forty-minute drive from Halls Gap on the Mount Victory Road.
There is a wheelchair friendly path to a bluff lookout which looks down on the falls. Definitely recommend this location on your trip to the Grampians.
Looking down towards MacKenzie Falls from Cranages Lookout.
Christmas day 2021 off to a good start at Cranage Lookout.
We were really impressed with Mackenzie Falls. The walk down to the bottom certainly was a journey, but very safe with rails and good quality steps.
NOte the boulders to walk across the falls to the side we were on for those great photos.
At this point Joe is probably regretting he came with us due to the number of photos.
Looking downstream from MacKenzie Falls. At the very top of the photo to the left centre there is a lookout at the top of the bluff where you can look down to our position at the bottom of the falls. That path, unlike ours is wheelchair friendly.
Looking downstream from MacKenzie falls.
Looks like something out of a movie, doesn't it?
Arriving early on Christmas morning meant we had the falls all to ourselves for the entire time we were there.
So great that the walking stones allow you to cross the river for even better views of the falls.
Did I say "little" family?
The Pinnacle
One of the most action-packed walks of the Grampians National Park is the 2 km walk from the Wonderland Carpark to The Pinnacle. Along the way we passed the Grand Canyon (part of which was blocked), Cool Chamber, Bridal Veil Falls and Silent Street before arriving at The Pinnacle for incredible views over Halls Gap and surrounding peaks.
Looking down towards Halls Gap from the Pinnacle after a big climb to the top.
2.1km - Easy! At least that is what we thought. It was a tough, but enjoyable climb. We felt it the next day. Lots of places to rest along the way.
We embark on our walk to the top of the Pinnacles.
One of the many creeks flowing over the rocky layers in the Grampians.
Start of the Grand Canyon part of the Pinnacles walk.
Looking up the Grand Canyon at the point where we couldn't proceed any further due to the stairs being unusable.
Looking back down the Grand Canyon from the point where we could go no further due to stairs being broken.
The blocked-off section of the Grand Canyon - due to the stairs being unsafe.
Joe standing with the Grand Canyon behind him.
Love the fresh sandstone textures where slabs have separated from the main rock face.
The contrast of green, yellow and sandstone colours appeals to me. Simple and natural.
This looks like a template for Marvel's "The Thing"
This fortress wall looks like you expect orcs to come bounding over the top of the parapets at any stage.
Green sandy paths provide a respite between the rocky sections of the climb.
Desolate, other world grey beauty with patches of green to confirm that we don't have a monochrome scene.
About to start the climb up to the narrow Silent Street.
Joe emerges from the top narrow section of Silent Street.
A black skink catching some rays in the middle of the day. Watch out for hiker's feet!
We made it! The top of The Pinnacle.
Joe stands in the distance at the top edge of The Pinnacle.
This looks like a fossilised turtle slowly making its way to the top of The Pinnacle.
Botanical Gardens
A pleasant interlude on the way to or from Venus Baths is to pass through the Halls Gap botanical Gardens. These gardens have one of the best collections of native plants from the Grampians area. Although the gardens are small they are worth a look. In order to protect the plants located in the garden fences and gates have been installed to stop the marauding kangaroos which eat anything resembling a plant.
When staying in Halls Gap many of these sites are really easy to reach on foot.
Stony Creek runs through the centre of Halls Gap. The photo shows why it is thus named. Most shops were shut over the Christmas weekend but that didn't stop the kangaroos and wallabies from their grazing on the town's ovals and reserves. There was a wonderful small Anglican church across the road from where we stayed. More curious though was the discovery that Trevor (local had apparently visited Hall's Gap as well when we discovered one of his famous teepee structures.
We had a great time and hope you do too.
More information about...
- Geology - Great pamphlet
- Plants
- Animals
- The Grampians in general
- A Facebook Site - The Grampians Guide
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