The Grampians is a perfect spot for hikers and animal lovers. You are guaranteed to see wildlife on the many walks. In the main town of Halls Gap we saw Kangaroos and Emus roaming the streets. This is how we recommend you spend your time here.

Dunkeld
Mount Abrupt
Grampians Road
Silverband Falls
MacKenzie Falls
The Balconies
Venus Pools
The Pinnacle
Seppelt Winery Underground Cellars
Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre & Rock Paintings

Where to stay?

We stayed in a Glamping Tent. It got up to 46 degrees, so luckily the tent had good ventilation and a fan. It was located in the camping ground next to Lake Bellfield and in the parkland next to it, Kangaroos would gather at sunset.

On our second trip we stayed at Shacky. They have tiny houses around Victoria. It is very popular so we had to look online a few times to find availability. The stays are self-sufficient and are off the grid in secluded locations.

We only stayed here 1 night but made the most of our time here. We used the cooking facilities for our meals. We bought some interesting craft beers from the Grampians Wine Cellar to enjoy next to the campfire with some marshmallows. Shortly after we arrived we were surprised to find 2 emus walking around the house, followed by a family of deer. The next morning we looked out the window from the bed and spotted Kangaroos grazing in the field. We had been into Halls Gap and seen many kangaroos there but it felt more special as they seemed in their element.

Where to eat?

In Halls Gap, we had a nice lunch and a beer at Paper Scissors Rock Brewing Co. Other food options we would recommend are Flame Brothers, and Livefast.

On the drive into Halls Gap, we passed a farm called 5 Ducks Farm. A friendly couple originally from England produce and sell ice cream, jam, berries and honey. We ended up going back twice to try different flavours. The lemon curd, vanilla bean, berries and honey flavours are some of the best ice cream flavours we’ve ever tasted.

Dunkeld

From the end of the Great Ocean Road at Port Fairy we drove inland towards the Grampians. We stopped in the quaint little town of Dunkeld. We had lunch at the Dunkeld Old Bakery. They have been operating since 1887. Dunkeld is proud of their water and at the bakery they had bottles that state that Wannon River has the best tap water in Australia. Before leaving we went to the General Store and bought some more food.

Mount Abrupt

Shortly after Dunkeld is Mount Abrupt. There is a small car park on the right hand side and the hike starts on the other side of the road. This is a steep climb and it took us 3 hours.

Grampians Road

Shortly after passing Mount Abrupt heading towards Halls Gap there is an amazingly straight road. We stopped at the intersection of Grampians Road, Wannon River Road and Cassidys Gap Road to take some photos with Mount Abrupt in the background.

Silverband Falls

A 10 minute drive from Halls Gap. From the car park it is a 700 metre walk through the shady forest. The waterfall is only a small stream but it runs down an abstract rock face and is very photogenic.

MacKenzie Falls

The waterfall is one of the largest in Victoria. To get to the waterfall we walked down a steep path for 1km into a gorge. From the base, we watched water cascades over huge cliffs into a deep pool. However, swimming is not permitted.

The Balconies

On the way back from MacKenzie Falls to Halls Gap we stopped at Reed Lookout and Balconies. Reed Lookout is located next to the car park. From this car park, we walked along a rocky path for 1km to reach The Balconies. The panoramic view is much better than Reed Lookout and definitely worth the hike. It gets it name from the 2 naturally formed rock balconies, one above each other, with a massive drop below.

Venus Pools

For sunset we decided to do a quick walk to the Venus Pools from Halls Gap. The water slowly flowed down from pool to pool. It was such a tranquil place so we took off our shoes and rested our feet in the cool water. The water reflected the surrounding rocks and trees, making it great for photography.

The Pinnacle - Our Favourite

For those not wanting to hike a long distance, Boroka Lookout has a similar view and is located next to a car park. We started this hike in the morning from Sundial Carpark and it took us approx. 2 hours. There is a more challenging hike from Wonderland Carpark or Halls Gap.

We past many irregular and fascinating rock formations. The coolest section was when we walked through a canyon named Silent Street, a narrow path with high vertical rock faces on either side. We were astounded by the view at the top. We stood on the cliff edge, looking down to Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield. The Pinnacle was our favourite viewpoint in the Grampians.

Seppelt Winery Underground Cellars

When the temperature was forecast to reach an extreme high of 46 degrees. We were told that the National Park will close and we should stay near the main road so we could escape if there was a bush fire. At the information centre, there was a Seppelt Winery shop. The lady working there told us that the temperature in the underground cellars was cool and it was a perfect way to escape the heat. We were the only people on the tour so we got a private tour of the underground cellars. The cellars wind for 3km and it would be very easy to get lost in this labyrinth. It’s the largest underground cellar in the southern hemisphere. Back upstairs at the cellar door, we had a lovely wine tasting.

Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre & Rock Paintings

After Seppelt we wanted to stay indoors and escape the heat so we visited Brambuk, a centre for Aboriginal Culture. We asked them about Aboriginal Rock Paintings and they gave us good advice on what to see. We decided on Bunjil’s Shelter as it was the closest and most accessible. The area had enormous rocks scattered everywhere. In one of these boulders was a small cave with an Aboriginal Rock Painting that was thousands of years old. The painting is surrounded by a steel cage to preserve it.

We hope this blog helped you with your planning. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!

6 Things You Must Do In The Grampians