Grampians National Park Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The Grampians were hands-down a highlight of our time spent road tripping around Victoria. This Grampians National Park guide will give you everything you need to know for day trips, weekenders or longer stays!

In Western Victoria, just three hours from the urban cool of Melbourne, you’ll find one of the most spectacular and dramatic National Parks in Australia. Grampians National Park is home to 645 square miles of SERIOUSLY majestic mountains, mystical forest trails, fascinating Aboriginal history and plenty of Aussie wildlife to boot.

Planning a trip to the Grampians can be intimidating, as there’s a whole lotta mountain and probably not a whole lot of time on your calendar. Luckily, we found the perfect hub in Halls Gap, which is THE place to stay for access to must-do activities, as well as useful amenities and a range of accommodation.

This guide is perfect for road-trippers who want to experience the amazing natural spaces of one of Victoria’s most beloved parks. I’ve included a range of activities, with walks for experiences hikers and total beginners.

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Getting to the Grampians

By car: One of the main hubs for exploring is Halls Gap, which is just under 3 hours drive from Melbourne via the M8. If you’re heading there from Adelaide like we did, it’s about 5 and a half hours – we split the journey up with a functional overnight in Bordertown.

(top tip: if you’re heading from Adelaide make sure you stop by Hahndorf and Old Tailem Town on your way!)

After exploring the Grampians, we took a detour before heading to Melbourne, driving two hours south to Warrnambool to spend a couple of days roadtripping along the iconic Great Ocean Road. If you have four or five days to spare, it’s a great combo trip!

By public transport: If you don’t have your own vehicle, getting around the Grampians gets a bit harder. You can get a bus or train from Melbourne to Ararat, and then transfer by shuttle coach or taxi to Halls Gap.

On a tour: Alternatively, you can book a day tour from Melbourne to the Grampians. There are also two day and three day options available, which include accommodation and a visit to Great Otway National park and the Great Ocean Road.

If you’re travelling between destinations, a three-day Melbourne to Adelaide or Adelaide to Melbourne tour covers your travel and accommodation, and includes time in the Grampians plus an iconic drive along the Great Ocean Road!

When to visit the Grampians

We visited in September, the beginning of Aussie springtime. During our visit, the weather was pretty changeable – we had some showers, but also bursts of sunshine. As with most places, each season has its perks and pitfalls – here’s an idea of what you can expect visiting throughout the year:

• Summer (Dec-Feb) is the hottest and driest time to visit, with high average temps of 24-27°. It’s also the busiest time, as Australians make the most of the sunshine and the school summer holidays.
• Autumn (Mar-May) is the best season for hiking, as the temperatures are cooler and rainfall slightly less likely than in the Spring, especially during early-mid April, where lower temperatures and less rainy days make it ideal for walking adventures.
• Winter (Jun-Aug) is the coldest and wettest season, but also the perfect time to drag out your waterproofs and beat the crowds. Due to the higher rainfall, the waterfalls are at their most dramatic during the winter months.
• Spring (Sep-Nov) has similar temperatures to spring, with slightly more rainfall – normally in the form of scattered showers. As spring comes to life, you’ll see colourful wildflowers come to life, and wildlife emerging from winter slumber.

Where to stay in the Grampians

Although there are multiple surrounding base towns including Dunkeld and Wartook, there’s only really one place that puts you at the heart of the Grampians, and that’s Halls Gap.

Halls Gap offers a central location, plentiful amenities and beautiful surroundings. There are plenty of camping and cabin options for accommodation in the area, but I’d recommend booking early, particularly during the high summer season.

Camping & Cabins: We parked up our camper van at Breeze Holiday Parks, an expansive campground with tent and motorhome pitches, plus cabin accommodation. For a night under canvas without needing your own gear, you can also stay in a safari tent at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park.

Hostel: YHA Grampians Eco Halls Gap is a stylish, eco-friendly hostel with small dorms, a short walk from Halls Gap amenities and local area trails. They also offer budget-friendly private rooms with shared bathroom facilities.

Hotels: Halls Gap Motel is a boutique small motel suitable for couples, solos and small groups of friends. If you’re travelling with children, The Grampians Motel offers family rooms, a pool and play area.

Things to do in the Grampians

Whether you’re into challenging hikes, gentle nature strolls, exhilarating adventure activities or digging into some history, the Grampians region offers plenty to do for all ages and interests!

Walks and Hikes

With so many trails to explore, this would be the longest Grampians guide ever if I listed them all! Instead, I’ve hand-picked some personal favourites and essentials for all abilities.

The Pinnacle Walk (Wonderland Carpark)

Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging
Length: 4.5km return
Time: 2hrs

THE iconic Grampians walk! Head along a unique rock trail through the Grampians’ own Grand Canyon and Silent Street slot canyon, before reaching

The Pinnacle Walk (Sundial Carpark)

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.5km return
Time: 2hrs

An alternative, slightly easier route to the Pinnacle, which we took due to a closure of Wonderland car park. This one was loads of fun, with easy to navigate rocky sections.

The Balconies

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2km return
Time: 30-45min

A 1km track through stringybark forest, past rocky outcrops and across a wooden bridge, ending up at spectacular lookout point with views over the Victoria valley.

Mackenzie Falls

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1.4km
Time: 1-1.5hrs

The short but steep track of around 260 steps takes you to the base of the falls, taking in the impressibe height and thundering water. That was the easy part – now it’s time to haul yourself back up those stairs…

For an alternative route avoiding the stairs, the 7km return route from Zumsteins car park offers a flat and peaceful riverside stroll.

There’s also a flat loop trail from the Mackenzie falls car park suitable for all abilities (including wheelchairs) that offers a stunning vantage point across to the falls.

Venus Baths Walk

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.3km loop
Time: 45min-1hr
Start point: Halls Gap recreation area

This walk absolutely saved me after a rough travel day! Heading out of the back of the recreation area, this loop is a magical walk through a rocky wonderland.

Clematis Falls

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.4km return
Time: 45min-1hr
Start point: Halls Gap recreation area

Another great easy trail that starts at the Halls Gap recreation area, the path cuts through tall forest to the 30m seasonal waterfall. There wasn’t much water when we visited, but it was charming regardless!

Lookout Points

These lookout points are all accessible by car or with a short, easy walk from the car parks.

• Boroka Lookout offers panoramic views over the park and Halls Gap, with short boardwalks from the car park to vantage points.
• Reed Lookout – not just the starting point for the Balconies walk, but a great view in itself from the car park lookout spot.
• Mackenzie Falls Lookout is a great place to see the falls along a flat circuit trail on top of a cliff.
• Lake Bellfield Lookout – take a stroll along Fyans Creek Dam Wall to see Lake Bellfield up close

Adventure Activities

Looking for more adventurous and active ways to explore the Grampians? Climb, paddle or pedal your way around with these suggestions for an exhilarating visit:

• Rock climbing: Hangin Out offers a range of climbing and abseiling experiences, for all experience levels – including complete beginners and families. (on my list for next time, hopefully with better weather!)
• Kayaking: Paddle through the Grampians on a two hour Lake Fyan canoe trip.
• Cycling: Explore the best trail and road cycling routes in the Grampians with this guide.
• Expeditions: If you really want to push yourself, check out Absolute Outdoors‘ range of multi-day hiking and camping expeditions, including a snowy three days along the Razorback Trail in winter!

History & Culture

The Grampians region is known as Gariwerd by local Indigenous people, and has been home to the Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali people for over 20,000 years. The area is home to 80% of Victoria’s Aboriginal rock art,

Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre

This visitor centre is a great first stop when you arrive in Halls Gap. The guides here gave us excellent advice on which walks to take, and you can also check out displays sharing the region’s history, geography. It’s also home to a variety of Aboriginal exhibits and artifacts.

Aboriginal rock art shelters

There are over 200 rock art sites in the region – five of which are open to the public.

• Bunjils Shelter is the only known rock art site to depict Bunjil, the Aboriginal creator spirit. It’s an easy 25min drive from Halls Gap, perfect for those with minimal time in the Grampians.
• Manja Shelter holds around 90 handprint works. Park at the Manja Shelter carpark and take the easy-moderate 2.6km return trail to the shelter.
• Gulgurn Manja is around 35mins drive from Halls Gap, home to handprint art work from young ancestors. Park at Hollow Mountain Carpark and it’s an easy 750m walk to the shelter.
• Ngamamdjidj Shelter can be found on a short, flat trail 10mins away from Hollow Mountain car park. Here you’ll see white painted figures, earning it the name of ‘the Cave of Ghosts’.
• Billimina [temporarily closed] is a little further from Halls Gap and Hollow Mountain, but you’ll be rewarded with one of the most comprehensive Aboriginal art sites in the region.

Galleries in the Grampians

There’s beauty everywhere you look in the Grampians – from vibrant landscapes to charming galleries filled with art inspired by the natural wonders of the region.

• Steve Morvell Art For Conservation – visit the Halls Gap studio and gallery space of acclaimed artist Steve Morvell, who uses his art to support and fund conservation projects.
• The Wama Foundation is Australia’s first dedicated environmental art gallery, a short drive from the centre of Halls Gap.
• James McMurtrie Glass Blowing – watch talented artists undertake traditional glassblowing methods and pick up your own unique piece.
• Ararat Gallery TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia) – an impressive collection of textile exhibits in the Grampians base town of Ararat.

Where to eat and drink in Halls Gap

The Grampians is probably better known for its hiking trails than the gourmet restaurant scene. However, there’s plenty of delicious foodie finds around, with cosy pubs and bistros piling on the country charm. These are some of our top picks:

• Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co: we hid from the cold in this fun little brewery! They have a small but perfectly formed range of beers, and a quality pub grub food menu.
• Kookaburra Hotel: Bistro food and local wines in a laid-back spot.
• Livefast Cafe: Brunch and lunch dishes, including avocado toast, burgers and cakes.
• Barney’s Bar & Bistro: A casual ‘tin and timber’ pub around 10 minutes drive from Halls Gap.
• Pomonal Estate: Offers wine tasting and upmarket lunch dishes from Wednesday-Sunday.

If you’re planning on rustling up your own meals in a campground or self-catering accommodation, there’s a general store in Halls Gap that sells food and basic supplies. The range isn’t huge and prices can be high, so we did a Woolworths shop on our way in – you can find supermarkets in Ararat, Stawell and Horsham.

Safety in the Grampians

• Check the weather forecast before your trip, and before embarking on any hikes, big drives or adventure activities. Be aware of bushfires in the summer months, and flooding in the winter – the VicEmergency app is useful to have on your phone.
• Drive carefully – especially at night, dawn or dusk, when wildlife are most active and can cause accidents on the road. If you do encounter injured wildlife, contact Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 (open 24/7).
• Hike with a buddy or group; or if you’re doing a trail solo, make sure you inform someone of your route and how long you expect to take.
• Keep to marked trails and don’t climb over fences to unstable cliffs and potentially dangerous edges.
• Be snake aware – keep your eyes on the ground, and if you encounter a snake, back away slowly and let it go about its day. We always take a first aid kit when hiking, and having some knowledge of snake first aid is helpful in Australia!

What to pack for the Grampians

• Sturdy footwear: Hiking boots or trainers with good grip and support are essential as many walks can be uneven, and during the rainy season, the rocks can get slippery.
• Waterproof jacket – I love a good pac-a-mac I can attach to my day bag!
• Layers, made up of warm, breathable and quick-dry clothing. Especially when visiting in winter, but even the shoulder seasons and high points can get chilly.
• Reusable water bottle (there are free water points in Halls Gap town centre)
• Sun safety items: SPF, hat, sunglasses.
• Casual clothes for evenings. I’d also recommend bringing extra warm layers for when the sun goes down.
• Camping equipment (if needed) – tent, warm sleeping bag and camping mat are the three key essentials.

Grampians National Park FAQs